1. Welcome to Kindergarten Rodeo 2016

2. Home Ideas for Adjusting to School Things to work on at home – starting this summer: Things to work on at home – starting this summer: Fine motor skills: cutting, coloring, lacing, holding a pencil Fine motor skills: cutting, coloring, lacing, holding a pencil Counting objects Counting objects Sorting, creating and recognizing patterns Sorting, creating and recognizing patterns Alphabet recognition and sounds Alphabet recognition and sounds Managing bathroom needs Managing bathroom needs Buttons pants, shirts, coats, tying shoes and zipping up zippers Buttons pants, shirts, coats, tying shoes and zipping up zippers Writing their name, knowing their full name, address, phone number and birthday Writing their name, knowing their full name, address, phone number and birthday Read to your child every night. Read to your child every night. Also practice: Also practice: Review the expectation of school rules, just like there are rules at home, practice good listening skills, not interrupting, sharing, good manners. Review the expectation of school rules, just like there are rules at home, practice good listening skills, not interrupting, sharing, good manners.

3. Adjusting to the First Days of Kindergarten Practice Routines: Practice Routines: Beginning of the school year is a perfect time to start routines – start this summer! Beginning of the school year is a perfect time to start routines – start this summer! Helps the transition process Helps the transition process Getting ready for each school day the night before: parent checking the daily folder, making lunch together, picking out your next school day clothes, bath, story, bedtime. Arrive on-time or early to school each day. Getting ready for each school day the night before: parent checking the daily folder, making lunch together, picking out your next school day clothes, bath, story, bedtime. Arrive on-time or early to school each day.

4. Adjusting to the First Days of Kindergarten Ownership: Ownership: Try to find age-appropriate responsibilities for your child to do each day: bring their folder to school in their backpack, lay out clothing at night, etc. Try to find age-appropriate responsibilities for your child to do each day: bring their folder to school in their backpack, lay out clothing at night, etc. According to the National Education Association, “giving young children tiny tasks will reduce your stress level (parents) and actually help your child to become a better student.” According to the National Education Association, “giving young children tiny tasks will reduce your stress level (parents) and actually help your child to become a better student.”

5. Adjusting to the First Days of Kindergarten Practice Routines: Practice Routines: Try to keep your child’s transportation to and from school the same as much as possible (especially at first). Try to keep your child’s transportation to and from school the same as much as possible (especially at first). Review with your child when you will see them next (at 3:25, after day care, at grandma’s house, etc…) Review with your child when you will see them next (at 3:25, after day care, at grandma’s house, etc…) Try to be consistent with these transportation plans and avoid being late to pick them up! Try to be consistent with these transportation plans and avoid being late to pick them up! Reduces anxiety Reduces anxiety

7. Adjusting to the First Days of Kindergarten Starting School is Exciting: Starting School is Exciting: Buy a new back pack, lunch box, or new school shoes together and make it a big deal! They are now a BIG kid! Buy a new back pack, lunch box, or new school shoes together and make it a big deal! They are now a BIG kid! Involve them in some of the decisions to help with ownership over going to school and learning (ie: what to wear to school) Involve them in some of the decisions to help with ownership over going to school and learning (ie: what to wear to school)

8. Adjusting to the First Days of Kindergarten Saying Goodbye  Saying Goodbye  Make your goodbyes cheerful and brief. Make your goodbyes cheerful and brief. Try to avoid coming back to the classroom after you have already said goodbye. Try to avoid coming back to the classroom after you have already said goodbye. Please feel free to walk your child to their class the first two weeks of school. Please feel free to walk your child to their class the first two weeks of school. Some children respond well to a planned ritual (example: 2 hugs and a thumbs up) Some children respond well to a planned ritual (example: 2 hugs and a thumbs up) “Quick goodbyes leave dry eyes!” “Quick goodbyes leave dry eyes!”

9. Adjusting to the First Days of Kindergarten Responding to Distress/Tears: Responding to Distress/Tears: Don’t scold the child’s distress or fear. Don’t scold the child’s distress or fear. Remain positive that you will see them at the end of the school day. Remain positive that you will see them at the end of the school day. Remind them how they will make new friends, play at recess, etc… Remind them how they will make new friends, play at recess, etc… Tell them what you will be doing while they are at school (at work, grocery shopping, etc…). Tell them what you will be doing while they are at school (at work, grocery shopping, etc…). Avoid letting them see you sad , children of all ages can sense when adults are scared, worried, upset. Avoid letting them see you sad , children of all ages can sense when adults are scared, worried, upset.

10. Home Ideas for Adjusting to School Bigger Building, More Kids: Bigger Building, More Kids: Some children express anxiety of the unknown students and an unknown building. Some children express anxiety of the unknown students and an unknown building. Pep Talks at home: “You’re so lucky you get to go to a brand new big kid school. Who have you met? Have you seen your brother or sister (or neighborhood friend) in the hallway?” Pep Talks at home: “You’re so lucky you get to go to a brand new big kid school. Who have you met? Have you seen your brother or sister (or neighborhood friend) in the hallway?”

11. Home Ideas for Adjusting to School Help your child write a letter/picture to his/her teacher. Help your child write a letter/picture to his/her teacher. Review the school and classroom rules at home with your child, feel free to let them ask questions. Review the school and classroom rules at home with your child, feel free to let them ask questions. Talk to your child about their concerns. If necessary, bring them up with the teacher or school counselor! We are here to help! Talk to your child about their concerns. If necessary, bring them up with the teacher or school counselor! We are here to help!

12. Home Ideas for Adjusting to School Plan a play date- find a new friend of your child’s, get to know the family and plan some play time! Plan a play date- find a new friend of your child’s, get to know the family and plan some play time! Play the name game- have your child draw pictures and write the name of the people they know at school, teacher, friends. Play the name game- have your child draw pictures and write the name of the people they know at school, teacher, friends. Make an “All-About-School” Booklet- about their favorite part of each school day. Make an “All-About-School” Booklet- about their favorite part of each school day. Learn A Name Game- ask your child to learn the name of one new student or teacher each day. Learn A Name Game- ask your child to learn the name of one new student or teacher each day.

13. Academics and Curriculum Get familiar with the kindergarten curriculum and what is expected of your child at the end of the year. Get familiar with the kindergarten curriculum and what is expected of your child at the end of the year. * Back To School Night * www.usd231.com www.usd231.com * Weekly newsletters Practice these skills at night and on the weekends to reinforce what they are learning at school. Do this in a fun way and for short periods of time! Practice these skills at night and on the weekends to reinforce what they are learning at school. Do this in a fun way and for short periods of time!

14. Academics and Curriculum The Gift of a Good Book: The Gift of a Good Book: Try to read with your child every day! Try to read with your child every day! Books help children build vocabulary, learn concepts of print, develop listening skills, and enjoy reading! Books help children build vocabulary, learn concepts of print, develop listening skills, and enjoy reading! After you read a book - talk about the characters, their favorite part, new words they learned, words they already know! Point to the words as you read. Model how you sound out words. After you read a book - talk about the characters, their favorite part, new words they learned, words they already know! Point to the words as you read. Model how you sound out words. Lead by example. Let them see you reading. Lead by example. Let them see you reading.

15. Academics and Curriculum Sight Words: Sight Words: Your student will begin learning “sight words” (high frequency words). Practice with flash cards, word hunts, and writing. Your student will begin learning “sight words” (high frequency words). Practice with flash cards, word hunts, and writing. Reinforce these words at home and have your child make their own list of words they know in their bedroom, on the refrigerator, on a chalkboard, etc… Reinforce these words at home and have your child make their own list of words they know in their bedroom, on the refrigerator, on a chalkboard, etc…

16. Ways to Get Involved with your Kindergartener Find out the best way to stay in communication with your child’s teacher (emails, notes in folder, etc…) Find out the best way to stay in communication with your child’s teacher (emails, notes in folder, etc…) Check your child’s Bear Folder every night. Check your child’s Bear Folder every night. Volunteer in the classroom. Volunteer in the classroom. Volunteer around the school (library-book fair, teacher luncheons, special events). Volunteer around the school (library-book fair, teacher luncheons, special events). Join the PTA-become a member and make a difference in Madison Elementary. Join the PTA-become a member and make a difference in Madison Elementary. Become a Watch DOG. Become a Watch DOG. Visit your child once in a while at lunch time. Visit your child once in a while at lunch time. Help with field trips. Help with field trips.

17. Nurse – Tina Kunz Can be reached at 856-0450 or kunzc@usd231.com Can be reached at 856-0450 or kunzc@usd231.comkunzc@usd231.com See nurse for appropriate forms if your child will require medication at school. See nurse for appropriate forms if your child will require medication at school. Do not send your child to school 24 hrs following fever (temperature of 100 or greater), vomiting, or diarrhea. Do not send your child to school 24 hrs following fever (temperature of 100 or greater), vomiting, or diarrhea. If your child has a history of food allergies, asthma, diabetes, or seizures, please see the nurse. If your child has a history of food allergies, asthma, diabetes, or seizures, please see the nurse.

18. Kindergarten Supplies See school supply list See school supply list Please bring them on Meet the Teacher Night. Please bring them on Meet the Teacher Night. Teacher will share what needs name, what will be used by all, and answer any questions you might have. Teacher will share what needs name, what will be used by all, and answer any questions you might have. Don’t stress about the list! Don’t stress about the list!

19. Time Line Currently all families requesting All Day K have “spot”, need payment by July 15 th. Please check with front office if you need to change or make request for all day, AM, PM. Currently all families requesting All Day K have “spot”, need payment by July 15 th. Please check with front office if you need to change or make request for all day, AM, PM. When we have received your enrollment papers, you will be assigned a “Family Access” code. You will receive a letter in July with this information. This summer get online at usd231.com and click on “Family Access” to finish enrollment, pay fees, and checked information. When we have received your enrollment papers, you will be assigned a “Family Access” code. You will receive a letter in July with this information. This summer get online at usd231.com and click on “Family Access” to finish enrollment, pay fees, and checked information. Your child’s teacher will be announced at the beginning of August – you will receive a letter. Your child’s teacher will be announced at the beginning of August – you will receive a letter. Meet The Teacher Night is August 9 th. Meet The Teacher Night is August 9 th. First day for Kindergarten students is August 12 th. First day for Kindergarten students is August 12 th.

20. We Are Here for You and Your Child We Are Here for You and Your Child We are glad you’re here! We are glad you’re here! Please contact your child’s teacher, the front office, or myself, Christi Whitter, if there is anything we can do to make your child’s day at school even better! Please contact your child’s teacher, the front office, or myself, Christi Whitter, if there is anything we can do to make your child’s day at school even better! It’s an honor to serve you and your child! It’s an honor to serve you and your child! Welcome to Madison Elementary! Welcome to Madison Elementary!