Kindergarten Orientation

2010-2011

Our Day

• Attendance is important. We want your child at school. However, DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL WITH A FEVER!!!

• Your child will be marked tardy if not in room when 8:00 bell rings.

• We are very busy learning. We are not just playing. No time for naps.

• We will have Aides and hopefully high school students helping us.

Back to School Safety Folder

• Pencil instead of homework pass• Paperwork from office & PTG

membership send back 1st week of school

• Who has permission to pick up your child send back 1st day of school

• Cafeteria and School Bus information• Class List

Promoting Literacy Skills and a Love of Reading

•Is Something as Simple as Reading With My Child Worth It?

• In a word: Yes!

• http://www.literacyconnections.com

Saxon Phonics and Spelling

1st page-front-Phonological and phonemic awareness

1st page-back-charts of sounds and phonetic coding your child will be learning throughout the year

2nd page-Becoming a fluent reader

Remaining pages-Handwriting instruction

Orange paper-order of letter sounds

Saxon Math

• Saxon is a program that spirals. Concepts are not taught in units.

• Will send home Math Newsletters- These will let you know what is being taught in class.

• Math Newsletter will give suggestions on how to help your child at home.

• Please do not send any Saxon Math papers back to school that were completed at home.

Contents of White Folder

• School book to share with your child• Kindergarten Handbook-This will answer a lot

of your questions.• Flashcards-Capital/Lowercase letters and

Numbers-Please cut out and use them.• Sight Words-Green handout contains Saxon

words and other words that will be taught. Orange handout contains only Saxon sight words.

• Letter, number, and name writing pages

Homework

• Homework worksheet will be sent home on Tuesdays and will be due back on Thursdays.

• Homework Calendar will start in September. Please keep in outside back pocket. Don’t sent any work back to school.– Double sided– When activities are completed color the square.– Read 15 minutes every night and sign log daily.

Read to your child, with your child, and/or your child will read to you. This helps with book and print awareness, comprehension, and a love of reading.

– 2nd semester we will start accelerated reading (AR) and take 1 test a week.

Principal Parties

• These will be held at end of 1st and 2nd semester.

• Homework Reading Logs will be looked at to determine which students will be able to attend the parties.

• Read a minimum of 20 times per month to be able to attend.

Reports

• Progress Reports will go home halfway through the 9 weeks.

• Report Cards will go home every 9 weeks.

• Grades will be S, S-, or N.

Communication with Parents• http://www.windthorstisd.net We will try and keep

our page up-to-date. • My e-mail address is: kristin.berend@esc9.net • Please call me at school.

– Conference time is 11:30-12:15.• Please don’t call me at home.• Monthly Newsletters-This will inform you of

important dates and what we are learning.• Daily folder (blue)/backpack

– Put notes in front outside pocket. Show and tell your child where you put the note.

– Check/clean out backpack/folder everyday!!

Communication with Parents

• Weekly folder (red)– Left side has a checklist of things to be done weekly.– Right side has your child’s behavior chart.

They are given warnings. Stamps are given on hand and folder. Watch for washed hands. Yellow or red stamp is not the end of the world. Blue cards are given for extraordinary manners or doing things without being asked. Your child may get 2 stamps in one day. Students will get to go to the treasure box on Fridays if he/she has been on green all week.

Eating at School

• Breakfast-Everyone will go the first few weeks. Let me know in writing if your child does not need to eat at school.

• Lunch-May come and eat with your child. If you bring something such as McDonald’s, you must sit at a special table with your child.

• Snacks-Please follow the guidelines in the Kindergarten Handbook. Snack suggestions are goldfish, animal crackers, fruit snacks, and graham crackers. Send snacks anytime. I will only send a note unless we are really in need.

• Birthdays-May bring any kind of snack.

Misc. Info.

• Please send notes. Don’t just tell your child to tell me. Even if you tell me, always give me a written note. I may get busy with something else and forget.

• Help your child learn to tie his/her shoes.• May want to keep a change of clothes/underwear in

backpack.• Volunteers may be needed.• Please join PTG-$2 per child or $5 per family.• I will be sending home Highlights forms. Please send back

even if you don’t want to order because I get free stuff!! • Be sure to read changes in Student Handbook.

– Family Leave Days Pg. 14– Perfect Attendance Pg. 15

• Questions?• Thank you for coming!• Please don’t forget to sign in!• Ms. Cox will meet with Kindergarten

parents for approximately 15 minutes in the computer lab.