Ready or not, KINDERGARTEN starts tomorrow. For some kids
that means coming to a new school and for others it may mean leaving mom and
dad for the first time. Last Thursday night was open house, and it went great!
I am so glad that almost all of my new friends got to come in and check out our
classroom before the school year starts! Thank you all for coming!
Tuesday, August 12th is the first day of
Kindergarten and I know that probably both you and your child are feeling all
sorts of different emotions – excited, anxious, nervous, scared.. and when you tuck
your child into bed tonight you know in the morning that they will be going off
to school and it will seem surreal! It is so crazy how fast kids grow up and
how time flies but please know that when your child walks into my classroom at
8:55 that I will do my very best to help your child feel comfortable and safe
at school. Please know that I absolutely love my job and I am doing to do
whatever it takes to make both you and your kindergarten kid feel relaxed and
comfortable about school.
This first week we will be going over A LOT of routines and
the kids will probably not like me very much because I have learned that it is
much better to go slow and learn things well than to go too fast and have to
reteach everything (yes I learned this the hard way). It is very common that in
the first hour I hear the two questions, “Is it almost time to go home?” or “I’m
hungry, is it lunch yet?” Although I do hear these questions please know that
while learning our routines we are having a TON of fun!!
We will learn our line order – this is how we will line up
everyday all the time – for example when we get to school, when we go to lunch
and specials and how we line up after recess is over and at the end of the day.
Right now my line order is in alphabetical order but will probably change once
we get into the swing of things!
We will also learn our three school rules – Be Respectful –
Be Responsible – Be Safe – we will be going over one rule very well each day
and on Wednesday you will be getting a behavior contract that I would like you
to read over and discuss with your child and return to school. If it is
returned your child will receive a special “key to success” necklace! Attached
to the behavior contract will be the homework helper sheet – the homework I
send home your child should be able to complete independently but it is a great
routine to start to love at a young age and hopefully it will be fun for your
child. I do keep track of the homework returned so please make a point of
returning it when it is completed! You probably think it is crazy but my
kindergarten friends usually LOVE doing homework and ask for it everyday! It
will probably be sent home 1-3 times a week.
Everyday this week your child will get a nametag to wear and
we will be working on getting to know each other better. We will get to roll a
dice and answer a question about ourselves.
We will be reading a lot of books that have to do with
starting school and especially kindergarten. Mrs. Schroeder loves Chester the
Raccoon and we will read quite a few of his books as well this week – I am sure
you will hear all about it!
We will take a tour of the school and find out where the
office is, the lunch room, all of our specials (computer, pe, music, and art)
classrooms are, we will also find the library and the courtyards. And we will
be meeting some important people along the way!
Please make sure to ask your child about this on Wednesday night!
We will practice a fire drill twice – once with just our
classroom and the other one with the entire school. When we hear the bells we
will line up quietly and go out the door toward the fence by the playground. I
will also talk to my friends about what would happen if they were not in my
classroom when they hear the fire alarms. We will even get to read some awesome
fire safety books!!
In Math we will be learning how numbers are all around us,
we will be reading Anno’s Counting Book (which actually has no words just
scenes so we will get to make up the words), we will also be learning about our
Daily Math Routines which we will do everyday and I will explain in greater
detail at a later time!
In Literacy we will again be learning the routines but also
be focusing on letters A-E and learning the word “I” – yep we will be reading
before you know it! We will read a different poem everyday and we will also be
talking a lot about books and authors and illustrators and what it takes to be
a good reader and writer! We will read “Library Mouse” and discuss storytelling
and then everyone will get to sit on the rocking chair and tell a story that
has really happened to them!
In Unit Studies we will be focusing on staying safe when we
are at school and learning the school rules!
Lunch time will be a big learning time as well – I promise
there are many adults that will help your child not only go through the line to
make sure they get milk, and fruits and vegetables, but that they get
silverware and get to the table with all their food still on their plate. We
will learn how to open our milk and hopefully eat without getting too
distracted and finally how to dump our trays and line up for recess! Your child
does not need to know their snap number until later on in the year – I just
wanted you to have it in case you would like to put money in your child’s
account on-line! They will have lunch cards that they will give the lunch
ladies!
JEEZ!!! We will be doing a lot this week and I know I have
forgot a lot! Oh one important thing I left off was is that NO I do not approve
of bribing kids all the time but I will admit this first week during dismissal
time that is what I plan on doing. I will be honest and say that dismissal time
is a little crazy and that I want to make sure that all of my friends get with
the correct person so I am planning on bribing them everyday with a little
snack. So PLEASE be patient as dismissal time will take a little bit longer
this first week! When your child sees you they will need to say to me “there is
my mom/dad/sister (whomever it is that is picking up your child) and then I
will try and make eye contact with you and give your child a treat for telling
me and I will give them either a high five or a hug and I will send them off to
you! I promise the treats are only for the first week and until I become
familiar with who is picking up your child!
Please know that I am so very excited and looking forward to
this new school year and working will all of my new friends and watching them
grow as learners! If you have any questions or concerns please know that my
door is always open!
I am SUPER excited for tomorrow and getting ready to take my
first day of school picture with Jackson :)
Love- Mrs. Schroeder
