First Week of Kindergarten!

Well I honestly can’t believe that we are starting school this week!  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 12^th 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 Monday night the next morning 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. I am so very fortunate to have a job that I truly love and I promise to try my hardest each and every day to make your child’s experience in kindergarten the very best that it can be!

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) –and  I am sure I will hear at least 50 times in the first hour – is it time to play or when is lunch or I am bored? But I assure you we will be having fun along the way to learning the routines of kindergarten.

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. Woita 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.

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!

Tell your kindergartener I can’t wait for our first day together! Mrs. Woita