ARRIVAL AT SCHOOL

The building is open by 7:20 am each day.  Class begins at 7:45.  Our first subject is phonics and literacy so it is critical students be on time.  As students enter the classroom, they have a three-task procedure to complete: hang coat and backpack in hall, move name on milk chart, get folder and go to seat to begin morning work.  It is critical for students to be seated and engaged in morning work by 7:40 am.  Small habits yield great rewards.

DISMISSAL FROM SCHOOL

Kindergarten is over at 11 am.  Parents are responsible to arrange for transportation home.  Please let the office know, as early as possible, if your child will be picked up by someone other than his or her parent.  

BREAKFAST AT SCHOOL

If your child will be eating breakfast at school, they need to be in the lunchroom by 7:25 am.  Please notify me if your child is to eat breakfast at school.    

THURSDAY IS P.E

Each Thursday we have P.E..  Please make sure your child wears shoes that are appropriate for physical activities, like running, jumping, etc.  During the winter months, if students wear snow boots, please send appropriate P.E. shoes for them the change into.

HOMEWORK

We will have weekly homework including a reading log of books read at home during the week.  Any minutes spend on Reading Eggs can be recorded on the reading log also.  STUDENTS MUST RETURN THEIR WEEKLY HOMEWORK IN ORDER TO PRESENT IN SHOW AND TELL!   

When students have been absent or missed part of class work, they will be responsible to do the missed work at home in addition to the weekly homework.  If a student falls behind in daily work, they may choose to complete it at recess or take it home for homework.  Please be aware of papers stamped with “homework” in red ink.  Have your student complete and return any “homework” stamped papers.

FRIDAY IS SHOW AND TELL

Each Friday students may bring ONE item from home to show the rest of the class.  This is to meet the standards of speaking and listening.  Students can also “tell” the class something if they don’t have an item to show.  STUDENTS MUST RETURN THEIR WEEKLY HOMEWORK IN ORDER TO PRESENT IN SHOW AND TELL!  

CLASSROOM DISCIPLINE

We have five classroom rules that come from the “Whole Brain Teaching” method: follow directions quickly, raise your hand to speak, raise your hand to leave your seat, make smart choices, and keep your dear teacher happy.  When the rules are broken, student’s name clip is removed from the learning tree as a warning.  Further misbehavior can result in loss of recess time, fun class activities or if needed, a visit to the principal.

PARENT HELP

Help is necessary and greatly appreciated.  Our class will need regular help during center time (8:30-9:00).  Please consider your schedule and if you can help, let me know.   This is a great opportunity to see your child in the classroom setting as well as learn about your child’s classmates.  If you would like to help occasionally (not weekly) let me know.   

SNACKS AND DRINKS

Each student needs to bring a snack for the class to share.  Crackers and cookies are always practical and well received.  Students also love apples, (we can slice them here), baby carrots, grapes, string cheese, gogurts, etc. I will send out a request again in the middle of the year when we start getting low.  Your kindergarten registration fee covers the cost of daily milk.   Snack time will be at 9:45 each day (immediately following recess).  To avoid ruined papers and distracted students, please do not send water bottles to school. We have a drinking fountain in our classroom.  

CORE CURRICULUM

• Our district uses the Houghton Mifflin Reading program.  Students will learn the letters of the alphabet along with the sound that each letter represents.  These skills are reinforced with fun activity pages that we do every day.  Each letter of the alphabet has an “Alpha-Friend” to help students remember the letter names and sounds.  

• Math Expressions is our new math curriculum.  It is aligned with the Common Core standards.  The fundamental concepts to be mastered in kindergarten will be solving and posing addition and subtraction word problem situations and solving numerical additions and subtractions to 10.  Seeing the ten in teen numbers (e.g., 13 is ten and three) and understanding “Which is more/less?”

• Our handwriting program is “Handwriting Without Tears.”  Students will learn to form letters on two lines instead of the traditional 3.  

• The Waterford computer program is a self-paced reading program that is parallel to the Idaho Reading Indicator.  This interactive program reinforces letter names, and sounds through music, nursery rhymes, and games. Students will have a turn on the computers in our classroom twice a week..

• Fremont School District provides access to an online learning resource called Reading Eggs. Your child will receive a username and password to enable them to log into Reading Eggs at school and also AT HOME!  This is a colorful game-filled program that will help your student with letter sounds, blending letters, and learning to read.  This is of no cost to you.

• Most days we have a special class such as music, P.E., or computer lab.

PARENT/TEACHER COMMUNICATION

I will do most communication through text message using Remind101 and email.  Please be sure I have your cell phone number and email address.  If you prefer a printed letter, please inform me and I will be happy to send a printed letter home with your student.