Sometimes lunch time can be challenging for brand new kinders, especially as they navigate their lunch boxes. Students should be able to open and close containers and/or packages, open juice box straws and insert them, etc. In her article, Does Practice Make Perfect When it Comes to Heading to Kindergarten, Krisi Parr relays a few tips on preparing children for school lunch.
Speaking of school lunch, we will be eating lunch in our classrooms this year. I will walk all children down to the gym where hot lunch is served. Those receiving hot lunch will collect their food and I will walk the whole class back to our room where we will eat. We have 30 minutes to do this and then we resume our learning time. Kindergarten
1 pkg. Crayola crayons (24 count) 2 pkgs. Crayola Colored Pencils (12 count) 1 pkg. Crayola markers (classic colors) 1 pkg. Ticonderoga #2 Pencils Pink Pearl Eraser (no pencil toppers) 2 pkg. Black Dry Erase Markers 6 Glue Sticks 1 Box Kleenex $5 Craft Fee Learning Letters and Sounds
Learning letter names and sounds is a primary focus in the first few months of kindergarten. There are many things you can do at home to help with this. Here is an article about creative games and activities that you can do together at home to help in this important process. Links to activities and videos for letter and sound study: Starfall, Olive and the Rhyme Rescue Crew, See It, Say It, Sign It and Alpha Blocks. School Behavior We will spend a good deal of time on learning the expectations for behavior at YCES. For many students, coming to kindergarten can be quite an adjustment. Larger classes, new social stimuli and greater levels of freedom can be overwhelming for many students. I anticipate this and prepare for it. Part of being in a learning community means learning how function within it such as learning to pay attention and to manage one's own body so that everyone can be successful. Some children come to school with this skill, some learn it at school right away and some need lots and lots of practice before becoming proficient. Our class will have students in all of these stages. I always tell students that my job, above all else, is to keep them safe at school and this is why I must help them learn to be PAX leaders (students who pay attention, are safe, respectful, responsible, kind and productive with their bodies). Many students will struggle with attention related issues - not giving attention to staff, not responding to redirection, talking while others are talking. Others will struggle to understand that rules need to be followed - especially keeping hands to self. Some students will struggle with the frustration they feel when others make choices that negatively impact the school environment. Learning how to be a productive member of any community is an ongoing process and something we will work on daily.There will be an adjustment period for all students. Chances are, if you are wondering if your child will struggle or is struggling in these areas, they probably will or are. Here are a few resources that might be helpful: Changing Children's Behavior in School, How to Improve Attention Spans, Acting Out in School: When your child is the class troublemaker, 12 Ways Parents Can Help Their Children Succeed At School, Screen time and children, |
Mrs. ChadwickKindergarten Teacher Archives
April 2020
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