Once the turkey and pumpkin pie are eaten, it is time to think about report cards and parent conferences. It can be a stressful time of year for a kindergarten teacher. A few years ago, the kindergarten report card was revised to reflect the changing expectations of the curriculum – both academically and socially. I am happy with the new report, mostly because I think it gives you – the parent – more information about your child as a learner. When you receive your child’s report card on November 30, please know that I thought about not only where your child began at the beginning of the term, but how far they have come when making their grades. Bring the report card with you so we are able to discuss it at your parent conference.
Foggy helps me wrap my holiday books.
While next week will be a busy one for me with parent conferences, it will also be one of kindergarten traditions. During the holiday season, I wrap up all my holiday children’s books and put children’s names in a hat. Each day a child’s name is chosen and they get to unwrap a book, which then we read together. It is a fun way to hear lots of different texts – personal holiday favorites from my childhood, Christmas books from around the world, Chanukkah books (My all time favorite is Latkes and Applesauce), some Kwanza books and I recently have found some shared traditions books as well.
This time of year can be a busy one for families. Lots of parties, activities and excitement waiting for you know who. Make time for your child to have some quiet family time too. While it is exciting for young children, it can be overwhelming with so much anticipation. Curl up with a good holiday book from your own collection or from the library!
A friend who is a librarian just posted this quote and I love it! So true!
“Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.”
~Emilie Buchwald
We will also be doing a mini thematic unit on the Gingerbread Man. As an early Christmas present to myself, I just purchased two new versions of the gingerbread man story from Amazon! We will read several versions of the classic story, do retelling activities, an art project, some math and a writing piece.
I am also pleased to announce we are bringing back the Kindergarten tradition of singing at the Jesmond Nursing Home! When I sat on the Johnson School Strategic Planning Advisory Council a few years ago, it was important to us that there was a strong school to community connection. One thing the kindergarten began to do was sing at the Jesmond during the holidays. Since this began, other grade levels have sung or done other service projects for various community groups during the year, not just at the holidays. We will be traveling to the Jesmond on Tuesday, Dec. 18 in the morning. Details to go home in the folders soon.
