So much is going on in Kindergarten! We are having fun each day (I say we, because I am very much enjoying my time with your children) getting to know each other and learning new things!
I have heard from some of you that your child is coming home singing new songs. This is music to my ears! We love to sing in Kindergarten! After being a camp counselor for 15 summers fun, silly songs are in my wheelhouse of tricks during transitions and different times of the day. Learning lyrics to songs is an early literacy skill that can help children when they are reading for fluency later in school. Encourage your child by singing with them or asking he or she to teach you the song!
We are continuing to establish expectations for routines and classroom behaviors. This week the children created their hopes and dreams for Kindergarten, brainstormed rules to help achieve those dreams and today, we categorized the very long list of rules into rules about “the classroom”, “others” or “ourself”. Tomorrow, we will condense the rules into 3-4 general rules in positive language and then sign the document to hang on our wall.
We are working on our morning routines and hallway routines as well. In the morning, children are expected to do a few “jobs,” which include putting away backpacks and coats, folders into their folder cubby, marking their attendance and putting their “egg” in the correct lunch bowl – home, school or milk. Once children have finished their morning jobs they have morning work at the tables. Each day of the week has an assigned task they must complete before morning meeting.
Hallway behavior is always hard one for young children. Five year olds talk as they think so staying quiet for even a walk to the gym can be really difficult! This year I have implemented a “marble jar” just for hallway behavior. When Mrs. Clark or I see great hallway behavior the class receives a marble. We have been having success with this and the children like to hear the “clink, clink” when a marble goes in the jar!
Starting next week we will begin our Person of the Day Project. This is an at home project you do with your child. Each child will have an assigned day where they can share some important things with us and present their family album page. Details can be found here: Person of the Day.
Have a great weekend!
