Welcome to Kindergarten Round-up 2011

1. Welcome to Kindergarten Round-up 2011 O.A. Peterson Elementary Principal: Todd Rogers Assistant Principal: Jennifer Villines Counselor: Stephanie Dall

2. Home Ideas for Adjusting to School • Things to work on at home – starting this summer: • Fine motor skills: cutting, coloring, lacing, holding a pencil • Counting objects • Sorting, creating and recognizing patterns • Alphabet recognition and sounds • Managing bathroom needs • Buttons pants, shirts, coats, tying shoes and zipping up zippers • Writing their name, knowing their full name, address, phone number and birthday • Read to your child every night. • Also practice: • Review the expectation of school rules, just like there are rules at home, practice good listening skills, not interrupting, sharing, good manners.

3. Adjusting to the First Days of Kindergarten • Practice Routines: • Beginning the school year is a perfect time to start routines – start this summer! • Helps the transition process • Getting ready for each school day the night before: parent signing the daily folder, make lunch together, pick out your next school day clothes, bath, story, bedtime. Arrive on-time or early to school each day.

4. Adjusting to the FirstDays of Kindergarten • Ownership: • Try to find age-appropriate responsibilities for your child to do each day: bring their folder to school in their backpack, lay out clothing at night, etc. • According to the National Education Association, “giving young children tiny tasks will reduce your stress level (parents) and actually help your child to become a better student.”

5. Adjusting to the First Days of Kindergarten • Practice Routines: • Try to keep your child’s transportation to and from school the same as much as possible (especially at first). • Review with your child when you will see them next (at 3pm, after day care, at grandma’s house, etc…) • Try to be consistent with these transportation plans and avoid being late to pick them up! • Reduces anxiety 

6. Adjusting to the First Days of Kindergarten • Starting School is Exciting: • Buy a new back pack, lunch box, or new school shoes together and make it a big deal! They are now a BIG kid! • Involve them in some of the decisions to help with ownership over going to school and learning (ie: what to wear to school)

7. Adjusting to the First Days of Kindergarten • Saying Goodbye • Make your goodbyes cheerful and brief. • Try to avoid coming back to the classroom after you have already said goodbye. • Please feel free to walk your child to their class the first two weeks of school. • Some children respond well to a planned ritual (example: 2 hugs and a thumbs up) • “Quick goodbyes leave dry eyes!”

8. Adjusting to the First Days of Kindergarten • Responding to Distress/Tears: • Don’t scold the child’s distress or fear. • Remain positive that you will see them at the end of the school day. • Remind them how they will make new friends, play at recess, etc… • Tell them what you will be doing while they are at school (at work, grocery shopping, etc…). • Avoid letting them see you sad , children of all ages can sense when adults are scared, worried, upset.

9. Home Ideas for Adjusting to School • Bigger Building, More Kids: • Some children express anxiety of the unknown students and an unknown building. • Pep Talks at home: “You’re so lucky you get to go to a brand new big kid school. Who have you met? Have you seen your brother or sister in the hallway?”

10. Home Ideas for Adjusting to School • Help your child write a letter/picture to his/her teacher. • Review the school and classroom rules at home with your child, feel free to let them ask questions. • Talk to your child about their concerns. If necessary, bring them up with the teacher or school counselor! We are here to help!

11. Home Ideas for Adjusting to School • Plan a play date- find a new friend of your child’s, get to know the family and plan some play time! • Play the name game- have your child draw pictures and write the name of the people they know at school, teacher, friends. • Make an “All-About-School” Booklet- about their favorite part of each school day. • Draw a Home-to-School Map- create a poster, picture of how they get to school. This could be a fun family project!

12. Academics and Curriculum • Get familiar with the kindergarten curriculum and what is expected of your child at the end of the year. • Practice these skills at night and on the weekends to reinforce what they are learning at school. • They grow so much both academically and socially in only one year!!

13. Academics and Curriculum • The Gift of a Good Book: • Try to read with your child every day! • Books help children build vocabulary, learn concepts of print, develop listening skills, and enjoy reading! • After you read a book - talk about the characters, their favorite part, new words they learned, words they already know! • Lead by example. Let them see you reading. • Get ideas from the book list handout! 

14. Academics and Curriculum • Word Walls: • Your student will begin learning five “word wall words” (high frequency words) each week. • Reinforce these words at home and have your child make their own list of words they know in their bedroom, on the refrigerator, on a chalkboard, etc…

15. Essential Learning for Kindergarten • Language and Literacy • Writing • Listening and Speaking • Math • Science • Social Studies • Technology

16. Ways to Get Involved with your Kindergartener • Find out the best way to stay in communication with your child’s teacher (emails, notes in folder, etc…) • Check your child’s BEE (Bring Everything Everyday) Binder every night. • Volunteer in the classroom. • Volunteer around the school (library-book fair, teacher luncheons, special events). • Join the PTA-become a member and make a difference in Peterson Elementary. • Become a Watch DOG. • Visit your child once in a while at lunch time. • Help with field trips.

17. Helpful Learning Links • Starfall- contains alphabet and phonics games! • http://www.starfall.com • Johnny Can Spell Phonogram Practice- a great way to practice the phonograms your child is learning in class. • http://phonogrampage.com/ • Rainforest Math- math games for skill levels K-6 • http://rainforestmaths.com • Reading Rockets- a great source of information to assist your child in learning to read! • http://www.readingrockets.org/ • NISD Family Involvement Program- useful tips for young children. • http://www.nisdtx.org/120710829131111623/site/defalt.asp

18. Nurse – April Capps • Please send an extra set of clothes for your child to keep in their locker. • See nurse for appropriate forms if your child will require medication at school. • Do not send your child to school 24 hrs following fever (temperature of 100 or greater), vomiting, or diarrhea. • If your child has a history of food allergies, asthma, diabetes, or seizures, please see the nurse.

19. Kindergarten Supplies • Order your supplies tonight through the school office • If you don’t want to order your supplies through the school, please bring them on Meet the Teacher Night (date to be announced).

20. P.T.A. • We encourage parents to join and participate in P.T.A. • P.T.A. serves as a vital link between home and school. • In order to volunteer at school, class parties, and field trips, you must complete a background check online through the district website.

21. Contact Information • Please visit our Kindergarten Team website during the summer for more information or fun activities to do with your child. • You may register online for our Mustang Newsletter. Visit www.nisdtx.org/Peterson for more information.

22. We Are Here for You and Your Child  • We are glad you’re here! • Please contact your child’s teacher, the school counselor, Stephanie Dall, or our principal, Todd Rogers, if there is anything we can do to make your child’s day at school even better!  • It’s an honor to serve you and your child! Welcome to O.A. Peterson Elementary!