The experiences which a child has at home can have an important influence on that child's success at
school.
Parents, please:
1. Read aloud to your child approximately 10 minutes every day. (Record books on reading lists for
our "Reading to the Moon" project).
2. Take your child to the public library at least once every two weeks and let him/her choose books
to enjoy at home.
3. Complete worksheets, and one hands-on family activity each week. These are sent home in a
packet each week. Please return homework folders each Monday.
4. Optional: Special Homework Tote bags will also be distributed from time to time. The children
often beg to be chosen to take a bag home. Please know if one comes home and you do not have
time to complete it, you may send it back. Try to return the bags within 2 days, as other children are
eager to take them home as well.
What is the MOST important part of your child's Kindergarten Homework?
. . . having books read aloud to them!
Reading to your child is an important part of his/her reading readiness and
oral language development. Experiences and ideas shared through books will
strengthen your child's understanding and vocabulary. Reading with
expression will assist your child in oral reading and comprehension.
Statistics have proven that children that are read to become good readers.
By reading to your child at home you will be helping him/her:
Learn to appreciate and enjoy reading
Expand concepts and knowledge.
Increase vocabulary and language development
Develop an ear for language and grammar.
Develop auditory and listening skills.
So . . . please read to your child every night. The goal is for parents to read at least one book to
his/her child each day, weekends included.
List the books on their reading sheet; when ten books have been read,
send the list to school. Click on "Reading Log" link on website to print a
reading log from home. In class we have a "Reading To The Moon" board.
Each time your child brings in a list they will move their rocket to another
star. At the end of the year each child will receive a certificate
indicating how many books were read in Kindergarten.
Parents often ask . . .
May I write the same book down twice?
Children often enjoy hearing a story more than once, so it is fine to read a
book over again. Books, however, may not be repeated on the same sheet more
than once.
We are reading a long/chapter book? How should we record it?
Two chapters may count as one book. (Very long chapters, may also count as
one book- use your best judgement!)
Any special tips for reading with my child?
Always make reading sessions pleasurable.
At times discuss what you've read, but don't make it a question and answer session.
Snuggle with your child and read him/her stories. You will stimulate all the
senses at once, making the experience pleasurable and creating positive
associations with reading. Start with short reading sessions and increase
their length as his/her attention span grows. When you point to words in the
text with your finger as you read, you are helping to train your child?s
eyes to automatically follow words and symbols from left to right.
Enjoy this treasured time with your child!
