Welcome to Kindergarten! With apprehension yet excitement we know that this
is a fun time for your family and child. This is the first step in your
child becoming independent and academically sound in his or her educational
career.
Kindergarten used to be known for painting, learning to tie ones shoe,
befriending other classmates and other very basic necessities to be
successful in school. Yes, these are still part of your child's daily
routine. However, because of the No Child Left Behind push that President
Bush has implemented, it is vital for your child to do much more in
Kindergarten. This includes learning all letters and sounds, memorizing
basic site words, reading, and much more.
Three times a year, your child will take a test called the Dynamic
Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS). DIBELS is a test that
Chimney Lakes takes seriously. We have found that the students that succeed
with the DIBELS testing become strong readers and supersede other readers.
Because the DIBELS testing is one of the three objectives students must pass
to be promoted to the first grade, we strongly recommend that parents
practice at home with their children. Once our homework routine begins, it
will be part of the weekly ritual. This is important because it gets your
child used to homework for future grades.
Our classroom is a fun, yet a productive environment. We put learning to
music, movement, and many other fun ways to learn. This is to include all
types of learners. Your child will come home and sing these songs (We
apologize). Encourage them to sing and have fun with it. We will post all
new song on our songs page so that you can reinforce them at home.
Math concepts are taught using concrete objects that children can manipulate
to grasp the basic skills of every mathematical concept. If children are
given the opportunity to manipulate objects to learn, they grasp the basic
concepts so that they can work from the concrete to the abstract. Giving
students the opportunity to work in this direction, concrete to abstract,
allows them the reasoning skills they need to be successful in every area in
math in the future.
Parents play a strong role in their child’s learning. Just speaking to your
child helps develop vocabulary and social skills that most children lack.
Reading to your child once a night also benefits your child and their
ability to conquer reading and basic vocabulary skills. Play games with your
child such as I spy while driving down the road. If you see a McDonalds or a
Burger King, tell them you spy a letter M. Again a basic skill that some
parents may not think of that is simple, yet enhances their child’s learning.
This year is going to be full of fun yet significant experiences for your
child. Take time, even if it is 10 minutes, to talk to your child about
their day. Do not give them opened ended questions that they can simply
answer with a yes or no. Ask them to tell you 2 things they liked today at
school, and one that they did not like. This will open a door full of
conversation that you and your child will treasure for a lifetime.
Good luck and we are very excited to get started in our new school year.
Love, Hugs, & Kisses,
Mrs. Mauger & Mrs. Torrens
