DAILY SCHEDULE
The Kindergarten day begins at 8:45 and ends at 3:30. It is very important that your child wear a
name tag to school for the first several weeks.  The name tag should have your
child’s name, address, and type of transportation (parent pick-up, daycare bus
or school bus, etc.) that your child is taking to and home from school. Please
be specific about this information (and the specific bus # if that applies).
There are many people who help your child get to and from school.  These tags
are essential in making sure that your child gets to school and back home safely.
If there is a day when you will be making changes to your child’s normal
transportation routine (doctor’s appointments, special occasions, etc.) you
must send in a note with your son/daughter.  If I do not receive a note about
this change I will have to send your child home according to what he/she has
normally been using as transportation from school.


LABELS
Please label your child’s coats, boots, sweaters and book bags.  When several
students have the same style of items, labels help!


DAILY FOLDER
Your child will be bringing home various graded work, letters and/or memos
from the office on a daily basis.  It is important that you check your child’s
special notes or memos sent home in these folders can remain at home unless
indicated otherwise. 


WEEKLY UPDATES
On Saturdays this website will be updated with a new version of "Kindergarten
News". Please check back often to review information about weekly classroom


POETRY NOTEBOOK
A weekly Poetry Notebook containing poems that we have learned will be sent home weekly.  This notebook will be sent home each Friday (some weeks we will skip if there are no new poems). Please have your child share the poem(s) with you. Your responsibility is to sign the “Lucky Listener” form attached to the notebook.
All Poetry Notebooks must be returned on Mondays and the poems themselves will remain in the folder.


CURRICULUM
Language Arts
    We will be using a multi-sensory approach to learn and recall the letters and
sounds of the alphabet.  This program is called “Phonics First” and is rich in
using all of a child’s senses to explore letters and letter sounds.  We will
be writing, drawing painting (among many other things) to practice this aspect
of language.  The students have various levels and abilities.  This will be
addressed in the coming days and weeks of school.  We will have teacher one on
one “reading group” times as well as independent reading opportunities
throughout the year to support individual strengths and weaknesses. 
    The Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools has adopted Trophies (a Harcourt
Publisher) as our reading series.  I will be using many aspects of this
program to enhance your child’s ability as well.  Your child’s “Book Box” will
play an important role in your child’s development too!  Please see that you
purchase this box as soon as possible.  The size is a15qt. clear tote with a
white (not clear) lid.  The white lid is the only item needed from the tote to
be brought to school at this time.  More information will be sent home at a
later time in regard to the purpose and focus for these boxes and how you will
use them at home.
    Students will be writing in weekly journals and will be given the opportunity
to increase their oral communication ability by sharing in our “Author Chair”
each week. The students love this and look forward to being the one with all
of the focused attention while sitting in the “Author Chair”! Please
remember, no child will be forced to participate in sharing.  However, it is
my goal to get every child comfortable with talking in front of the whole
class at various times of the school year.

Math
    The district has adopted Math Investigations as our math series.  The
children will be learning various strategies related to counting, estimation,

Social Studies/Science/Health
In this part of our curriculum we will be focusing on one subject area at a
time.  This means that during a science unit we will not be doing social
studies or health and vice versa.  This allows us to take a lot of time to
focus on one subject at time.  The students tend to “soak in” more information
when subjects and specific units are taught this way.  It has been a very
successful approach. The students will however, experience all three
curriculum areas during the school year.


CENTERS
During each week, the children will experience a variety of activities through
centers.  The students will complete various tasks focusing on areas of the
curriculum mentioned above.  During center time the students work
independently as well as in groups.  This allows me to use a wide variety of
materials and project ideas to enhance and strengthen student’s needs and
abilities.  Through center work, the children will get to practice the
“Character Counts” concepts mentioned above as well.



SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Social development is very important in kindergarten.  We will be working on
getting along with others , solving problems, and taking responsibility for
our own supplies and behavior.  This will be an ongoing process throughout the
year. Please refer to the "Classroom Behavior Plan" highlighted on our website
for more information.