Kindergarten News

September 2016
WELCOME
This is the first newsletter of the
school year. A newsletter will be
posted on my blog at the beginning of
each month. This bulletin along with my
classroom blog site
(jzentner@weebly.com) are my main
tools for communicating with families
about assignments, topics of study for
the month ahead, important dates, and
more. A calendar will also be posted
containing dates for specials, parties,
assemblies and other fun happenings
specific for each classroom. It might
be helpful to print and hang somewhere
visible within your house.

THINGS WE ARE
LEARNING
*Morning Routine (greeting your teacher,
hanging up your backpack and coat (if
you have one), and putting your folder
and pencil box at your desk.)
*Classroom Rules
*Names of classmates and school helpers
*How to find our buses
*Pledge of Allegiance
*Writing our names with correct

formation
*Reviewing capital letter formation
*Cut and paste art projects
*Sorting and categorizing
*Listening skills
*Rhyming words
*Listening and counting words in a
sentence and syllables in words
*Say-It and Move-It- children listen for
letter-sounds and move one token for
each sound they hear.
* Center Skills- staying on-task and
appropriate behavior
*Making smart choices- listening to
others, following
directions, keeping hands to self,
using manners
*Drawing simple shapes and coloring
neatly
*Calendar Routine (date, counting the
number of days we have been in
school, weather, temperature, days of
the week, months of the year)
*Classroom Routines (how to line-up, get
snack, ask to use the restroom, sit on
the carpet, walk in the halls, exit for a
fire drill)

LITERACY NEWS
READING STREET

Scott Foresman Reading Street is our

core reading program this year.
Research has identified 5 major
components of an effective reading
program (phonological awareness,
phonics, fluency, vocabulary and
comprehension). Reading Street has
organized these, as well as writing into
4 strands (Oral Language, Shared
Reading, Word Work, and Language
Arts) that will become part of our daily
routine. The strands work together to
meet the needs of all the students in
the class and build a solid foundation in
reading. Science and social studies are
incorporated into the lessons as each
Unit is developed around a concept. You
will be updated on the lessons and skills
we are working on with unit overview
sheets and weekly homework activities.

SMALL GROUP
INSTRUCTION

Sometime in September each

kindergarten classroom will begin small
group instruction in the
area of literacy. Our goal is to have all
kindergarteners moving into first grade
being proficient in the skills taught in
our Reading
Street program, including highfrequency sight words. Mrs. Taylor or
Mrs. Anderson will work daily with
those students who need additional
assistance in learning these skills. All
of the students in the class will receive
reading instruction from me, both in
large group and small group settings.
All students will be working on literacy
activities according to their
instructional needs. We want each child
to be successful. You may help your
child by making sure you read to
him/her at least ten minutes everyday.
Thank you for your support.

BUS TAGS AND

NAMETAGS
Please keep the green bus tag attached
to your childs backpack until it falls
off. If you feel it is necessary, you can
make a new bus tag for your child.
These tags are very helpful at dismissal
time.

BACKPACKS
Please have your child return the
large Hershey folder to school each
and every day! Papers to you and to
me will be safely transported to and
from home this way. It will make it
easier for your child if their bagpack is
large enough to fit their large Hershey
folder. Be sure to check your childs
folder at the end of each school day
for papers to keep at home and items
that need to be completed and
returned.
Thank you for promptly
returning many of the forms that have
been sent home.
By returning
information to me quickly, my job will be
made easier. I sincerely appreciate
your help.

HOMEWORK
In Kindergarten, homework assignments
are designed to be a fun reinforcement
of learning. The assignments also serve
as an informal means for you as a
parent to see how your child is doing.
~ A weekly Reading Street homework
sheet will be sent home at the
beginning of each week. Look for the
first one to come home the third
week in September. Students are
asked to return these weekly
homework sheets are to be sent back
to school on Friday each week.

BOOK ORDERS
MATH CORNER
This month we will be working on
patterning, identifying and manipulating
pattern block shapes, counting by 1s to
25, counting backwards from 10-0,
writing numerals to 10, and comparing
sizes.

LIBRARY
All kindergarten students, both morning
and afternoon, will have library once a
cycle. Our class will go on Day 5. This
is a change from our initial schedule so
please make a note!

I will be sending the first of many book

orders in the near future. Please read
the classroom handbook for
instructions on how to order books for
your child at reasonable prices. Also, I
prefer if you place your book orders
online. Please refer to the letter from
Scholastic, that I will be attaching to
the book orders. This will also explain
how to order online. Books ordered
online will be delivered to the classroom
and I will send them home with your
child. The first book order is due
September 16th. Our online classroom
ordering code is H6VLT.

ROOM PARENTS
Room parents will be chosen by the PTO
sometime this month. Individual
classroom teachers will share the
names of the room parents with all
families. The room parents will be
assembling a class contact list, helping
to coordinate classroom parties and
volunteers, and sending home reminders
about party and treat sign-ups. In
order to be included on the class
contact list, you need to return the
permission form which will be coming
home soon. Watch for it!

PARENT VISITORS
If you are coming into school for any
reason, please make sure to have your
drivers license or photo identification
card available. You will be asked to
show this identification in the main
office. Also, if you are planning to
work/attend special activities in the
classroom this year, you will need to
contact the district office or go on our
district website to find out how to
obtain the appropriate clearances.
Thank you for your cooperation.

FINAL THOUGHT
Kindergarten is such a wonderful and
vital year for your child. It is really
the foundation for your
childs entire school career. It is my
hope to make this a fabulous year so
your child has a solid foundation on
which to build their education. I look
forward to working together as a team
to help your childs year in Kindergarten
be successful. Thank you in advance for
being a partner in your childs
education.

NURSES REQUEST

Due to the large amount of children in

our school and the frequent accidents
that can occur, we are asking that each
child have a change of clothes in their
backpack. This will ensure that your
child has back up clothing that is
his/her size if need be. Thank you for
your cooperation!