Classroom Information

Supplies:
Your child will need the following supplies:
4- yellow, number 2 pencils (sharpened)
1- box of 8 crayola crayons (basic colors only)
1- pair of pointed Fisker’s for Kids, scissors
1- 4oz. bottle of Elmer’s School Glue
1- pink eraser
2-each of pocket folders with clasps-red, yellow, green, blue, purple

1- large box of tissues
1 back pack large enough to hold folders without bending them
1- box of healthy snacks enough for 23 children (1 month shelf life and in original packaging)

Please follow this list carefully when selecting the supplies for school as I have found from experience that these products work best for our classroom projects.  I ask that you do not label any item except the back pack. 

Ready to Learn:
Our full day kindergarten day is full of learning and fun.  To help your child get the most of their time here they should come to school prepared to learn. To make learning easier for children they will need to have their basic needs met before arriving to our classroom.  These needs include a good night of sleep, a full stomach, and a hug to start their day.

Parents as Partners:
In our program we learn several new letters and sounds each week.  We also work in themes from our curriculum.  In our monthly newsletter I will include a calendar with the topics listed so that you can incorporate discussion of these themes at home.  Studies have shown that students whose parents are involved with the school, achieve higher grades and generally do better in school.
     One very important way to be involved in your child’s learning, is with enrichment from home.  I suggest a 15 minute per night “homework time” as this is the average amount of time your child will stay focused on a task.  Find a quiet place to work with your child and have a second school box handy with needed supplies.  During this time you can look through the work in your child’s bag and review areas that were difficult for them.  Review the letter, word, number and shape flashcards I sent at orientation.
      Have your child read their shoebox library books to you and encourage  them to use new strategies to decode words.

Friday Folders:
Each Friday, I will be sending home a Friday Folder with information and projects your child has completed as well as homework assignments to do together.
     On the left side of the folder is a teacher/parent communication log.   I will write to you about how your child’s week went and the specific goal they are working toward. I would appreciate comment or questions on the parent side of the log or at least a signature to let  me know you are aware of their goals and are working toward them at home as well.   This is a great way to keep in touch with each other and I appreciate the feedback.  Please take the time to look through these folders each weekend and be sure to return them the following school day so that new goals may be set. 

Discovery/Enrichment Time:
Each day the students have a time to interact, socialize, and solve problems during our discovery time. These areas of the room provide a variety of hands on learning activities to build social skills  and reinforce concepts we are studying.

Bag Books:
Because I feel it is important for children to be read to each day, I offer my own collection of books for them to take home each evening.   These “bag books” are self selected by the children and are not books most kindergarteners can read independently so you will need to read them to your child. Your child can take home a new bag book as long as they bring the bag and book back with them each day.  Please use the “hand” on the back of the bag to review the stories you have read together and help to build your child’s comprehension skills. 

Guided Reading Folders: In our literacy program, we use a technique called “Guided Reading”. I will work with your child to guide them to develop various strategies or “tricky word tricks” to help them decode texts that are written for their level.  After each lesson your child will be able to take home the book they read so that they may share it with family and you can see how they are progressing.  These books will be sent in a tan folder along with the Friday Folders each week. When your child reads their book to you, please encourage them to use the decoding strategies on the back of the folder and record how they did on the guided reading card in the folder.  These folders will need to be returned the following school day so that new books may be sent home. 

Writing:The students write daily in a writers folder.  At first they will often write using pictures to represent ideas.  In the 2nd quarter they will begin to use sight words and letter sound knowledge to write words and ideas.  By the 3rd quarter the students will be writing sentences and stories with correct spacing and editing. We incorporate writing for various purposes such as "How To" books, persuasive, letters and notes to friends, true stories, opinions etc..  These writing folders will come home at the end of the school year so you can see how your child has progressed. 

Our Favorite Authors
Mem Fox
Eric Carle
Marc Brown
Leo Lionni
Ezra Jack Keats
Lois Ehlert
Donald Crews

© Coates MacBook 2014