Kindergarten is right around the corner Help your child

Kindergarten is right around the corner…Help your child get off to a great start! Tips for a Successful Entry Into Kindergarten

Kindergarten Matters… n n n A good year helps your child form a positive attitude about school. What your child learns will be built upon in the grades that follow. Your child will be more successful if he/she: knows what to expect, familiar with following routines and rules, works with others, and enjoys learning.

School Administrators: Oak Hill Elementary: Mrs. Jane Jones

Pulaski Elementary: Mrs. Angela Wilson

Southern Elementary: Mr. Keith Patrick

Information and forms § It is very important that all forms are completed and returned to school as soon as possible. § Please alert teachers IMMEDIATELY of all food allergies and/or other medical problems. § Make sure the kindergarten teacher knows how your child will be transported and where, especially for the first day and the first week.

Family Resource Coordinators… n Oak Hill Elementary: Ms. Amy Cress 676 -0534 n Pulaski Elementary: Ms. Jill Goff 678 -0590 n Southern Elementary: Ms. Susan Cross & Ms. Irma Ashley 677 -0229

Visits to School n Preschool Transition Day: Thursday, May 1 st n Drive by the school, so that your child is familiar with the surroundings. All schools welcome parents to visit the kindergarten rooms to see how the program is set up. Come to Open House to see school classroom and meet with the teacher. n n Complete Volunteer process

Supplies n NO ROLLING BACKPACKS. These can be dangerous. Also note the recent information on not loading children down with HEAVY backpacks. n Do not send binders or supply boxes unless requested by teacher. n If buying glue, please do not buy glitter or gel glue. n Do not allow your child to bring toys to school unless teacher requests.

Common Core Standards The Common Core State Standards were designed to start in kindergarten and build in each grade toward a set of College and Career Readiness Standards by the end of high school. n

KY Core Academic Standards: English/Language Arts n n n Naming upper- and lower-case letters, matching those letters with their sounds, and printing them Comparing the adventures and experiences of characters in familiar stories, such as fairy tales and folktales Retelling familiar stories and talking about stories read to them using details from the text

KY Core Academic Standards: English/Language Arts n n n Using a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to describe an event, including his or her reaction to what happened Stating an opinion or preference about a topic or book in writing (e. g. , “My favorite book is. . . ”) Taking part in classroom conversations and following rules for discussions (e. g. , learning to listen to others and taking turns when speaking)

Speaking clearly to express thoughts, feelings, and ideas, including descriptions of familiar people, places, things, and events n Asking and answering questions about key details in stories or other information read aloud n Understanding and using question words (e. g. , who, what, where, when, why, how) in discussions n Learning to recognize, spell, and properly use those little grammatical words that hold the language together (e. g. , a, the, to, of, from, I, is, are) n

KY Core Academic Standards: Math n n n Counting objects to tell how many there are Comparing two groups of objects to tell which group, if either, has more; comparing two written numbers to tell which is greater Acting out addition and subtraction word problems and drawing diagrams to represent them

n n n Adding with a sum of 10 or less; subtracting from a number 10 or less; and solving addition and subtraction word problems Adding and subtracting very small numbers quickly and accurately (e. g. , 3 + 1) Correctly naming shapes regardless of orientation or size (e. g. , a square oriented as a “diamond” is still a square)

Practice writing… 1. Have your child practice writing using a variety of tools such as a Magna Doodle, crayons, pencils and markers. Check that your child is gripping the writing utensil correctly. You may even consider using different items around the house such as pudding, rice, sand, or shaving cream.

Practice writing… 2. 3. 4. Write your child’s name in large letters (or use magnetic letters). Say each letter aloud as you write or place it so your child can associate the name of the letter with the shape of the letters. Cut apart the letters of a word (or use magnetic letters and have him/her put them back in the correct order saying the name of each letter while doing so. Label your child’s door or other objects.

Practice recognizing and writing the numbers 0 to 10 (or higher) 1. 2. 3. 4. Read and enjoy counting books together. Point out numbers in license plates, in the store, in your home, and all around you. Use magnetic numbers to have your child practice naming them. Practice writing numbers with a variety of materials such as pencils, crayons, markers, sidewalk chalk, etc.

Practice counting orally and practice counting objects (to 10 or higher) 1. 2. 3. Have your child count his/her own snacks such as pretzels, goldfish crackers, grapes, etc… Count each item as you pick up 10 things to put away in the house or bedroom. Count the number of stair steps in your house or the number of steps from your car to the store.

Practice naming and correctly writing the letters in the alphabet 1. 2. 3. 4. Read and enjoy alphabet books together. Help your child recognize letters of the alphabet in everyday life (ex. Restaurants, road signs, store signs, cereal boxes, etc…). Explore with magnetic letters (see the activity sheet in the folder. ) Practice recognizing and writing both upper and lowercase letters. (see letter information sheet in folder. )

Practice naming and drawing the six basic shapes (circle, triangle, square, rhombus, ellipse, rectangle. ) 1. 2. 3. Point out objects in your house or environment that have the basic shapes such as doors, windows, clocks, can tops, kites, etc… Read and enjoy shape books together. Have your child draw the shapes on chalkboards, paper, etc…then cut them out naming each shape while doing so.

Practice your phone number and address 1. 2. Have your child practice the phone number on a play telephone. Make up a rhyme or song to go along with your phone number that your child can remember. Practice it regularly.

Some Tips to Help with Beginning Reading and Writing The greatest benefits of reading are obtained when the child is an active participant engaging in discussion about stories, talking about meanings of words and the story, predicting outcomes, and relating the story matter to other texts and his/her own life. 1. Read to your child daily. 2. Talk about the book as you read your child and after you have finished reading it.

Some Tips to Help with Beginning Reading and Writing 11. 12. 13. Make sure your child sees you as a reader, (reading a newspaper, enjoying a good book, reading a catalog, etc. ) When reading with a child, always sit beside the child with the book between you so that you can both see the text and enjoy the pictures. Consider giving books as presents so they become associated with a pleasurable experience and have special meaning.

Math In Focus RA It! S ine g Ima WATERFORD magine It! I MY MATH

Kindergarten At A Glance: Daily Schedule n n 7: 40 -8: 10 Learning Centers, Computers, Attendance, Pledge… 8: 10 -8: 30 Leader Activities, Morning Message… 8: 30 -8: 50 Breakfast 8: 55 -10: 55 Language Arts Block: Whole Group & Small Group

Schedule continued… Rotations Calendar Activities, Letter/Sound Review, Computers… n 10: 55 -11: 35 Special Class (Art, PE, Library, Music…) n 11: 35 -12: 10 Math n 12: 10 -12: 30 Recess n

Schedule continued… n n n 12: 30 -1: 00 Lunch 1: 00 -1: 15 Read-Aloud/Song 1: 15 -1: 45 Continue Math 1: 45 -2: 15 Theme Time (Science/S. S. ) 2: 15 -2: 25 Snack 2: 25 -3: 00 Centers

Schedule continued… n 3: 00 -3: 15 Closing Routine: Review of day, prepare to go home, story/song…

Ring the Bell for Literacy n Child (kindergarten and/or first grade) reads his/her first book aloud to authorized teacher, media specialist or instructor at school.

Ring the Bell for Literacy, cont. n n Authorized school instructor will ask the student to sign a roster at the school with and will present him/her with coupon to ring the Literacy Bell at the Pulaski County Public Library. First-time readers will be transported to the Pulaski County Public Library for a Literacy Bell Celebration.

Ring the Bell for Literacy, cont. n Literacy Bell Party will include pizza & cupcakes for students and invited special guests Each new reader will receive a literacy bag including a new book.

Ring the Bell for Literacy, cont. n Each child will sign and date the Literacy n Child will ring the Pulaski County Literacy Bell! The bell ringing will be heard all over Somerset, Kentucky announcing to all community members that a child has successfully read aloud his/her first book. Bell Book

Ring the Bell for Literacy, cont. n Child will receive Literacy Bell certificate and a button to be worn that can be placed on a backpack stating: I Rang the Literacy Bell!

Upcoming Dates: n KG Transition- May 1 st n Back-To-School Extravaganza– Aug. 2 nd 9 -12 pm @ Judicial Center n First Day for Students – August 6 th

Look Out KINDERGARTEN… HERE WE COME!