ABC’s of Kindergarten
Absences: If your child will be absent from school, please use the attendance line to notify the school by 8:20 a.m. for A.M. students and by 12:25 p.m. for P.M. students 708-366-7340
Arrival: Children should enter at 8:15 a.m. or 12:20 p.m. Please enter through the Park Ave. door for P.M. kindergarten. Children should not be in the building without adult supervision before the bell. Classroom instruction begins promptly at 8:20 a.m. and 12:25 p.m. If your child arrives late, an adult MUST check your child in at the office before entering the room.
Attendance: A successful school experience is the responsibility of the children, the parents, and the school. Your child’s progress, both academically and socially, is influenced to a great extent by daily participation. Regular attendance without tardiness is a key.
Backpacks: All children should bring a standard size backpack to school everyday. The backpack should be large enough to accommodate a standard size folder and easy for your child to zip independently. Please have your child share the contents of his/her backpack with you daily. Please NO toys in backpacks.
“Big Cheese”: Each child will have multiple opportunities to be the “Big Cheese.” This person is given special responsibilities such as being the line leader, help
pass out materials, assist with the calendar, share an object in the “Mystery Bag” later in the year, etc.
Birthdays: Birthdays are special! On your child’s birthday, he/she may bring in their favorite story for the teacher to share with the entire class. We will have special activities throughout the special day to celebrate your child. Please do not send in and treats (edible and/or non-edible) to pass out. We can celebrate summer birthdays at the end of the year or your child’s half-birthday. Please contact your child’s teacher to arrange a special date to celebrate summer birthdays.
Book Orders – Every month we will be sending home book order forms for you and your child to look over. If you are interested, send the order form back in a sealed envelope or order on-line using your teacher’s specific code by the marked due date. These clubs offer wonderful books at reduced prices. A great way to build your home library!
Mrs. Stasys = GWBK2 Mrs. Suzuki = DTGFL
Conferences: Parent teacher conferences are held in the spring and fall. At these conferences, we will be discussing your child’s accomplishments, strengths, and overall progress as it pertains to our Kindergarten curriculum. If at any other time you would like to schedule a conference, please let us know.
Dismissal: Dismissal is at 11:05 and 3:10.
Envelopes: When sending money (cash or checks) to school, please put it in a sealed envelope labeled with your child’s name, what the money is for, and teacher’s name.
Fire Drills: Fire drills are held periodically throughout the year. All students will participate and are expected to walk quietly to their designated exit. We will practice and become familiar with procedures before our first scheduled drill. We will have other safety drills throughout the year as well.
Guided Reading – The definition of guided reading encompasses a wide variety of behaviors. For example, some children may be working on alphabet recognition, some may require teacher support to read stories with predictable text, while others may read simple texts independently. Guided reading provides an opportunity to teach children the variety of reading strategies they need in order to become fluent, independent readers. During guided reading, the teacher monitors and evaluates each child’s progress.
Gym: Our class will have gym once a week. Children must wear gym shoes and comfortable clothing for PE class. Please see the “Specials” schedule for your child’s class.
Halloween: Students will have the opportunity to wear a costume to school for our Halloween parade and celebration. It will be SPOOK-tacular!
Hands-on Learning – One of the best ways to help children learn is to make learning fun. Important concepts can be learned by doing meaningful hands-on activities. There are times when seat work is required and necessary, but a good amount of our classroom time will incorporate an active learning environment.
Handwriting: We will be using a handwriting program at school entitled “Handwriting Without Tears” to teach proper letter formation and pencil grip.
Homework: Students will have homework in kindergarten. Homework assignments may vary and will be sent home in your child’s folder or book bag.
Illness – The question of when to keep your child home from school is often a difficult one, especially when decisions must be made first thing in the morning. It is important, however, to keep your child home if he/she is ill. This helps to make them more comfortable and prevents others from becoming ill. Children function more effectively in the classroom when they are healthy.
Independence: Independence is a goal for students because it builds self- esteem and self-confidence. Kindergarteners are very capable of doing many things on their own and we encourage them to do as much as they can for themselves in the classroom.
Independent Reading – Because children learn to read by reading, they need plenty of opportunities to read independently. Sufficient time and appropriate materials are necessary to develop and strengthen reading abilities. By giving the children time to read both at school and at home, we can work together to provide a literature-rich environment and life-long love of reading.
Investigations: Math will be taught everyday! We will use to Investigations which is a common core compliant program. Children will be verbalizing and articulating their thinking while working on the conceptualization of numbers and number sense. Manipulatives will be used to improve the depth of understanding while enhancing conceptual knowledge
Jump: Jump into the classroom and volunteer!
Keep updated: Stay informed by reading the contents in your child’s take home folder every day for notes and information. Please make sure to read newsletters as well.
LLC – Library Learning Center – Our class will visit the LLC once a week for library. Mrs. Brauweiler will read to the students and then everyone will be allowed to check out boos. We encourage you to read the book several times with your child and then return it when you are finished. You will receive weekly notices of any over due books. Students also have the opportunity to participate in the Monarch Challenge by reading selected books and turning in their checklist. They will find out more about this program from the librarian. If you want any help with great books, don't hesitate to contact Mrs. Brauweiler.
Music: Our class will have music with Mrs. Halter twice a week. The Kindergarten students will perform at the Valentine Concert in February. Children will learn the basics of music education and will share many wonderful songs! We also sing lots of songs in our classrooms!
Newsletter: Newsletters will be sent weekly. Please make sure to take a look at the newsletter for important information and classroom updates! This is a great way to stay abreast of curriculum, classroom news, special activities, and upcoming events.
Nurse: Please contact our nurse, Mrs. Godellas, with any medical concerns or questions.
Open House: Open House will be on Thursday, September 14th. Please save the date.
Organized Kids – On Fridays, your child will be bringing home a Friday Folder. In addition to any work/projects your child may have, this will also include any notes from the office/PTO. Homework or class work may be sent home via your child’s backpack during the week. Please remember to check your child’s backpack each and every day.
Picking Up: If someone different will be picking up your child, please notify your teacher or the office. Please keep in mind that it is best to notify the office during the day because teachers are not always able to check email in the middle of the school day.
Questions: Please make sure to send an email, a note, or call if you have any questions.
Reading is very important! Please read to your child at least twenty minutes a night!
Report Cards – Report cards are issued three times a year, during fall and spring conferences and on the last day of school. These reports reflect the progress your child has made toward various kindergarten objectives and uses a grading system that reflects the developmental nature of kindergarten learning.
Shared Reading – Shared reading is an interactive process used with the whole class. As the teacher reads a story, children join in on phrases or words that they know. During subsequent re-readings, the children read more and more of the text, until they are able to read the story independently. Shared reading is an opportunity for the teacher to model conventions of print and the use of reading strategies.
Stem: Children will have S.T.E.M. (Science Technology Engineering Math) once a week with Mr. Peters. River Forest is working with Project Lead The Way for our S.T.E.M. program. The two Kindergarten units are 1) Structure and Function and 2) Pushes and Pulls
Toys: Please do not let your child bring toys to school unless we have asked them to bring in for something specific. They are a distraction during school.
Unique: Every child is unique! Please remember that every child will be at different places at different times in terms of academics.
Visitors – Lincoln School has a policy that ALL GUESTS (including familiar faces) are required to check in at the office and wear a guest badge. Lincoln School welcomes and encourages family involvement and the presence of a guest badge will help identify visitors to all faculty and staff. It is important to remember that while this may seem inconvenient to frequent visitors, it is the goal and responsibility of the school to create a safe learning environment.
Volunteer: Get to know our classroom and be part of the Lincoln community. There are many opportunities to volunteer. Please sign up! See the PTO website!
Vacation: Are you taking a vacation? Your child will receive his/her work when they return.. Reading, counting, or keeping a simple journal of the daily trip events is a great way to practice skills while traveling!
Websites: Here are some great websites to help you stay informed. From time to time, we will be sharing additional websites with you as well.
www.district90.org
http://d90kinderkids.weebly.com/
Writers’ Workshop – Our writing program builds on what each child already knows. Writing begins with scribbles and proceeds to lines and circles, random strings of letters, words and spaces, and eventually sentences. Your children will be encouraged and praised for all attempts and accomplishments in writing.
Providing a risk-free environment is paramount to your child’s progress in
writing. If possible, please provide your child with writing tools such as pencils, crayons, markers, and paper at home. We will be using a handwriting program at school entitled “Handwriting Without Tears” to teach proper letter formation and pencil grip.
eXperiences: Many of the activities that we do in kindergarten are hands on. It is important for your child to be in school to have these experiences.
eXtra Special and eXpectations – Every member of our class is EXTRA SPECIAL! There are high expectations for all children in class. They are expected to learn, to try their best, and to always act like kindergarteners. Children who get lots of encouragement in a supportive environment feel secure to try new things and take risks in new learning. Kindergarten should be a fun place where all children grow and develop at their own rate and become the best that they can be.
You: Remember that YOU are your child’s first and most important teacher. No one can influence your child’s life the way you can!
Younger Siblings – It is in your child’s and the program’s best interest to have our parent volunteers available without younger children. This not only allows your full attention to be focused on the class, but also allows for some special time between you and your kindergartener. Thank you for making childcare arrangements for younger siblings.
Zippers, buttons, and laces! As previously stated, independence is a characteristic that is encouraged throughout the year. Please practice these skills with your child at home.
ZZZZZZZZs – Make sure that your child gets plenty of rest. Setting and keeping a bedtime is a wonderful gift you can give your child. It will help them to be alert and ready to learn each day! Don’t forget to read a book before bedtime!