The Kindergarten Program
The three basic areas of academic concern in Kindergarten are Language Readiness, Reading Readiness and Math Readiness.
Language Readiness
Almost everything we do in our classroom involves language development. It is the readiness area that overlaps all areas of learning. Reading especially builds upon the oral language experience. Your child must have a good basic vocabulary, a reasonable range of knowledge about the world around him/her, and the ability to express his knowledge before he/she can be expected to comprehend the written word. Oral language is your child's main means of communication. Our activities, such as opening, poems, rhymes, singing, and big books stress the development of your child's oral language. Reading aloud to your child also encourages verbal interaction at home.
Sharing/Class Mascot
Clifford the Big Red Dog is our class mascot. Every day one child will get to bring Clifford home for the day. Part of your child's homework for that day will be to complete Clifford's Journal. (Students will draw a picture of something they did with Clifford, and write a sentence or two - with parent's help - to go with the picture.) Your child will share his/her picture and sentences when he/she returns Clifford to school the following day.
- The alphabetic principle
- Phonemic awareness and phonics
- Comprehension strategies and skills
- Inquiry techniques and strategies
- The writing process and writing skills
Math Expressions is the math curriculum that has been adopted by Fremont Unified School District. It has a hands-on, discovery learning approach that will work well with Kindergarten. This year I will cover:
- Sorting and classifying
- Matching and Counting
- Patterns
- Numbers
- Money
- Time
- Addition
- Subtraction
I also do many Math Their Way activities which stress experiences with concrete materials to effectively teach a young child math concepts. Your child will be introduced to Touch Points and most of the children will be able to do simple addition and subtraction by the end of the school year.
Our Day
Every day is divided into a variety of time blocks, with your child's attention span and need for activity and movement carefully factored into our plans. Each day includes most of the following:
- Opening Activities
- Reading Readiness
- Math Readiness
- Workshop/Choosing
- Motor Development Activities
- Music and Literature
- Recess
Once a month we will award two students per class an award for a character trait and Scholarly Habits. These awards are based on our Character Education Programs 8 Great Traits and Scholarly Habits. While I would like to give these awards to many students, I am only allowed to give each award to one. This is a school-wide program, so if your child does not win an award this year, he/she will have six more years to earn one.
Homework will come home in a special folder every Monday, and needs to be returned on Friday in the home work Folder. Please provide a quiet place and daily routine for your child. I feel that homework is important, and truly makes a difference in your child's education. It is also crucial that your child's first experience with homework be guided by a parent who makes the experience a positive one. Your child will be bringing home their completed classwork home on Thursday. Please make sure your child brings back to school their homework folder and Brier Folder on Friday. Our library day is Wednesday. Every Wednesday we will go to the School Library. Your child will be able to check out a book. Children have to return their book each week to check out a new book. In addition to the school library, we will also be implementing a reading; Raising a Reader. Children will bring home a book bag with three books for children to read and discuss with an adult. The Raising a Reader bags will come home on Monday with the homework and should be returned to school with the homework on Friday.
Classroom Behavior
I believe in expecting, encouraging and promoting positive classroom behavior. I focus on what is being done well, both as a group and individually. My expectation is for students to:
- Show Respect
- Make Good Choices
- Problem Solve
In our classroom we have a discipline ladder, where all children start on Green ready to Learn. Then for positive behavior they may move up to blue, purple, and at the top pink. However, if a child makes a choice not to follow class rules, he/she will first receive a verbal reminder and move their magnets to yellow, make better choices. Then, if the problem persists, he/she will be asked move their magnets down to orange, which is teacher's choice. they may receive a time out in class or miss recess. If the problem persists he/she will be asked to move their magnets to red and might be removed from the group and note will be sent home. I will always follow up with a conferences with the child so that he/she is clear as to why he/she was removed from the group. I will also keep in contact with parents regarding any problems in this area. Children have chances to move back up the ladder throughout the day with positive behavior. A child who moved their magnet down to orange in morning may end the day back on green with improved behavior. Kindergarten is critical in molding the children into good citizens. I truly appreciate your support.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email me (ahothi@fremont.k12.ca.us), stop by for a visit after school, call (657-5020) or send a note with your child. I will do my best to get back to you by the following school day.
