Welcome to Kindergarten Round-up 2011 O.A. Peterson Elementary Principal: Todd Rogers Assistant Principal: Jennifer Villines Counselor: Stephanie Dall

Welcome to Welcome to Kindergarten Kindergarten

Round-up 2011Round-up 2011O.A. Peterson ElementaryPrincipal: Todd Rogers

Assistant Principal: Jennifer Villines

Counselor: Stephanie Dall

Home Ideas for Adjusting to Home Ideas for Adjusting to SchoolSchool

Things to work on at home – starting this Things to work on at home – starting this summer:summer: Fine motor skills: cutting, coloring, lacing, holding a pencilFine motor skills: cutting, coloring, lacing, holding a pencil Counting objectsCounting objects Sorting, creating and recognizing patternsSorting, creating and recognizing patterns Alphabet recognition and soundsAlphabet recognition and sounds Managing bathroom needsManaging bathroom needs Buttons pants, shirts, coats, tying shoes and zipping up Buttons pants, shirts, coats, tying shoes and zipping up

zipperszippers Writing their name, knowing their full name, address, phone Writing their name, knowing their full name, address, phone

number and birthdaynumber and birthday Read to your child every night.Read to your child every night. Also practice:Also practice:

Review the expectation of school rules, just like there Review the expectation of school rules, just like there are rules at home, practice good listening skills, not are rules at home, practice good listening skills, not interrupting, sharing, good manners.interrupting, sharing, good manners.

Adjusting to the First Days Adjusting to the First Days of Kindergartenof Kindergarten

Practice Routines:Practice Routines: Beginning the school year is a perfect time to Beginning the school year is a perfect time to

start routines – start this summer!start routines – start this summer! Helps the transition processHelps the transition process Getting ready for each school day the night Getting ready for each school day the night

before: parent signing the daily folder, make before: parent signing the daily folder, make lunch together, pick out your next school day lunch together, pick out your next school day clothes, bath, story, bedtime. Arrive on-time or clothes, bath, story, bedtime. Arrive on-time or early to school each day.early to school each day.

Adjusting to the FirstAdjusting to the FirstDays of KindergartenDays of Kindergarten

Ownership:Ownership: Try to find age-appropriate responsibilities for Try to find age-appropriate responsibilities for

your child to do each day: bring their folder to your child to do each day: bring their folder to school in their backpack, lay out clothing at school in their backpack, lay out clothing at night, etc.night, etc.

According to the National Education Association, According to the National Education Association, “giving young children tiny tasks will reduce your “giving young children tiny tasks will reduce your stress level (parents) and actually help your child stress level (parents) and actually help your child to become a better student.”to become a better student.”


Practice Routines:Practice Routines: Try to keep your child’s transportation to and Try to keep your child’s transportation to and

from school the same as much as possible from school the same as much as possible (especially at first).(especially at first).

Review with your child when you will see them Review with your child when you will see them next (at 3pm, after day care, at grandma’s next (at 3pm, after day care, at grandma’s house, etc…)house, etc…)

Try to be consistent with these transportation Try to be consistent with these transportation plans and avoid being late to pick them up!plans and avoid being late to pick them up!

Reduces anxiety Reduces anxiety

Adjusting to the First Adjusting to the First Days of KindergartenDays of Kindergarten

Starting School is Exciting:Starting School is Exciting: Buy a new back pack, lunch box, or new school Buy a new back pack, lunch box, or new school

shoes together and make it a big deal! They shoes together and make it a big deal! They are now a BIG kid!are now a BIG kid!

Involve them in some of the decisions to help Involve them in some of the decisions to help with ownership over going to school and with ownership over going to school and learning (ie: what to wear to school)learning (ie: what to wear to school)

Adjusting to the First Days of Adjusting to the First Days of KindergartenKindergarten

Saying GoodbyeSaying Goodbye Make your goodbyes cheerful and brief.Make your goodbyes cheerful and brief. Try to avoid coming back to the classroom Try to avoid coming back to the classroom

after you have already said goodbye.after you have already said goodbye. Please feel free to walk your child to their class Please feel free to walk your child to their class

the first two weeks of school.the first two weeks of school. Some children respond well to a planned ritual Some children respond well to a planned ritual

(example: 2 hugs and a thumbs up)(example: 2 hugs and a thumbs up) ““Quick goodbyes leave dry eyes!”Quick goodbyes leave dry eyes!”


Responding to Distress/Tears:Responding to Distress/Tears: Don’t scold the child’s distress or fear.Don’t scold the child’s distress or fear. Remain positive that you will see them at the Remain positive that you will see them at the

end of the school day.end of the school day. Remind them how they will make new friends, Remind them how they will make new friends,

play at recess, etc…play at recess, etc… Tell them what you will be doing while they are Tell them what you will be doing while they are

at school (at work, grocery shopping, etc…).at school (at work, grocery shopping, etc…). Avoid letting them see you sad Avoid letting them see you sad , children of , children of

all ages can sense when adults are scared, all ages can sense when adults are scared, worried, upset.worried, upset.


Bigger Building, More Kids:Bigger Building, More Kids: Some children express anxiety of the Some children express anxiety of the

unknown students and an unknown unknown students and an unknown building.building.

Pep Talks at home: “You’re so lucky you Pep Talks at home: “You’re so lucky you get to go to a brand new big kid school. get to go to a brand new big kid school. Who have you met? Have you seen your Who have you met? Have you seen your brother or sister in the hallway?”brother or sister in the hallway?”


Help your child Help your child write a letter/picturewrite a letter/picture to his/her teacher.to his/her teacher.

Review the school and classroom Review the school and classroom rulesrules at home with your child, feel at home with your child, feel free to let them ask questions.free to let them ask questions.

Talk to your child about their Talk to your child about their concerns.concerns. If necessary, bring them If necessary, bring them up with the teacher or school up with the teacher or school counselor! We are here to help!counselor! We are here to help!

Home Ideas for Adjusting Home Ideas for Adjusting to Schoolto School

Plan a play date-Plan a play date- find a new friend of your child’s, find a new friend of your child’s, get to know the family and plan some play time!get to know the family and plan some play time!

Play the name game-Play the name game- have your child draw have your child draw pictures and write the name of the people they pictures and write the name of the people they know at school, teacher, friends.know at school, teacher, friends.

Make an “All-About-School” Booklet-Make an “All-About-School” Booklet- about their about their favorite part of each school day.favorite part of each school day.

Draw a Home-to-School Map-Draw a Home-to-School Map- create a poster, create a poster, picture of how they get to school. This could be a picture of how they get to school. This could be a fun family project!fun family project!

Academics and Academics and CurriculumCurriculum

Get familiar with the kindergarten Get familiar with the kindergarten curriculum and what is expected of curriculum and what is expected of your child at the end of the year.your child at the end of the year.

Practice these skills at night and on Practice these skills at night and on the weekends to reinforce what they the weekends to reinforce what they are learning at school.are learning at school.

They grow so much both They grow so much both academically and socially in only one academically and socially in only one year!!year!!


The Gift of a Good Book:The Gift of a Good Book: Try to read with your child every day!Try to read with your child every day! Books help children build vocabulary, learn Books help children build vocabulary, learn

concepts of print, develop listening skills, and concepts of print, develop listening skills, and enjoy reading!enjoy reading!

After you read a book - talk about the After you read a book - talk about the characters, their favorite part, new words they characters, their favorite part, new words they learned, words they already know!learned, words they already know!

Lead by example. Let them see you reading.Lead by example. Let them see you reading. Get ideas from the book list handout! Get ideas from the book list handout!


Word Walls:Word Walls: Your student will begin learning five Your student will begin learning five

“word wall words” (high frequency “word wall words” (high frequency words) each week.words) each week.

Reinforce these words at home and Reinforce these words at home and have your child make their own list of have your child make their own list of words they know in their bedroom, on words they know in their bedroom, on the refrigerator, on a chalkboard, etc…the refrigerator, on a chalkboard, etc…

Essential Learning for Essential Learning for KindergartenKindergarten

Language and LiteracyLanguage and Literacy WritingWriting Listening and SpeakingListening and Speaking MathMath ScienceScience Social StudiesSocial Studies TechnologyTechnology

Ways to Get Involved Ways to Get Involved with your Kindergartenerwith your Kindergartener Find out the best way to stay in communication with your child’s Find out the best way to stay in communication with your child’s

teacher (emails, notes in folder, etc…)teacher (emails, notes in folder, etc…) Check your child’s BEE (Bring Everything Everyday) Binder every Check your child’s BEE (Bring Everything Everyday) Binder every

night.night. Volunteer in the classroom.Volunteer in the classroom. Volunteer around the school (library-book fair, teacher luncheons, Volunteer around the school (library-book fair, teacher luncheons,

special events).special events). Join the PTA-become a member and make a difference in Peterson Join the PTA-become a member and make a difference in Peterson

Elementary.Elementary. Become a Watch DOG.Become a Watch DOG. Visit your child once in a while at lunch time.Visit your child once in a while at lunch time. Help with field trips.Help with field trips.

Helpful Learning LinksHelpful Learning Links StarfallStarfall- contains alphabet and phonics games!- contains alphabet and phonics games! http://http://www.starfall.comwww.starfall.com Johnny Can Spell Phonogram PracticeJohnny Can Spell Phonogram Practice- a great way to practice the - a great way to practice the

phonograms your child is learning in class.phonograms your child is learning in class. http://http://phonogrampage.comphonogrampage.com// Rainforest MathRainforest Math- math games for skill levels K-6- math games for skill levels K-6 http://rainforestmaths.comhttp://rainforestmaths.com

Reading Rockets-Reading Rockets- a great source of information to assist your child a great source of information to assist your child in learning to read!in learning to read!

http://www.readingrockets.org/http://www.readingrockets.org/ NISD Family Involvement ProgramNISD Family Involvement Program- useful tips for young children.- useful tips for young children. http://www.nisdtx.org/120710829131111623/site/defalt.asphttp://www.nisdtx.org/120710829131111623/site/defalt.asp

Nurse – April CappsNurse – April Capps Please send an extra set of clothes for your child to Please send an extra set of clothes for your child to

keep in their locker.keep in their locker.

See nurse for appropriate forms if your child will See nurse for appropriate forms if your child will require medication at school.require medication at school.

Do not send your child to school 24 hrs following Do not send your child to school 24 hrs following fever (temperature of 100 or greater), vomiting, or fever (temperature of 100 or greater), vomiting, or diarrhea.diarrhea.

If your child has a history of food allergies, asthma, If your child has a history of food allergies, asthma, diabetes, or seizures, please see the nurse.diabetes, or seizures, please see the nurse.

Kindergarten SuppliesKindergarten Supplies

Order your supplies tonight through Order your supplies tonight through the school officethe school office

If you don’t want to order your If you don’t want to order your supplies through the school, please supplies through the school, please bring them on bring them on Meet the Teacher Meet the Teacher Night (date to be announced). Night (date to be announced).

P.T.A.P.T.A.

We encourage parents to join and We encourage parents to join and participate in P.T.A.participate in P.T.A.

P.T.A. serves as a vital link between P.T.A. serves as a vital link between home and school.home and school.

In order to volunteer at school, class In order to volunteer at school, class parties, and field trips, you must parties, and field trips, you must complete a background check online complete a background check online through the district website.through the district website.

Contact InformationContact Information

Please visit our Kindergarten Team Please visit our Kindergarten Team website during the summer for more website during the summer for more information or fun activities to do information or fun activities to do with your child.with your child.

You may register online for our You may register online for our Mustang Newsletter. Visit Mustang Newsletter. Visit www.nisdtx.org/Petersonwww.nisdtx.org/Peterson for more for more information.information.

We Are Here for You and We Are Here for You and Your Child Your Child

We are glad you’re here!We are glad you’re here! Please contact your child’s teacher, the Please contact your child’s teacher, the

school counselor, Stephanie Dall, or our school counselor, Stephanie Dall, or our principal, Todd Rogers, if there is anything principal, Todd Rogers, if there is anything we can do to make your child’s day at school we can do to make your child’s day at school even better! even better!

It’s an honor to serve you and your child!It’s an honor to serve you and your child!

Welcome to O.A. Peterson Elementary!Welcome to O.A. Peterson Elementary!

Documents

Welcome to Kindergarten Round-up 2011 O.A. Peterson Elementary Principal: Todd Rogers Assistant Principal: Jennifer Villines Counselor: Stephanie Dall