Back to School Mrs Finch Room 1 Kindergarten

Back to School Mrs. Finch Room 1 Kindergarten

Communication • Email: Shari. Finch@lcps. org and Joan. Weldon@lcps. org Please remember my focus is instruction and I do my best to check email periodically during the day but I definitely check email first thing in morning, and after school. • Parent Vue • Monthly Newletter • School Office: 703 -957 -4390 • School wide Thursday Folders – please take items out, check backpacks daily • School Website- Great Resource especially for school procedures, events! • Parent email sign up – see sign up sheet if interested

Attendance • I want to see your child every day but please keep your child at home if they are not feeling well. • The first bell rings at 7: 35 am. Dismissal begins at 2: 30 pm. • Your child will be marked tardy if they arrive after 7: 50 pm. • It is important to have your child arrive on time so they may participate in morning routines. • If you need to pick up your child early, please send an email to me and Joan. Weldon@lcps. org. No student will be dismissed from the office after 2: 20 pm. • If your child is absent please call the attendance number: 703 -957 -4391. • It is also helpful to send me an email reporting absence.

A Typical Day’s Activities Arrival/Morning Routine- unpack, morning work Morning Meeting- calendar, schedule, sharing, counting, days of week, months of year, etc. Shared Reading- poems, choral reading, sight reading Writing Workshop- Whole Group and Individual Reading Workshop- Whole Group and Individual Literacy Stations- Small Group Instruction, Enrichment, Independent Work Math- Investigation and Enrichment Stations Whole Group and Small Group Printing Science/Social Studies- Theme Based Group/Individual/Hands On Snack- 10 -15 minutes Recess- 40 minutes per day mandated by LCPS (broken into a morning and afternoon time. ) Specials- Art, PE (Tues. Thurs. Fri. ), Music, Guidance, SEARCH, Library Lunch – 10: 45

Snack and Lunch Snack. Please provide a healthy snack in zip-lock bag. This will help us keep snacks and lunch separate. Also, please send in a water bottle daily with your child’s name on it. Lunch can be brought from home or purchased from cafeteria. Milk may be purchased as well. Lunch menus and prices can be found on school website. You may pre-pay for lunch thru cafeteria or online (cafeprepay. com) We will work with your child to make lunch selections. Keep in mind that students can purchase ice cream and cookies!

Literacy Program • Components: • Shared Reading • Daily Literacy Stations and Guided Reading Groups • Writer’s Workshop • Reader’s Workshop • Daily Read Alouds • Interactive Writing

Math • Math centers • Patterns, Shapes, Counting, Time, Money, Measurement, Addition, Subtraction, Data Collection, Graphing, Tallying • Whole Group • Small Group • Differentiated

Classroom Management • Positive Reinforcement • Encouragement • Self Reflection/Calm Station • ROAR- classroom and school incentives • Clear Expectations

Volunteers and Birthdays Volunteers There are many opportunities to volunteer: • Room Parent • Party/Classroom Helper • Provide Needed Items or Supplies • Dragon Dads • Join Your Child For Lunch Birthdays No food items may be brought in to celebrate birthdays. Your child will be given a special crown and sang to on their special day or an alternate day for weekend/summer birthdays. You may send in “non-food” items for entire class such as pencils, stickers, erasers or even a special book for class. You are welcome to send in birthday invitations as long as the ENTIRE class is invited. Please use the class directory to deliver to homes if entire class is not invited.

How to help your kindergartner succeed…. . 1. Read to your child every day 2. Create a consistent after school routine- empty backpack together/talk about day 3. Be positive 4. Encourage 5. Foster friendships and interests 6. Be sure your child is getting enough rest each night 7. Teach kindness 8. Stay involved- ask questions 9. Remember your child is unique and special in his or her own way 10. Communicate……. NEVER hesitate to reach out to me if you have questions or concerns- your child is my priority and I will be happy to answer any questions you have: email me: Shari. Finch@lcps. org

Misc. Playground Book Order Supplies

Be prepared to tell me tonight or on Wed. how your child will be getting home. If by bus, I will need to know bus number and load. You can find this information on Parent Vue. Any questions? Thank you for joining me tonight! I am looking forward to a fantastic year!