ABCs+of+Kindergarten


 * The ABC’s of Kindergarten **


 * by, Mrs. Brake **


 * A…Alphabet and Sound Recognition ** Alphabet and sound recognition is the number one key in helping your child read!! Research shows that if children know their letters and sounds, they are more likely to begin reading. When children identify letters and sounds automatically, they are also able to write more efficiently as well.


 * B... Birthdays ** I feel like children’s birthdays are an exciting time. In our class, we make each child a class book and they get to wear a crown for the day. Your child may bring in a special treat on their birthday to share with their friends if you’d like. We will also celebrate summer birthdays towards the end of school.


 * C... Communication ** My major source of communication with you is through your child’s binder. All important papers will come home inside your child’s binder. Please don’t hesitate to contact me. The quickest way is to send a note inside your child’s binder, but you may also call the school at 641-9393 ext. 653120. The best time to reach me is during planning time (1:45-2:45) or after school hours!


 * D. . . Discipline ** Our behavior plan is located inside your child's binder. Your child will receive a sticker every day unless they had to pull a stick. If they get in trouble in class, special areas or lunch they will have to pull a stick and will lose some privileges in class.


 * E. . . Eating lunch ** Our lunch time is **10:45 – 11:15** each day. Student lunches are free. On Fridays your child can purchase a snack at lunch, so be sure to send money in an envelope with your child’s name on it. You are welcome to have lunch with your child. You may buy a lunch in the cafeteria for $3.50 or bring a lunch from home or a restaurant. I would suggest only eating lunch with your child every once in a while.


 * F. . . Facebook ** We have a private group on Facebook that I would love for parents to join. I post a lot of reminders to this page as well as pictures. Search for “Mrs. Brake’s Class”


 * G. . . Going Home ** If your child will be going home a different way from his / her usual routine, **//<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">you must send a written note to school with your child that day //****<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">. ** In an emergency, make sure that you speak to me on the phone before 2:30 if there is a change in transportation.


 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">H. . . Homework Charts **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> Each month we will have a homework chart that will include activities for you to work on with your child. The homework chart will be located inside your child’s binder in the back cover Labeled "Homework Chart".


 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">I…Ice Cream **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> On **__<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Fridays __**, your child will be allowed to purchase a snack in the cafeteria. Be sure to send money in an envelope with your child’s name on it. Ice cream is a privilege and I will take it away if necessary. The cost is $1.00.


 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">J. . . Join the PTA **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> Please help support our school by joining the Parent Teacher Association. There will be plenty of opportunities to get involved!! Check out the website at <span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">[|www.mtviewpta.com]


 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">K. . . Kids in action! **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> We have a program as part of our PE class called SMART. This is a research based program which incorporates skills to stimulate their minds while moving. We also try to implement these same techniques in the classroom! Recess is also an important part of the day and we try to go outside everyday - weather permitting. If we can’t make it outside we will do some indoor recess with gonoodle or something similar.


 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">L. . . Library Books **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> Your child should come home with a new library book each Tuesday and Thursday night. There will be occasions when the library will be closed, for example: School picture day, book fair week, etc… Your child cannot get a new book unless s/he turns in his/her book. We will begin visiting the library in September.


 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">M. . . Money **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> Please make sure that when you send money to school that it is enclosed in an envelope with your child’s name and purpose. You can make checks payable to: //**<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Mount View Elementary **//( for school functions and lunch) and //**<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Scholastic **// for book orders! I try to do book orders at least 3 to 4 times a year.


 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">N. . . Newsletters **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">I will send home a monthly memo at the beginning of each month to inform parents of any upcoming events. I also try to do a weekly memo on the computer to remind parents about the important things for that week.


 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">O…Our Daily Schedule **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> Our Daily Schedule is posted on our website which shows what an ordinary day looks like. If you ever need to know when lunch is or what where we are each day, you should check out our website. See Ww for our website info!


 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">P . . . Phonemic Awareness **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> This very important term means ‘to be aware that the spoken language is made up of discrete sounds called “phonemes”’. It is an important early step in reading readiness. We will learn about beginning and ending sounds of a word as well as rhyming words, syllable clapping, sound segmenting and sound blending. We will focus on these skills much more intensely in the second semester!


 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">Q. . . Quiet Reading time **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> We try set aside a small amount of quiet reading time. We might rest on our towels and get to read our library books or any books from our room. It really depends on the day.


 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">R. . . RAH – Reading at Home! **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> RAH is our reading incentive program! Each nine weeks we try to reach the goal of 30 books read at home. When reading with your child, try to ask questions like “what do think is going to happen next?” or “ who were the characters?” “where did the story take place?”. RAH can either mean you reading to your child, your child reading to you, a family member reading with them, etc…


 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">S…Snack **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> We have snack each afternoon around 1:15 p.m. Please send in one snack for your child each day..


 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">T. . . Treats **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> We occasionally give out incentives for good behavior. It could be for turning in homework or having a great week, etc… The kids really seem to enjoy getting a “Happy Chappy” which is just a smiley face made with chapstick.


 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">U. . . Unusual Circumstances **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> If there are any unusual circumstances that may be affecting your child (changes in the family, health issues, parental trips away from the child, etc..) Please let me know!


 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">V. . . Volunteers **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> If you would like to be a volunteer, please let me know. I will definitely need chaperones for field trips. I may also need help with cutting, coloring, copying, putting books together, etc…


 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">W. . . Website **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> We have a class website: <span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">www.brakesbunch.wikispaces.com <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> . Please try to visit this website anytime you may have a question. The answer can usually be found there… The website might be changing soon, but I will let you know.


 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">X. . . “X-tra” Clothes **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> It is always a good idea to have extra clothes here at school or inside your child's backpack. I have lots of clothes at school, just in case of spills or bathroom accidents.


 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">Y. . . __You__ are your child’s best teacher! **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> At home, you are able to work one on one with your child and you know them better than anyone. Be sure to practice the reading and math folder, practice asking questions about literature and READ every night!


 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">Z. . . Zippers, Buttons and Shoelaces **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> Each child needs to become as independent as possible this year. Practice these skills with your child and reward them when they are successful! Kindergarteners are not required to wear belts, but again it’s good prac

//__<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 27px;">Please do not hesitate to contact me at: __//


 * //__<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">Phone Numbers __//**<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">: 641-9393 ext. 653120 at school and in cases of emergency you can reach me at home at 758-4024


 * //__<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">E-Mail Addresses __//**<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">: janet.brake@mnps.org school or bandjbrake@comcast.net home