Kindergarten Newsletter
9/7/18
Starting the Journey ...
From our own experience, and also some data, evidence suggests that the quality of children's Kindergarten experiences contributes substantially to how they come to feel about school and how they adapt to it from then onward. We therefore concentrate at the start of the year on establishing a learning community rather than focusing on particular academic skills. The first days of school mark the very beginning of the important and fascinating process of getting to know each and every one of the children in our class. We are constantly asking ourselves, and sometimes the children themselves, questions about what they do really well, what they love, what challenges them and what we can do to give them the most possible support while they are with us. We have begun the work of creating a community in our classroom in which children feel comfortable, known, valued and celebrated. We are starting to ask the children what it means to be a good citizen and to think about treating others as they would want to be treated. While we realize there will inevitably be occasional setbacks, we hope our young students will be eager to come to school everyday. In fact, one of the most important goals for us is that all who enter our room come to know it as a happy place where everyone can have fun. We have begun one of the things we love best about teaching -- getting to know the fifteen small people with whom we will have the pleasure and honor of spending this school year.
Conversation Starters
* What are your teachers' names?
* What did you do at Center Time?
* What "special" teachers did you see?