Getting Ready for Kindergarten
pk4.1 news
Objectives of the week:
- Listens to and understands increasingly complex language
- Demonstrates knowledge of the alphabet
- Demonstrates phonological awareness
- Uses number concepts and operations
- Remembers and connects experiences
Dear families,
Many of us have fond memories of Kindergarten. What we might not remember is the anxiety and excitement we may have felt leading up to our entry into Elementary School. The final weeks of school can be scary, fun and exciting at the same time, and not just for children! It's understandable for you to experience a range of emotions about your child moving from PK to Kindergarten. When children go through big life changes, such as the transition from preschool to elementary school, they may have big feelings that they aren't able to easily communicate. In our program, we welcome you to come and talk to us about how to support children at home and ease any anxiety they may feel.
In the classroom, we will support kids by using strategies to help children’s social emotional development as they prepare to leave the comfort of PK 4 and move on to kindergarten. This week we talked about what a kindergarten classroom looks and feels like. We asked students what they already know about kindergarten, and made a chart depicting what things will be similar and different. This week we went to the cafeteria and we visited a kindergarten classroom.
I am happy to say that students seem very enthusiastic about moving on to kindergarten, and as the last few weeks of school go by, I am sure they will all be kindergarten ready!
What can you do at home?
If possible, we would love for you to share photos of family members in kindergarten for us to display in our classroom. Please label all photos with your name so we can return them at the end of the year.
- Acknowledge your child's feelings. Know that some behaviors may be because of anxiety about the transition.
- Keep your home routines and rituals consistent. This will help your child feel a sense of security and stability at home.
- Read books about moving on to kindergarten, and talk with your child about the characters and their feelings.
- Encourage older siblings to share their kindergarten experiences, and share your own fond memories.
- Talk with families of children who already attend the school. Ask them questions about their experiences and for any advice they have for new families.
Questions of the week
How is kindergarten like preschool? How is it different? Which of these look like a classroom? why? How many syllables are in the word kindergarten?
During Small Groups and Choice time
What’s Missing?
Objectives
Uses language to express thoughts and needs
Remembers and Connects experiences
We invited the children to play a memory game. We gave the children a moment to look, touch, and talk about the objects. Then, we covered the objects with a large piece of paper. The next step was to remove one or two objects from their view. The students needed to discover, discuss and tell us which objects have disappeared. They had a blast with this activity!
We were in Pk with Ms. Duby and now we are going to Second Grade!
We went to the ES Cafeteria! We will do this in Kindergarten
We also interviewed kinder friends
We are starting to read some words by playing
Writing Center
When engaging in writing, young children often mirror what they see around them; adults and older children writing lists, notes, text messaging. They are observing the way writing is used in our everyday lives.
We love games with letters
Having Fun!
"Ms. Duby, look a pattern"
Our Mystery Reader of the Week
Getting Ready for our big day! Time flies
Article for Parents
Reminders:
May 30 Transition meeting for parents (more information will come)
June 12th Sports Day
June 13th Moving up ceremony
June 14th End of the year party –Our homeroom parent will contact you
June 14th Last Day of School -Half day