Homework

At Back to School Night you will be given an access code for our reading program, "Reading Street". You will then be able to access the stories we read at school at pearsonsuccess.net. Please continue to practice reading these stories as well as the paper stories that will come home weekly.

We have also practice recognizing words with phonemic chunks. When reading with your child, look for these word chunks in the stories you are reading. We have written word ladders using these word family chunks inthe classroom.

Dr. Seuss books are excellent reads for beginners. They include numerous
examples of rhyming words and repetitive language.

Practice counting with your child. They should be able to accurately count
objects (buttons, pennies, Legos, etc.) up to 20.

The more words your child knows the easier it will be for him/her to read.
Since he/she learns words by hearing them spoken, you can increase your
child’s vocabulary by talking to him or her. For example, while repairing
something at home, take a moment to explain what you are doing.

Share your memories of what it was like when you were your child’s age. Tell
about an adventure with friends or a time you got in trouble. Make it fun
and don’t worry about telling the perfect story.

Practice those all important high frequency words. Write the
words on index cards. Place one card on the table or floor. If your child
knows the words continue adding cards to make a ladder or tower. See how
high you can climb!

Encourage your children to do jigsaw puzzles. Doing jigsaw puzzles develops
several functions of the brain at once. Reasoning, deduction, analysis and
logical thought are exercised in the completion of jigsaw puzzles, as well as
physical hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness.

You can have fun with Kid Writing at home too. Draw a picture together with
your child, then each of you tell a story from it.

It is important that children know the names of objects in their
environment. You can gain insight into what your child knows by playing
games. You might look at a photograph or illustration and say, “Let’s find
all the men, women, dogs, cats, flowers, cars/trucks, etc. Daily
reading practice at home is very beneficial to our beginning readers. We
will be working very hard in the coming months to be independent readers.

Please continue having your child write their name with the appropriate upper
and lower case letters.

We have been working hard recognizing lower case letters and knowing their
sounds. You can practice at home too. Use index cards to make several
copies of flash cards. Put three to four letters on your refrigerator and
have your kindergartener tell you the letters and their corresponding
sounds. You can also put them on the bathroom mirror for practice as your
child brushes his or her teeth, or hide the letters under their pillow.
Every week, usually on Wednesday, a simple phonics reader is sent home.
Please be enthusiastic about your child’s accomplishments.

Do you ask your kindergartener what they learned or did in school today and
they answer “nothing” (Isn’t it nice to know I’m earning my paycheck?). You
might find out more information if you ask specific questions. You might
inquire if they listened to a story. In addition, you can ask what story
they wrote in their journal, or if they read with their teacher. We have
center time four times a week as well as gym, art, library and music
classes. In addition, each week we have a science experiment, work on the
computer, etc. The children have had a great time playing kitchen and
restaurant in our dramatic play area. In the coming months, we will have a
puppet theatre , pet shop, and animal hospital in this center. Hopefully you
will hear more specific feedback.

Please help your child learn their address and phone number. We will be
checking this information with your child in the coming weeks.