Classroom Information
 BACKPACK |
Please send a backpack, large enough to hold a folder each day. |
 SNACK |
Please send two nutritious snacks and juice/drink DAILY. |
ART SMOCKS |
Please send an adult-sized T-shirt marked clearly with your child's name. |
 BIRTHDAYS |
Birthdays are important to the children at Birch Grove School. This year students will not be allowed to bring cupcakes and other food to school on their birthdays. However, we would like to recognize your child's special day and each classroom teacher is planning new ways to celebrate this day. |
SHARING TIME |
We have special theme sharing times which will be announced with invitations. Children are also welcomed to share any special stories and events as they occur throughout the year. Please DO NOT send toys to school. |
BOOK CLUBS |
The children will have an opportunity to order books from Scholastic Book Clubs. This is an option and children are not obligated to order. Please make CHECKS payable to the book club. Do Not send cash. |
CHANGES IN
CHILD'S AFTER
SCHOOL ROUTINE |
A note MUST be sent in with your child if you plan to pick up your child or change his/her routine. Otherwise, your child will be placed on their regular bus or van. |
Kindergarten Themes
The following monthly themes guide our kindergarten program. These integrated units incorporate language, math, science, and social studies activities.
The underlined titles are the literature pieces we use as a focal point.
| September |
Goldilocks and The 3 Bears |
All About Me / Five Senses |
Bears |
| October |
Pumpkin, Pumpkin |
Colors |
Fall / Pumpkins |
| November |
This Is My Home |
Community Helpers
|
Thanksgiving |
| December |
The Gingerbread Man |
Families |
Friends |
| January |
The Mitten/ The Jacket I Wear in the Snow |
Seasons and Weather |
Winter |
| February |
The 100th Day of School |
100th Day |
Valentine's Day |
| March |
Over in the Garden |
Push and Pull |
Wheels |
| April |
Over in the Meadow
The Very Hungry Catepillar |
Plants & Animals |
Spring
|
| May |
Somewhere in the Ocean |
Down on the Farm |
Spring
|
| June |
Alphabet Adventure
Alphabet Mystery |
Alphabet Day |
Summer Fun |
Special Events
During the year we hold special culminating events throughout our kindergarten program that celebrate the learning and accomplishments of the children. Some of these events include:
A Teddy Bear Picnic
Harvest Celebration
Earth Day Recycle Parade
Alphabet Day
Favorite Books
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.
Have You Filled A Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud
Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
Five Little Pumpkins
Goldilocks and The Three Bears
10 Apples Up On Top by Dr. Seuss
The Gingerbread Man
The Mitten by Jan Brett
Over In The Meadow
Assessments
Children are assessed in the areas of literacy and mathematics during the year.
We expect children to become proficient in the following areas of literacy by the end of the kindergarten year.
| Phonemic Awareness |
Produces words that rhyme
Segments sounds in words
Blends sounds in words
Substitutes sounds in words |
| Letter Knowledge |
Identifies all 26 capital letters
Identifies 24-26 lower case letters
Associates appropriate sound with 24-26 lower case letters |
| Word Study |
Recognizes 40 sight words
Recognizes names of others in class
Represents phonemes correctly when attempting to spell |
| Oral Language |
Communicates with supporting details
Participates substantively in group discussions
Listens attentively without interrupting |
| Handwriting |
Uses proper pencil grip
With a model:
Writes capital and lowercase letters within mid and baselines
Writes first name within mid and baselines independently |
| Concepts of Print |
Using an unfamiliar book, understands concepts of print |
| Writing |
Includes appropriate detail within a drawing
Writes with one to one match of written words with spoken words
Uses spaces between words
Uses period with prompt
Uses some K sight words |
| Reading Comprehension |
Retells a story in their own words, including characters, setting and events, without using pictures
Predict and infer from story pictures and context (pre-reading strategies) |
Kindergarten Sight Words
| a |
he |
on |
| am |
here
|
play |
| an |
I |
said |
| and |
in |
see |
| are |
is |
she |
| at |
it |
so |
| can |
like |
the |
| do |
look |
to |
| for |
me |
we |
| get |
my |
went |
| go |
no |
will |
| have |
not |
you |
Concepts of Print
Concepts about print indicate what children have learned about the way we print language. Teachers use these concepts as a guide for instruction as we support children's reading acquisition. We are hoping for children to identify and/or explain the following:
the front of the book
where to begin reading
which way to go when reading (left to right)
word by word pointing
concepts of first and last
punctuation-period, question mark, exclamation point, quotation marks
concepts of words and letters
capital letters
