Robert Little's K3 Kindergarten Class
Copeland/Pierce/Stroyan/Thomson
This is from our Co-ordinator Jol Grzeslo:
Starting School – Ready or Not?
Ready to Start School
The scene at Kindergarten school doors in September is a familiar one: weepy parents, waving children, smiling teachers, vigilant principals, and lingering parents. The scene suggests that children, parents, teachers, in fact the entire community, need to get ready to start school.
Moving from Home or Childcare to School There is potentially a big disconnect between home, childcare or preschool and starting “big school”. For example, as children enter elementary school they and their families experience a change in “how things work” - more formal academic demands, less communication, less time with teachers, larger class size, etc.
Transition to School More and more, schools are planning the transition to Kindergarten for all children including those with special needs. Transition begins with Kindergarten registration when information about starting school and spring Kindergarten parent orientation evenings are provided. Schools may arrange for both individual student visits and gradual entry in September. Our Halton community has developed and provided the Ready Set Go Calendar for starting school.
Is My Child Ready and How Can I Help? Readiness for school does not refer to academic readiness. In fact, readiness has to do with development in the areas noted below:
Playing games (e.g. “I Spy”)
Get Ready for School
Area of Development
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
SOCIAL
EMOTIONAL
COMMUNICATION AND GENERAL KNOWLEDGE
LANGUAGE AND THINKING SKILLS
My Child
is developing daily living skills, including washroom independence
is able to cooperate and play with 1 - 2 children of similar age
is developing the ability to cope with small challenges
is able to communicate own needs and understands others
has favourite songs, rhymes and books, enjoys solving riddles and playing games
I can Help by:
teaching my child to take responsibility for personal hygiene, dressing and tidying up
guiding my child through play times by, for example, suggesting ways of sharing toys
supporting him or her in taking small 'risks' (e.g., learning to ride a bike)
talking with my child about topics of interest to him or her (e.g., animals, bugs, special events)
singing rhymes, chants and talking about the stories and books we read
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We have a fabulous Parent Council, a generous Principal, and we have been very lucky to be able to rely on your support for those items that are not covered by budgets and/or your educator's. Periodically we will be updating this list with items you may have around the house or be able to provide us with. Please help us out if you can, but don't feel oblicated if you can't always help. We have always had more than enough. As always please ensure these items have not come in contact with nut products:
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ziplock bags (large and sandwich sizes)
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large hot glue sticks
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food colouring
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jello packages
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glitter
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dish soap
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paper towel rolls (no toilet rolls please)
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Kleenex
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playdough (see calendar to sign up for a date)
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3M hangers (snowpants, jackets)
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styrofoam cups
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one hole punch
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liquid starch (very hard to find - not the spray)
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hot chocolate
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cake mixes
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shaving cream
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googly eyes
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beads
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melting beads (from Ikea PYSSLA)
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metal wire for crafts (various sizes/diameters)
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gimp for making braclets and necklaces
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Jenga games - or smooth pieces of wood that we could use
Needed Supplies
Playdough
We count on parent involvement to help us out in many ways. We would really appreciate it if you would sign up to provide our classroom with playdough. We will place these on the classroom website to remind you. In the meantime we are happy to provide you with a recipe that we have found works well. Use it for our classroom, or in your home. Enjoy, and thank you for considering this request. Please remember that we havea number of allergies in the classroom |(nuts specifrically). When you make the playdough please ensure that all utensils and surfaces are free from any contaminents so that we can all safely use the playdough. You can colour playdough with Koolaid, sand, raspberries, rose petals, beet root, blueberries, beet juice, turmeric, and oak tree bark. Mint, vanilla, etc. all make a very interesting scent. If you are adding colour to the playdough while you are kneading it --- wear gloves --- that tip from a mom who brought her child and herself to school with stained black hands.
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1 tbsp oil
1 tbsp cream of tartar
few drops of food colouring
1 cup of boiling water
Mix all the dry ingredients together first then slowly add liquids, stirring as you add. Knead by hand until a smooth dough has formed. Store in a large ziplock bag.
To make enough dough for small grouop of children we triple this recipe, e.g., 3 cups of flour, 1-1/2 cups of salt, 3 tbsp oil and cream of tartar, food colouring, and 3 cups of boiling water.
We are looking for playdough on the following dates:
- January 5th
- January 26th
- February 17th
- March 23rd
- April 13th
- May 4th
- May 25th
- June 15th
January Update:
Math Math Math: 100's club, counting, skip counting, subtracting, forming numbers, 1:1 correspondence, measuring, estimating, and exploring how many ways numbers can be represented.
Special Dates:
Glow in the dark and Light Day - bring/wear something that lights up or glows on Friday, January 15th.
Backwards Day - clothing and routines will be backwards on Wednesday, January 27th.
Weather:
It's cold outside and we go outside. Each child needs: snowpants, boots, coat, hat, mitts (gloves are not as easy and sometimes colder), scarf/neck warmer, change of socks and mitts. All of these should have your child's name on them.
Pick Up/Drop Off:
We appreciate your support as you drop off and pick up outside the gate. It is the school policy not to have strollers in the halls (fire regulations) and to say good-bye at the doors (e.g., outside the school). We ask you to please stay outside the gate in order for us to ensure everyone goes home with the righ family.
Supplies: You have been so very generous and we thank you so much for that. Please check out our Parent Corner and look in your basement to see if you can help us out.
Play Dough:
Please let us know if you can supply us with some of the items.