A Colorful Start To Kindergarten

August 2018

Dear Room 103 Parents,

We want to let you all know that part of our ELA block will focus on a
review of colors.  We will try to wear the “color of the day” for the 9 days of
this fun project. Your child is welcome to wear the “color of the day” too!
Please don’t feel like you need to go buy something. If your child has the
colored clothes and if they would like to wear the color that would be great!  

Below please find the dates for the colors.

Monday, September 10th- RED

Tuesday, September 11th- ORANGE

Wednesday, September 12th- YELLOW

Thursday, September 13th – GREEN

Friday, September 14th – BLUE

Monday, September 17th – PURPLE

Tuesday, September 18th – BLACK

Wednesday, September 19th – BROWN

Thursday, September 20st - WHITE

 

Blog Translation Available

This blog is available with translation.  Click the button on right and select the language you would like to view the blog in.  We hope this is a helpful tool to our students' families.

We Are Listening

This document is an additional copy of the invitation enclosed
in letters to incoming students. Mrs. Hoyt will respond to
requests after August 13.

Listening Conference - Pine Glen Room 103

A listening conference gives you, the parent an opportunity to connect with and tell us
about your child. Our role will be to listen and learn more about your child and
home-life. The conferences are an optional opportunity, can be held in person or on
the phone, and are intended to be brief (approx. 10 - 15 min).

Available conference times are listed below.  Please select 2 or 3 times that you would
like to meet and email Mrs. Hoyt (khoyt@bpsk12.org). Mrs. Hoyt will respond after
August 13.

To assist you in the preparing your thoughts, please complete and bring the form found
below along to our meeting. The questions are a guide to focus our conversation,
however you are welcome to share anything you feel would be pertinent.
Thank you for sharing your son/daughter with us!

August 21 - 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.*   August 22 - 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. August 23 - 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.*                           August 28 - 7:30 a.m. August 29- 7:30 a.m. August 30 - 7:30 a.m.             * Propose a time on Aug. 21, 22 or 23

September 5 - 7:45 a.m.      September 11 - 7:45 a.m.      September 11 - 2:30 p.m.      September 12 - 7:45 a.m.       September 13 - 2:30 p.m.       September 13 - 2:15 p.m.       September 13 - 7:45 a.m.

Please email Mrs Hoyt if there is not a time that works for you and we will try to coordinate a better
option. Note: Mrs. Hoyt will repond to messages beginning August 13.

NOTE:  If you elect not to participate in a listening conference, please take a few minutes to complete the
form and return to us at Orientation on September 4.

Listening Conference Guiding Questions

The questions below are a guide to focus our conversation, however you are welcome to share anything
you feel would be pertinent.

Your child’s name _____________________________________________________

Parent(s) name _______________________________________________________

Conference date and time (once scheduled)____________________________________________

1. Tell me about your child? (No one knows your child better!). _________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

2.  What motivates him/her?  ____________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

3.  What are your child’s likes and dislikes?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

4.  What are your child’s strengths and weaknesses?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________       

5.  Tell us about your family. What special family traditions do you celebrate and what traditions do
you have?  (Example - Our family celebrates Hanukkah, or We are from Ireland and like to recognize
St. Patrick’s Day)

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Please see reverse side

Listening Conference Guiding Questions Continued

6.  Do your family members speak another language in your home regularly?  If so, what language do
you speak? Is your child’s primary language English or another language?

______________________________________________________________________________

7.  Was your child born in another country?  If so, where? ________________________________

8. Anything going on at home that we should be aware of? (Situations like illness, divorce or a new baby
may affect your child's school experience, so please inform us if anything that is not your family normal
is happening).___________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

9.  Does your child participate in extracurricular activities? (sports, clubs, play groups, etc?)

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

10.  What, if any, were your child’s experiences with school prior to kindergarten?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

11.  Do you feel you have the resources you need to be well informed about happenings at Pine Glen
and our classroom?  If not, what can we do to assist with our parent/community connection?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

12. Is there anything else/special you would like us to know about your child (tell us about any strengths,
concerns, life experiences you would like us to know about)?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Examples of things you might want to share with us:

• Does your child visit the public library regularly?

    - What titles/authors does your child particularly enjoy?

Addition Information to Help Us Get To Know Your Child

At the beginning of our school year we participate in a number of activities to help us get to know one
another.  Some of our students may be a little timid or confused when it comes to communicating.
Please help us with this by providing answers to some questions in advance……..just in case.

How many people live in your house.                               ______________________________

Who lives in your house?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

If your child has siblings at Pine Glen, what are their names and what room will they be in?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Do you have any pets?       _____________

If so, what kind and what are the names of your pets?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Read Aloud Tips

We are big believers in the benefits of reading aloud to children.  Please make time to read with your son/daughter daily.  Below are some tips from the PBS show "Between the Lions".

* Read to your child every day.  If you can't ask someone else to be your child's designated reader.
* Try to find a regular time and quiet, comfortable place for reading together.
* Turn off other distractions, such as the radio or television.
* Read slowly enough so that your child has time to take in the story and look at the pictures.
* Children may enjoy holding the book or turning the pages.  Invite your child to point to words on the page or help you read the words.  Explain unfamiliar words.
* Encourage your children to ask questions about he characters, pictures, and words.
* Talk about the story with your child.  Did he or she like it? Why?
* Your child may want you to read the same story over and over again. after several retellings, ask your child to tell you the story.
* Older children enjoy reading aloud, too.  They can read their favorite parts, or you can take turns reading chapter books.
* Visit the Between the Lions website (pbskids.org/lions) for more on children and reading.

Meet Room 103

See the tab at the top and click on Meet Room 103!

Friends in our class are invited to introduce themselves by sharing a photo and sharing something they might like us to know.  This information will be updated as more students send in photos.

Have something to add?  Email Mrs. Hoyt  khoyt@bpsk12.org

Note:  Mrs. Hoyt will be away until August 13.  Contributions sent in will be added after that date.

Welcome to Room 103

Welcome to Room 103!

Welcome to Kindergarten Room 103 at Pine Glen!  We can not wait to meet all of our incoming students and families.  Letters will be mailed out shortly to students and their parents. Below is a summary of what those letters cover.

- Tuesday, September 4th is our kindergarten orientation.  This is an important day for both parents and students as we will have lots of

information to share and will hopefully answer many of the questions you may have.

-Be sure to bring contact information for cell phones, emergency contacts and medical information as there will be many forms to complete.

-In the note addressed to students I invited them to do two things:

             1) Complete an All About Me page for sharing with new friends.

                     See the tab at the top of the blog to go to the Meet Room 103 page - Mrs. Hoyt's All About Me page has been posted.

             2) Share a picture or video of themselves and a statement

                  about a favorite summer activity by emailing me.  I will post

                  these messages on our class blog!

-There are many ways to learn about and be in touch with room 103 -

              Class blog: www.pineglenroom103.blogspot.com

              Class twitter account: @MrsHoytsKSs

              Mrs. Hoyt email: khoyt@bpsk12.org

              Class telephone number: 781-221-7784

- Parents, get started now by exploring this blog.  Visit the page links at the top. Perhaps you would like to contribute to our creative classroom supplies?(Visit the wishlist page).

-September 6 is the first day of kindergarten!  We can not wait!

-September 20 is Pine Glen's back to school night.  This is a parents only event. Please plan to join us to learn about our curriculum!

Have those sunflowers that students planted back in May been growing?  Send a photo to Mrs. Hoyt and she will share them on the class blog!

Summer Challenge!

Are you reading and writing?!  Mrs. Hoyt and Ms. Miliano are hoping you are!  Here is another summer challenge to try!

The Voices of Experience

Students in Room 103 were featured in an article in the Burlington Union on June 28. Boys and girls shared their reflections and advice for incoming kindergartners and were interview on the day of our Family Gathering.

Well done boys and girls!  Here is the link to the article.

Advice For Incoming Kindergartners

Kindergarten, here we come!

To help our incoming students prepare for the year ahead, each year in June we invite our current students to write some advice for future room 103 students.  Read below to find out what they have to say:

In kindergarten we listen to the teacher.

You can play ST. Math.

I love new friends!  I love my teacher.

Don’t be scared because your teachers are nice.  You have to listen to the teachers.
You are going to learn a lot of math.

You do not need to be scared because you are going to have a game day!

Do not hurt friends.  Do not be shy. You can make lots of friends.

Don’t worry because school is fun.  Don’t worry because math is fun. Don’t worry
because you might get to bring stuffed animals to school if you fill the popcorn jar.

Don’t worry, our teachers are nice and everything is fun and one day you can earn
a prize if you fill the popcorn jar.

Don’t worry.  My kindergarten is the best!  It’s nothing to fear. The teachers are nice.

Don’t worry you are smart. Don’t be scared.  Field trips are fun. I was scared in the
beginning.  Just try your best.

Don’t worry because you have nice friends.  They would still be your friends even
if you are in different grades at Pine Glen. Be happy.

Don’t worry because you will know your words.

Don’t worry, you will have a water day!  Don’t worry you won’t have too much
homework.  Don’t worry it is awesome. Don’t worry you will have a lot of friends
because you  are nice. Don’t worry you will have presents.

Don’t be getting mean friends.  It is nice here because you are already smart.  You will
read books. Do not worry because you will get prizes!

Don’t worry because you will make new friends.  Don’t worry. Kindergarten is fun.
Don’t worry.  Your teachers are really nice. Don’t worry. Kindergarten is awesome.
Don’t worry. You will get presents.

Work hard to earn hoot cards.  You might earn a tickets or a scoop of popcorn!

We did fun art and math and read books.  I like sitting on the rug.  I was scared in the beginning, but it was great!

Kindergarten is fun because you will learn and play and have friends!

Don’t be nervous because it is fun. You will be good.  You can make new friends.

Students Are Looking Forward To Learning More Next Year!

In June we thought about what we hoped to learn in school next year.  Here are our aspirations:

I hope to count to the number 2100.  I hope to write better. I hope to read better and I hope to do more writing.

I want to do music and gym!

I want to learn to read better because I want to be a guest reader in room 103.  I want to count to really high numbers. I hope to be better at math.

I hope I learn how to count to 1000.  I hope to do first grade ST Math and do longer math equations.

I want to learn more about ST Math.

I want to learn about how to right to 2000 and how to write other people’s names.

I want to learn to count to four hundred.

I want to read 1000 books!

I hope I do 1st grade ST Math or 1st grade Symphony math.

I hope I learn how to read a book.

I want to learning writing and spelling and making books.

I want to learn how to research.  I want to learn how to read. I want to learn how do equations because my mom is always on the phone.

I hope to learn about fossils and science and to write long sentences and read books.

I hope to learn how to add 100 and 100000000000000 and to learn to read harder books.

I want to do ST Math and I want to play outside with my friends.

I want to learn  to write the number words to 100 and I want to learn to read.  

I like math and want to do it with the first graders.