New Year Reminders

Happy New Year! I can't believe 2013 is here! Where does the time go?!? As we ring in a new year, help your child start 2013 off right by putting their best foot forward. Use this New Year as a way to re-evaluate the necessity in routines and structure. Here are a few friendly reminders for you as we prepare to return from a wonderful Winter Break! See you Thursday!

1) ICPL Books Due TOMORROW , Wednesday, January 2nd
Our December field trip's library books are due tomorrow, Wednesday, January 2nd. Please be sure to return your child's library books on time so they don't accrue fines. Many cards have accumulated some fines. Please be sure to check your child's library card fine status to ensure they can check out books on our next field trip to the library (January date to be determined.)

2) School begins at 8:15.
Remember, the school day begins promptly at 8:15. Learning begins the moment your child walks into the classroom. Their punctuality is an important part in establishing a concrete school day routine in Kindergarten and the school years to follow. Prompt arrival is an important trait to build in your child for success inside school, and out, for many years to come. For your morning convenience, the classroom opens up as early as 8:00 to help with drop-off routines and work schedules. If this helps your family with an early or on-time arrival please take advantage of this 15 minute window. BSP (Before School Program) is also available. BSP goes from 7:30 - 8:00 am. Please see Amber at the Front Desk for pricing information.

3) Outdoor winter clothing is needed.
The snow is here and we will continue to go outside as long as the air temperature remains above 0 degrees. Please be sure your child is prepared for outdoor play time when they return to school on Thursday, January 3rd. The following items are a MUST for outdoor play:
~ winter jacket
~ snow pants
~ boots
~ hats
~ gloves
Please be sure your child is able to safely and warmly play in Iowa's Winter elements. If your child does not have their boots or snow pants they will have to remain on the concrete sidewalk for the duration of recess. Boots are needed for outside and shoes (or slippers) are needed for inside. To protect Willowwind's 80+ year-old wood floors all boots must be removed when entering the building. Convenient boot cubbies (painted by 2010-2011 Willowwinders) are located by the North Recess Door for storage convenience.

4) Please help your child with all nightly homework.
Homework is expected to be completed each night. The homework your child receives is meant to help them review concepts learned at school while at home. This homework should be a review for your child rather than an impossible challenge. If your child is having difficulties with their homework please let me know. You should not have to teach your child the concepts at hand. Rather they should thrive on the ability to be your teacher.

The completion of nightly homework is also important in preparing your child for activities that we complete during the day. Cutting, and initialing, of spelling sorts should always be done at home. In doing so, this provides your child with the necessary supplies ready to complete school sort activities. If your child is having to cut sorts at school this task is taking away from the new activities they could be completing to strengthen their area of word study focus. Here you can find a link to our class's weekly, at-home Word Study Routine. You can also find this link on the right hand side of the website's Welcome page for quick and easy access.

At the return from Winter Break your child will receive their much anticipated Reading Tool Kit (see the Dec/Jan Newsletter and upcoming blog post for more information) will be handed out. Please be sure your child is using the tools within the kit during their nightly at-home reading time. Your child will also be taking home sight word flashcards and basic math fact flashcards to add to their homework routine (see the Dec/Jan Newsletter and upcoming blog post for more information). This is a great time to add this into their nightly routine as the students are showing eagerness in learning these concepts, and their current homework routine should all ready be consistently in place.

As a quick breakdown of timing your child should spend 10 minutes on nightly spelling and 10 minutes on math packet and math facts. Your family should also establish a nightly reading routine that includes practicing sight words (see more information to come), has your child reading to you, and you reading to your child. The amount of time your family focuses on reading is up to you; at least 10 minutes is ideal as your child has demonstrated the ability to build their reading stamina to 10+ minutes within the classroom.

As always, please don't hesitate to contact me if you have questions or concerns about your child's homework. I'd be happy to discuss. Thank you for your teamwork in building your child's academic success!