Going to Kindergarten

Happy First Day of Kindergarten

2011-08-22T15:30:00.000-07:00

Thank you for a WONDERFUL first day of school! We had such a marvelous time getting to know your child today! We hope he/she felt comfortable and had as much fun as we did!

Give your child a giant 'congratulations' hug and we'll see you in the morning! (Remember to send your child to the gym in the morning to wait for his/her teacher. The kindergarten children will all be sitting with their classmates and there will be teachers in the gym to assist the children in finding their correct place.)

Friendly Reminder!

2011-08-19T06:42:00.000-07:00

Here's is a little reminder of the things your child will need for the first day of school:

· Backpack - Please send a backpack to school everyday to help carry important kindergarten “stuff.” Please make sure these backpacks are not the long, roller type (since they do not fit well in our cubbies).

· Red Lakeside Folder – This folder should come to school everyday in your child’s backpack. If you have a note for your child’s teacher, place it in the folder and your child’s teacher will do the same. CHECK IT DAILY!

· Change of Clothes - Please send a change of clothes in a baggie just in case to keep at school. Please make sure it is labeled with your child’s name. Trade these out as seasons and sizes change! Even if your child is not having accidents, there are sometimes spills and messes that deserve a change of clothes.

· Resting Towel - We rest most days. Your child will need a labeled resting towel.

· Toys – A stuffed animal friend may come to school with your child the first week of school (IF he or she if feeling insecure). After that, no toys are allowed at school.

· Medications – If your child has medications, please take them to our school nurse, Mrs. Black.

· Transportation – Please notify your teacher in writing (or via email before 10:00 a.m.) if there is a change in after school transportation for your child.

We can't wait to have a WONDERFUL school year! Thank you!

Come On Over! Meet the Teachers!

2011-08-18T06:41:00.000-07:00

REMEMBER!

Tonight is Meet the Teacher at 5:00 - We can't wait to meet you!

Please come prepared to meet a teacher that is incredibly excited about having your child in her class and is looking forward to an AMAZING year together!

This evening you will go to your child's classroom and meet your child's teacher. Then you can take a look around the classroom and introduce yourself to the other families in the room. (Remember, these are the parents/children that your child will become close with over the next nine months, so feel free to say hello and extend a handshake.)

Then find your child's seat and cubby. If you pre-ordered your child's school supplies on-line, the supplies will already be delivered to your child's classroom. If you did not pre-order your supplies, please bring the supplies you have already bought to Meet the Teacher night. (This will give your child's teacher the opportunity to get everything put away and ready for the first day of school!) Your child's teacher will have directions for what to do with these supplies at your child's seat. Also at your child's table you will see a few VERY IMPORTANT papers from your child's teacher and the PTO. Please read these pages carefully and let your child's teacher know if you have any questions. Additionally, you will see essential postings on the chalkboard, so check it out and sign up where appropriate.

After this, it's time to PARTY! Please join us outside for our annual Lakeside Picnic! You will need to bring your own food and drinks, but our fabulous PTO will supply the fun!

See you then!!

The Kindergarten Teachers

Tuesday Tip - Home Visits

2011-08-16T11:40:00.000-07:00

In order to make your child feel more comfortable on the first day of school, the kindergarten teachers would love to spend some special time with your child in your home. If you would like your child's teacher to come to your house and visit your child, please sign up (on the sheet) during Meet the Teacher Night. The sign up sheet will offer appointment times for Friday, Aug. 20th for your child's teacher to visit your home. (Mrs. Keith will also have some Saturday times availble).

Please remember that this is OPTIONAL!

This will be a VERY quick visit (only ten minutes) and a time for your child to show off something special (i.e. his/her room, a painting, etc.). Please remember this is a time for your child to get to know his/her teacher and help the first day and saying good-bye go more smoothly. If you personally have questions about school or our routines, please email your child's teacher and she will reply as soon as possible!

Meet the K5 Teacher

2011-08-16T04:43:00.001-07:00

Hello! My name is Melissa Neuman. I am from Longview, Texas. I graduated from Texas A&M with a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education. Whoop! I am also certified to teach English as a Second Language (ESL). I have been teaching kindergarten for 8 years. Last year, my husband's job transfered us to Amarillo for only one short year. I was lucky to teach kindergarten there as well. We are happy to have moved back to the Dallas area so we can be closer to our family. My mom is more than a mom, she's my mentor too. She taught kindergarten for 30 years before retiring and I hope to follow in her footsteps.

I'm looking forward to a wonderful school year. I know we will have so much fun sharing, growing, and learning together! Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Melissa Neuman

Grandparents and Special Friends Day

2011-08-13T06:42:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendars! Friday, September 30th will be Grandparents and Special Friends Day at Lakeside. Specific events and times for the day will be announced after the school year begins. For more information, read our previous post on Grandparents and Special Friends Day.

More on Snack Time

2011-08-12T16:08:00.000-07:00

We had a question about snack time in kindergarten and we wanted to share the answer with everyone through a new post.

We have snack time each day, your classroom teacher will let you know if you should provide a daily snack for only your child or if she will ask that snacks be donated (for example, on a monthly basis) and the teacher will pass out snacks to everyone.

Be sure to make your child's teacher aware of any food allergies!

Hope this helps,

The K Teachers

Tuesday Tip - Lots of Papers

2011-08-10T11:38:00.000-07:00

During the first week of school, watch for many notes and school forms in your child’s red folder that need your signature! Please complete each form and send it back to school in your child’s red folder as soon as possible. Thank you!

Yes, Please!

2011-08-08T12:01:00.000-07:00

Social skills and manners are a big part of going to kindergarten. In the past we've modeled our instruction after The Essential 55. This article has many of these ideals. What are your beliefs on social expectations for your child?

Snack Time

2011-08-04T11:36:00.000-07:00

Each kindergarten class will have snack time in the afternoon. We eat lunch early in the day, so the children are very hungry by the afternoon! We have community snack time, meaning parents donate the snacks in bulk and the teachers will pass it out among the children. (Although, you are welcome to pack and send a singular snack for your child each day, if you prefer.)

Your child’s teacher will let you know (via email or newsletter) when the snack supply is low and you can send in your donation with your child in the morning. Please be mindful of the snacks you donate. Cookies, chips and small desserts do not sustain the brain power needed to finish an afternoon at school. Your child’s teacher will elaborate on this when school begins, but in the meantime, think about sending snacks such as healthy crackers, popcorn, cheese sticks (we have a small refrigerator in the classroom), pretzels or cereal. Also, keep in mind that items involving a great deal of prep-work or foods that require cutlery are not conducive to nourishing a large group in a small amount of time.

If you’d like, you are welcome to bring a box of snacks to Meet the Teacher Night (Aug. 18) or the First Day of School (Aug. 22) so your child’s class will have something for snack time on the very first day. Please steer clear of foods that contain nuts (or are prepped in kitchens that use nut products) until food allergies among your child’s class are known. Thank you!

Tuesday Tip - Yum! Yum! Kindergarten Lunch

2011-08-02T11:20:00.000-07:00

Kindergarten students can choose either to buy a school lunch or bring a lunch from home. We strongly suggest a lunch from home in the first few months because the children have more time to eat if they are not standing in the line buying. However, a hot meal is available each day and the monthly menu can be found on the CISD Portal. A vegetarian option is always available, too!

Your child will be given an account in the cafeteria. On the days he/she buys a lunch, the amount will be subtracted from the account. You may send checks to school in your child's red Lakeside folder, personally take a check to the cafeteria before school or pay on-line. Make checks payable to: Lakeside Nutrition.

Parents, after the first three weeks of school, you are welcome to come eat lunch with your child if you think he/she can handle an extra goodbye in the day. We have a separate family table set up for you and your child to use. We ask that younger siblings be left in the care of a loved one while you eat lunch with your kindergartner.

Thematic Days and Celebrations

2011-08-01T11:25:00.000-07:00

We have a fews days during the school year we reserve for special celebrations; supporting a school program or dressing up as a culminating activity for a unit of study. Each of these are meant to be fun and should not involve purchasing costumes - it’s time to get creative and use what you have around your home!

Here are a few examples:

(Please keep in mind that these are subject to change due to student needs and calendar changes. Your child's teacher will keep you well informed and always read the weekly newsletter for the most up-to-date information).

Go! GO NOW!

2011-07-29T22:17:00.000-07:00

If you haven't ordered your child's school supplies yet, GO NOW to the Lakeside PTO site and start shopping! Remember, ordering school supplies on-line helps you (no need to run all over town), your child (everything is packaged and delivered to the classroom) and your teacher! Sale ends on July 31st.

(Here's the link: http://www.lakesidepto.com/shop.aspx?Store=2)

Top 5 Summer Picks

2011-07-28T11:16:00.000-07:00

As the warm days of summer are upon us, we want to enjoy the season with our children and engage them in activities that bring family members together and stimulate the mind. Check out our Top 5 Pick’s for the summer!

Book: ‘The Read-Aloud Handbook’ by Jim Trelease is a parent and teacher must-read! It offers insight on the process of learning to read, developing language skills, and strategies for helping your child foster a life-long love of reading. The second half of the book contains a priceless collection of book and poetry recommendations. It includes different genres, age suggestions and a synopsis of each book. Buy your own copy or borrow it from your local library!

Game: After an energetic day at the pool, you crave a game that can bring the entire family together; one that stimulates the mind while relaxing your sun-kissed and tired bodies. Try a game of dominoes! (Make sure you purchase double-nine dominoes.) This classic tile game gives children the opportunity to practice cooperation, good sportsmanship and matching quantities. Most important, when children play with these dot formations, number values become engrained in the mind. Children begin to recognize the patterns in our numeric system. (The 5 is simply 4 with 1 in the middle!) Ask family members to verbalize each domino they play and differentiate for the ages of your children. A toddler will say the colors he is matching, while a pre-schooler will say the number quantity of each side of a domino (nine and two). A school-age child can make a domino into an addition sentence (nine and two makes eleven), while an upper-elementary child will create a multiplication sentence (the nine is three rows of three).

Car Game: Mind Reader is a game modeled after ‘20 questions’, but challenges your child’s scientific thinking and language-building skills. A parent will say “I’m thinking of something that starts with mmmmmmm”. (Always say the beginning letter sound, instead of the letter name. This aids in the phonological development needed for learning to read.) Children will ask questions that can only be answered with ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Teach your child to begin with bigger questions (“Is the thing you’re thinking of living?” “Is it found in a house?” “Does it breathe underwater?”), then move on to guessing specifics. Most likely you will need to model this line of thinking for the first few games, but this thinking process (big ideas to small, asking questions to illuminate possibilities and matching guesses to the beginning sound) is exactly what your child needs to become successful in the areas of science, reading and creative problem-solving!

Website: StorylineOnline.net has a collection of books read by actors from The Screen Actor’s Guild. Hollywood’s Finest bring the stories to life and viewers can read along or just listen. You’ll see an excitement percolate when your children see the same books in the library and want to read the stories again and again!

Conversation: Your children have great ideas waiting to be unearthed and depend on you to stimulate their thinking and communication skills. During your summertime adventures, ask your children open-ended questions about your surroundings. This gives you insight into their thinking, which can drive further questioning and reasoning. Start with “What do you notice?” Take note of their observations and focus their attention to details that create new learning opportunities. Afterwards, ask “What does it make you think of/remind you of?” This elevates your child’s thinking to a higher-level and allows the brain to make connections with prior knowledge.

Wherever your summer plans take your family, powerful and practical activities are always at your fingertips!

Tuesday Tip - What Your Child Will Need

2011-07-26T11:15:00.000-07:00

Here are a few things your child will need on the first day of kindergarten!

· Resting Towel - We rest most days. Your child will need a labeled resting towel.

· Supplies - Kindergarten supplies can be purchased on-line from our PTO. These school supplies are shared among the class. Please bring all supplies on Meet the Teacher Night (August 19, 2010).

· Toys – A stuffed animal friend may come to school with your child the first week of school. After that, no toys are allowed at school.

· Medications – If your child has medications, please take them to our school nurse, Mrs. Black.

· Transportation – Please notify your teacher in writing (or via email before 10:00 a.m.) if there is a change in after school transportation for your child.

News! News! News!

2011-07-20T11:14:00.000-07:00

Each Friday the Kindergarten teachers will send home a weekly newsletter via email or post it on her webpage. It will be in a PDF format and will inform you of events of the class and school. Be sure to read each week about the happenings and upcoming events!

Tuesday Tip - Hellos and Good-byes

2011-07-19T11:12:00.000-07:00

Students will have an opportunity to meet their new teacher a few days before the school year begins (August 18, 5 p.m.-6 p.m.). This will allow your child to become accustomed to his/her classroom and teacher. On the first day of school, parents are welcome to bring their child to the classroom. (It is a huge moment!) For the rest of the week, please say your good-byes in the gym before school. Students are to be in the gym by 7:45. The gym is supervised in the morning and your child’s teacher will pick up her class from the gym at 7:45. Please do not send your child directly to class. After the first week, please help us begin to foster your child’s independence by saying goodbye in the parent loop and allowing him/her to walk in independently.

Here are the general things you'll need to know about our arrival and dismissal procedures :

Morning Arrival

- Morning drop-off time: 7:30-7:49

- All parent loops and inside waiting areas are supervised and your kindergartner will not have to walk in or wait alone in the morning.

Afternoon Dismissal

- Afternoon pick-up: 3:05

- All parent loops and inside waiting areas are supervised and your kindergartner will not have to walk out or wait alone in the afternoon.

- Children riding a bus or daycare van will be escorted outside and to their bus in the afternoon.

- Children that have a siblings in K–2nd grade (or no siblings), will be picked up from the front office loop. All students with an older sibling in grades 3rd-5th grade, will wait for his/her sibling in the hall (by the office) and be dismissed to the cafeteria loop.

- If you are driving through the parent loop to pick up your child, please be sure to have the yellow sign in your dashboard and pull all the way up the curb. DO NOT get out of your car. (This yellow sign will be given to you at the beginning of the school year).

- Walkers, please respect our safety system and use the crosswalks (from the parent parking lot). Please wait outside for your child and wait away from the doors so the sidewalks are left un-crowded.

Both dismissal loops are supervised by adults who are available for help!

Meet the K4 Teacher

2011-07-15T07:46:00.000-07:00

Welcome and thank you for visiting our kindergarten website! My name is Natalie Smith and I have been teaching 11 years at Lakeside (3 in first grade and 8 in kindergarten). I received my elementary education/early childhood degree from the University of North Texas and am also a certified English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher. I am currently working on my Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction, with a focus on Literacy. I enjoy collaborating with other educators to find the best ways to reach students and have made presentations at the district and state levels.

I enjoy helping parents support their children as much as I love teaching, so please contact me if you have any questions.

Again, welcome to kindergarten at Lakeside - get ready for a wonderful year!

Natalie Smith

Grandparents and Special Friends Day

2011-07-14T11:21:00.000-07:00

Grandparents and Special Friends Day is a school-wide event. Students can invite their Grandparents or a special friend (Aunt, neighbor, or parent, etc.) to join them in the classroom for a small tour of their classroom and school work. Grandparents and Special Friends Day is usually for a portion of the school day, during a fall school day. Check the weekly newsletter for a specific date and time. If you have a grandparent that is unable to attend, your child may send a postcard or letter requesting that grandparent send a letter to your child at school. Your child’s teacher can read the letter to your child and the entire class, and then find where on the map the grand parent is living. This is a way everyone can see how much your child is loved by his/her grandparent.

The day’s festivities will begin when the teachers invite everyone into the classroom. The children will greet their grandparents or special friend and show them the many activities of his/her kindergarten classroom. Half-way through the celebration, an announcement will be made to indicate the time and grandparents/special friends may move on to another classroom to spend the last half of their time with a sibling.

Unfortunately, each year we have one or two students who do not have a Grandparent or Special Friend available to visit. As you can imagine, this can make a young child very upset to see “everyone has a visitor except me”. Please ask the Grandparent or Special Friend you send to include any children that are alone. Thank you!

Tuesday Tip - What Good Little Boys and Girls!

2011-07-12T11:08:00.000-07:00

We have so many ways to reward all the amazing behavior and effort our students show us! Here are a few you may hear about:

Red Tickets - A child may receive a red ticket as a reward for great effort, wonderful behavior or when found exemplifying one of our citizenship qualities (see below). This child writes his/her name on the back of the ticket and returns it to the teacher. At the end of the week, the teachers takes all the red tickets and draws one red ticket. Whoever that red ticket belonged to becomes our Longhorn of the Week.

Longhorn of the Week - When you have been selected as the Longhorn of the Week, your name is announced on Friday’s morning announcements, your picture is taken and hung on the school bulletin board and you receive a Lakeside pencil and a Longhorn of the Week ribbon to wear. Our school’s parent-volunteer photographer also submits all the Longhorn of the Week photos to our local newspaper.

Citizen of the Month - The CISD Citizenship Program highlights a different quality each month district-wide. These qualities are integrity, respect, responsibility, cooperation, caring, self-control, patriotism, honesty, effort and patience. The focus of the elementary program is to introduce the concepts, model the behavior to demonstrate the concepts and identify the behavior in ourselves and others.

At the end of each month, a student is chosen to be recognized at the Citizen of the Month for his/her class. The student’s name is called during a spirit assembly, a sentence is read by our principal showing why the student was chosen and the student receives a ribbon that says ‘Citizen of the Month’ and has his/her picture taken for the school’s bulletin board.

The above are district and school-wide recognition programs. Your child’s kindergarten teacher will also have ways to reinforce positive behavior and reward gallant efforts. Here are a few examples:

Marble Jar - Each time the class works as a team to accomplish a common goal, a marble may be added to a class jar. When the jar is full, a team reward will be given. (Example: spend 15 minutes at the end of a day, playing on the ‘big kid’ playground).

Table Points - If a group of students that sit at one table are doing a remarkable job at following directions or working through a problem as a team, a table point can be earned. At the end of the week, a reward for the table with the most points will be given. (Example: On Friday, everyone at the blue table may take off his/her shoes when working at their table).

Smellies - A smelly is a flavored Chap-Stick. When a reward needs to be given, a child will hear the teacher say, “Susie, you may have a Smelly!” The child will then get a swipe of a delicious smelling stick on the back of her hand to smell and enjoy! (These Chap-Sticks never touch anyone’s lips!)

These are just a few examples of how we reinforce positive behavior in kindergarten. You will hear more from your child’s will teacher when the year begins.

Meet the K3 Teacher

2011-07-08T07:33:00.000-07:00

Hello! This is my eighth year teaching kindergarten at Lakeside. I received a B.B.A. in Accounting and Marketing from Texas A&M, then an early childhood teaching certificate from University of Texas at Dallas. I have also obtained my certification for teaching English as a Second Language (ESL).

I am so excited to share your child’s kindergarten year with you! I love watching the growth of the students and developmental changes throughout the year!

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Thank you,

Amber Shoup

Tuesday Tip - Nursery Rhymes

2011-07-05T11:04:00.000-07:00

Did you know reciting and singing nursery rhymes is a great way to help your child become a better reader? Hearing the rhythm of our language and identifying rhyming words helps your child become a more fluent and successful reader!

So dust off those nursery rhyme books and start reading!

(Here's a link if you'd like some free sing-a-long music.)

Meet the K2 Teacher

2011-07-01T07:39:00.000-07:00

Hello, my name is Teri Keith. The saying "I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could" certainly applies to me. I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA and educated in Ohio (Miami University, B.S. and Xavier University, M. Ed.) We came here to Coppell at the beginning of the new millennium and have loved every minute of it.

Kindergarten is my favorite grade level to teach because of the phenomenal growth students achieve. I like to call it the year of "developmental explosions". You can often see children's developmental changes from one day to the next. My classroom allows students to discover and learn using their imaginations and skills, and is mixed with a solid amount of discipline and love.

My twin sons, Bobby and AJ, spent their elementary years here at Lakeside, have moved through middle school at CMS North and are now heading to CHS. It's hard to believe they're going to high school! My step-daughter, Caroline, just graduated from Texas Christian University, majoring in TV/Radio/Film. My wonderful husband, Tom, has spent his entire career at IBM. In our spare time, we enjoy playing a variety of sports, gardening, traveling and trying to teach our 8-year old lab, Austin, to stop chewing on shoes.

Tuesday Tip - Reading Tips

2011-06-28T07:29:00.000-07:00

Tips for Parents of Kindergartners - www.readingrockets.org

Play with letters, words, and sounds! Having fun with language helps your child learn to crack the code of reading. The tips below offer some fun ways you can help your child become a happy and confident reader. Try a new tip each week. See what works best for your child.

■ Talk to your child.

Ask your child to talk about his day at school. Encourage him to explain something they did, or a game he played during recess.

■ Say silly tongue twisters.

Sing songs, read rhyming books, and say silly tongue twisters. These help kids become sensitive to the sounds in words.

■ Read it and experience it.

Connect what your child reads with what happens in life. If reading a book about animals, relate it to your last trip to the zoo.

■ Use your child’s name.

Point out the link between letters and sounds. Say, “John, the word jump begins with the same sound as your name. John, jump. And they both begin with the same letter, J.”

■ Play with puppets.

Play language games with puppets. Have the puppet say, “My name is Mark. I like words that rhyme with my name. Does park rhyme with Mark? Does ball rhyme with Mark?”

■ Trace and say letters.

Have your child use a finger to trace a letter while saying the letter's sound. Do this on paper, in sand, or on a plate of sugar.

■ Write it down.

Have paper and pencils available for your child to use for writing. Working together, write a sentence or two about something special. Encourage your child to use the letters and sounds he or she is learning about in school.

■ Play sound games.

Practice blending sounds into words. Ask “Can you guess what this word is? m - o - p.” Hold each sound longer than normal.

■ Read it again and again.

Go ahead and read your child’s favorite book for the 100th time! As you read, pause and ask your child about what is going on in the book.

■ Talk about letters and sounds.

Help your child learn the names of the letters and the sounds the letters make. Turn it into a game! “I’m thinking of a letter and it makes the sound mmmmmm.”

Visit www.ReadingRockets.org for more information on how you can launch a child into a bright future through reading.

Meet the K1 Teacher

2011-06-24T07:26:00.000-07:00

Hi, my name is Katherine Horton and I am so happy to be teaching Kindergarten at Lakeside! This is my sixth year to teach Kindergarten and I'm loving it more and more every year!!!

I am from Arlington, Texas, where I lived with my mom, dad, and big sister. My sister, Melissa, is currently an attorney for the United States Air Force...I am so proud of her! I went to Baylor University and graduated in 2006 with my Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education. I currently live in Dallas with my roomates/best friends. I love spending time with my friends and family shopping, reading, traveling, watching movies and discovering new music!

Tuesday Tip - 20 Memos from Your Child

2011-06-21T07:26:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of: Colorado Elementary Principals’ Association, Denver

1. Don’t spoil me. I know quite well that I ought not have all I ask for. I’m only testing you.

2. Don’t be afraid to be firm with me. I prefer it; it makes me feel secure.

3. Don’t let me form bad habits. I have to rely on you to detect them in the early stages.

4. Don’t make me feel smaller than I am. It only makes me behave stupidly “big”.

5. Don’t correct me in front of others if you can help it. I’ll take much more notice if you talk quietly with me in private.

6. Don’t make me feel that my mistakes are all sins. It upsets my sense of values.

7. Don’t protect me from my consequences. I need to learn the painful way sometimes.

8. Don’t be too upset when I say “I hate you”. It isn’t you that I hate, but your power to thwart me.

9. Don’t take too much notice of my small ailments. Sometimes they get me the attention I need.

10. Don’t nag. If you do, I shall have to protect myself by appearing deaf.

11. Don’t make rash promises. Remember that I feel very let down when promises are broken.

12. Don’t forget that I cannot explain myself as well as you might like. That’s why I’m not always very accurate.

13. Don’t tax my honesty too much. I am easily frightened into telling lies.

14. Don’t be inconsistent. That confuses me completely and makes me lose faith in you.

15. Don’t put me off when I ask questions. If you do, you will find that I stop asking and seek my information elsewhere.

16. Don’t tell me my fears are silly. They are terribly real and you can do much to reassure me if you try to understand.

17. Don’t ever suggest that you are perfect or infallible. It gives me too great a shock when I discover that you are neither.

18. Don’t ever think that it is beneath your dignity to apologize to me. An honest apology makes me feel surprisingly warm toward you.

19. Don’t forget how quickly I am growing up. It must be very difficult for you to keep peace with me, but please try.

20. Don’t forget that I can’t thrive without lots of understanding and love, but I don’t have to tell you, do I?

Meet the Teachers!

2011-06-17T07:46:00.000-07:00

Starting next week, we will introduce you to a kindergarten teacher each Friday. Keep watching to get to know each fabulous gal!

Tuesday Tip - Library Time

2011-06-14T07:22:00.000-07:00

Be sure to check out the happenings at our local library this summer. It looks like they have some great activities planned and some awesome book lists!

Here's a link - Happy reading!

Tuesday Tip - Kindergarten Readiness (a little Q&A)

2011-06-07T13:27:00.000-07:00

Each Tuesday during the summer, we will blog about a little something we want to share with you. These topics will range from kindergarten readiness to book recommendations to school events. You never know what will pop up - so keep watching!

HOW DOES KINDERGARTEN DIFFER FROM PRESCHOOL?

1. Kindergarten follows a more regulated schedule than most preschools. The child is not as free to do as he/she pleases.

2. Kindergartens may offer activities similar to preschools, but with structured expectations. Any result will be accepted in preschool schools; kindergarten is moving toward definite goals.

3. Kindergarten students are expected to conform more to a standard of school behavior. A child must be more self-disciplined.

4. Kindergarten begins, in earnest, the task of preparing children for reading, writing and arithmetic.

WHEN SHOULD YOUR CHILD START KINDERGARTEN? CONSIDER THESE QUESTIONS:

1. Can my child be alone in a strange place outside the home without crying or behaving overly fearful?

2. Can my child attend to his/her personal needs without difficulty?

3. Can my child follow spoken directions, particularly several at one time?

4. Can my child keep his/her attention on a task long enough to finish?

5. Can my child play with other children without being overly fearful or overly aggressive? Can my child take turns, share, follow the rules and play fairly?

6. Can my child tell people his/her needs with a loud enough voice, a clear voice, and using the correct words?

7. Does my child want to go to kindergarten?

POINTS TO CONSIDER:

1. Age cannot guarantee readiness for kindergarten; it is only one of many indicators.

2. Readiness for kindergarten does not simply mean the ability to recognize alphabet letters and numbers. Even a child who can read may not be ready emotionally and physically for the demands of a school environment.

3. The younger a child starts school, the more stress he/she will be under.

4. It is always better to be at the top of the class than struggling to keep up.

5. In many cases waiting a year gives a child a twelve month edge in both physical and mental growth.

HOW DO I PREPARE MY CHILD FOR KINDERGARTEN?

1. Take your child to the school and discuss how he/she will get there when school begins.

2. Try to meet the teacher ahead of time or at least know her name.

3. Go to the kindergarten playground and let your child use the equipment there.

4. As with preschool, talk it up around others. Brag about your child being old enough to attend kindergarten.

5. Buy some special things “just for school”.

6. Get your child on a school schedule well before school starts.

7. The most important thing is to prepare your own attitude. Be cheerful, confident and fairly matter-of-fact about this new step.

REMEMBER: If you are questioning whether your child is ready for kindergarten, the best person to consult with is your child's preschool teacher. A preschool teacher knows your child best in an academic setting and can offer keen insight into kindergarten readiness.

2011-06-05T22:14:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

It has been exactly one month since we met at Kindergarten Round Up and all the K teachers have been very busy saying good-bye to our students and making preparations for the up-coming school year. (We can't wait until you get here!)

If you haven't done so already, be sure to go to the Lakeside home page and order your child's school supplies. Remember, they will not be for sale after July 31st! Act now!

Keep checking back in this summer for loads of info!

Have a wonderful summer!

The Kindergarten Teachers

We LOVED meeting you!

2011-05-06T18:24:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone that came to Kindergarten Round Up!

We had a wonderful time meeting you all and look forward to a fabulous year together!

If you have any questions/comments, feel free to call the school or leave a comment on this blog.

Thank you again,

The K Team

Ready for Round Up?!

2011-05-02T18:22:00.000-07:00

We are! We can't wait to meet you all!

Here are a few tips to help make the night a success for your family:

1. This is a special time for your kindergartener to become familar with Lakeside. Please leave siblings in the care of a loved one.

2. When you arrive, please sign in, in front of the office. Tables will be set up for you to sign in, pick up an agenda and have your child's picture taken (wearing a name tag).

3. Take a self-guided tour of the school. (5:00-5:20)

4. At 5:20, leave your kindergartener in a kindergarten class. Students will be divided in different rooms by their last name. (FYI: This may not be your child's classroom in the fall.)

5. At 5:20, parents will meet in the cafeteria for a presentation by Mrs. Hall and the kindergarten teachers.

6. Pick up your child in his/her kindergarten room and wave good-bye to the kindergarten teachers.

We'll see you in August! :)

School Supples

2011-04-25T14:32:00.000-07:00

There are two ways of purchasing your child's school supplies. You can go all over town trying to find all the things on the list (some of which are not sold in stores and you'll need to purchase from Lakeside) OR you can go on-line and with a click of a button (and your credit card number) all of your child's supplies will be delivered to his/her classroom before the first day of school!

If at all possible, we recommend you purchase your supplies through the school's site - it makes the entire process much easier (for your child's teacher, your child and you)! The supplies are not priced for profit, but as close as possible to what you would purchase at area stores. (This is a PTO provided convenience to parents!) Here's the link - Sale opens May 1st.

http://www.lakesidepto.com/schoolsupplysale.aspx

Also, on Thursday, May 5th Lakeside's Spirit Wear team will hold our second anual Sidewalk Spirit sale! This is a time you may purchase T-shirts, hair ribbons and loads of Lakeside Longhorn gear! These are shirts that will be worn on Field Day, during field trips and at monthly spirit assemblies. (They are not mandatory purchases - but fun ones to buy and wear!)

Happy Shopping!

The 'Getting Excited for Round Up' Kindergarten Teachers

Mark Your Calendar!

2011-04-19T18:17:00.000-07:00

Hello Future Kindergarten Parents!

We are so happy you are here! Be sure to contact the school office to register for the 201-2012 school year if you haven't done so already.

It's that time of year - Time for Kindergarten Round Up! Yee-haw! Mark your calendar with Kindergartne Round Up on May 5th at 5:00; the day you and your kindergartener can see the school and meet us!

We will also host an Open House for the new students that are joining our school (at the same time) - so you will see many happy faces that night!

Can't wait to see you then,

The Kindergarten Teachers

Welcome to Kindergarten!

2011-01-13T18:20:00.001-08:00

We are already looking forward to sharing a year with your child! Since kindergarten is a special year in your child’s education, we wanted to create a blog specifically for our 2011-2012 Kindergarten families. We hope to offer information throughout the summer that will help set your family up for a successful transition into our school year. Please check back often for new information each week, starting in June.

Also, if you have not done so already, please call the school office (214-496-7600) and set up an appointment to register your child for kindergarten. Registration is just around the corner (Feb 7 - 11), so snag an appointment now!

Thanks for stopping by our blog! We can't wait to meet your child and spend a wonderful year together!

Sincerely,

The Kindergarten Teachers

(a.k.a. Ms. Horton, Ms. Shoup, Mrs. Keith and Mrs. Smith)