Kindergarten Home
Thank You for a TERRIFIC YEAR!
I think I say this every year, but REALLY....I have had the best year ever! Thank you for sharing your amazing children with me. I am very blessed to have worked with you and your family. Mrs. T.J. and I are proud of how much the children have learned and of how hard they have worked in kindergarten. We love each and every one of them.
It is very bittersweet for me to end this year, since my family will be moving to Colorado in June. I have taught in four states and in nine school settings during the last 21 years, and I can tell you in all truthfulness that Cross of Hope is a very special place. If my family was not moving to be close to relatives, I would be kicking and screaming about leaving. Thank you so very much for all of the wonderful memories that I am taking with me from this terrific school.
Be blessed this summer! Spend time with your children, relax, and enjoy the sunshine. Don't forget to keep them reading and writing so that they will be ready to jump into first grade with confidence in the fall...and please know that I am sending my love to them. If any of you are traveling through Colorado, please look me up!
Preparing for 1st Grade
Many parents ask me how to best prepare their children for the first grade over the summer. Here are some ideas for you:
- Read, read and read some more!
- Explore museums, zoos, nature centers, parks...and make it a mission to learn at least one new thing at each one.
- Look for ways to keep your child writing. Write notes to their old teacher! :-) Write a grocery list, a postcard to Grandma, or a sign. Make a book about a favorite summer activity.
- Keep working on math facts up to ten- both adding and subtracting. As you travel in the car, do some mental math.
- Promote healthy bodies with swimming lessons, soccer practice, playing outside and getting OFF SCREEN.
- Take part in reading programs, offered at Dion's, the library, and many other locations.
- Cook together! Great reading and math practice...and yummmmmm!
- Make some art projects. If it is too messy, you can always wash off in the backyard with the hose. Use sidewalk chalk to make pictures and words.
- Play and talk about what is going on in your child's imaginary world.
