Kindergarten Corner

This week we have talked about ways to be a good friend.  Your children are very good at listening and following the instructions.  We still need a little bit of work on remembering to raise our hands and wait to have our name called before we talk.

This week we studied triangles, the color orange, the bald eagle and the Liberty Bell.  We are learning the playnames of the letters. We have been finding words that start with the letter c, the “cuh” sound.

Next week we will start the state mandated DIBELs testing.  This is an individual assessment, looking at how well students can tell the beginning sounds of different words and how well they recognize the letters of the alphabet.  We take this assessment 3 times during the year so I can monitor how well I am teaching the specific skills your children need to learn to read and be successful in school. 

We also continue work on the Carden coloring rules:  1. Color left to right (side to side)  2. No white spots  3. Don’t cross black lines  4. Color realistically

I want to let you know about the grading scale.  94-100% is outstanding, an O (not a zero); 87-93% is above average, an A; 77-86% is satisfactory, an S; 70-76% is below average, a B; and 69% and below is an N or needs more time. 

I hope you are all enjoying your visits with Spot.  The children seem to be very excited about what their classmates are doing with Spot.  Thank you for your assistance.  The pages that have been made so far are very cute. 

Here is our weekly special schedule:  Tuesday and Friday PE, Wednesday Health Science, Thursday and Friday Music.  Try to have your children wear tennis shoes and bring a water bottle for PE. 

Thank you,

Mrs. Binkley

Kindergarten Corner

In kindergarten this week we met all our teachers and learned a number of rules.  We practiced listening, walking in a line, following directions, raising our hand to talk, and staying in our seats.  We also talked about being a good friend and sharing.

We studied squares, the color red, The Gingerbread Boy story, pattern bears, pattern blocks, and the American Flag.  We met Junie B. Jones, Raggedy Ann and Andy, and Spot the dog.  We learned about the Carden Playnames for the letters and started learning about the sounds the letters make.

 One of the most important things we talked about this week has been the Carden coloring rules:

1. Color left to right (side to side)
2. No white spots
3. Don’t cross black lines
4. Color realistically

 For the first month or so, the paper work we do is very simple for the children.  This is because I am trying to teach them procedures such as getting folders out, listening to and following multiple directions, time management, and working quietly and independently.  It is easier to focus on these skills when the actual work they are doing is simple.  We are working on reading skills when we practice finding the beginning sound and when we practice the playnames and abc recognition activities.

 Until we learn how to write all the letters, the students will not be printing their names on their papers.  Once they have learned how to write the letters they will be required to print their name on all their papers.  This will probably occur sometime around November.

 I have had a great week getting to know your children.  They are so much fun!  I hope your child has had a great week.  Please let me know if you have any comments, concerns or questions.

 Thank you,

 Mrs. Binkley

Welcome to Carden of Tucson!  I am so excited and glad to be the kindergarten teacher here at Carden and have all your little ones in my class!  I will post the Kindergarten Korner on this blog every Friday.  Please check back often to stay updated and informed.  Thanks  Mrs. Binkley