Parents as Partners in your child’s education:
     In our program we learn several new letters and sounds each week.  We also work in themes from our reading series as well as themes from other areas of our curriculum.  In your monthly  newsletter I will have a calendar with all the themes listed so that you can incorporate discussion of these themes at home.  Studies have shown that students whose parents are involved with the school achieve higher grades and generally do better in school.
      One very important way you can be involved in your  child’s education is additional enrichment at home.  I would suggest a 15 minute a night “home work” time.  Most kindergartners I’ve worked with are thrilled when I send home work for them to do.  A kitchen timer is an excellent time marker.  Fifteen minutes is usually the average time your child will stay focused on the tasks at hand, but some may want to go longer.  I would suggest you set up a quiet place at home where you and your child can work with minimal distractions.  A second school box with needed supplies helps them to use their time more efficiently. During the 15 minute session you can go through the work your child has brought home that day and review areas that were difficult for them.  If you have more time you can review the letter and or word cards that are in your packet I will send home in the orientation packet.   
      Although I try to hold notes until Friday Folders sometimes things must be sent home right away there for it is imperative that you check your child’s backpack each evening for lunch notes or other important updates.
   Another way to be involved is to work in the classroom or with teacher tasks such as running copies, cutting or preparing projects to be used in the classroom, or helping from home.  If you wish to do any of these activities please let me know and I will set up a time that you could come in and help out.  Fridays are days where I welcome parent helpers in the classroom to work with small groups for challenge and enrichment.  If you would like to be a parent helper on Fridays please contact me via email at mcoates@dsdk12.net