Kindergarten
A to Z
Mrs. Tabitha Eckenrode
New Franklin Elementary
Chambersburg Area School District
Welcome to kindergarten! For some of you this may be the first child that you have entering school, while others consider themselves pros at the job. Whatever the case may be, I am looking forward to working with you and your child(ren) this year and my wish is for this handbook to be the first step in a yearlong open communication line between us. Inside you will find everything that you need to know about your child’s first year of school, how I like to run my classroom, and much more. Do not feel pressured to sit down & read through this entire book at one time. However, PLEASE hold on to this book & put it in a safe place to pull out and use all year long as a reference! A copy of this booklet will also be made available on my district web page. Refer to this handbook for any questions you may have regarding your child’s year in kindergarten. Please keep this handbook for the entire school year (if you lose your copy, the handbook can also be found on our classroom website)
If you have any questions or concerns not covered in our handbook, please contact me at:
· 261-3454 (New Franklin Elementary)
· 414-9939 (cell phone)
· eckentab@chambersburg.k12.pa.us or tabbiann82@gmail.com
Aa is for…
· All Day Kindergarten – At New Franklin Elementary (as well as throughout our entire Chambersburg School District), all kindergarten students experience an all day program. Your child will begin school at 9:00 (doors open at 8:45 for drop off) and stay until the end of the day at 3:30. In the past my students have benefitted greatly from the all day program. With a full day schedule we have time for reading, math, science, social studies, journal writing, and special classes (i.e. art, music, library, and gym). All – day kindergarten is a wonderful program that is proven to improve children’s success in all areas (social, academic, and physical). Please don’t hesitate to ask me any questions about our program and daily schedule.
· Act 80 Days – Throughout the school year, our district gives staff additional professional development days. On these specific days (Sept 25th, Oct 30th, Jan 22nd, & Feb 19th), our district will be observing a 2 hour delay for students and will follow corresponding schedule.
· AlphaFriends – Characters that we meet throughout the year for each letter of the alphabet. They help us learn the names, sounds, and formation of all 26 letters.
· Attendance – Regular attendance is critical for success in school. My hope for the entire class is for each student to walk away at the end of the year with a perfect attendance award. However, I do realize that this is an unrealistic goal. Sickness happens, emergencies rise, and family vacations are scheduled throughout the year. I do ask though to get your child to school every day possible and on time! Even missing one day to a kindergartener will mean missing valuable learning time & practice. If your child is absent an excessive amount of days throughout the school year, a letter will be sent home to make you aware of the situation. If your child is absent, please send a note to school the day they return explaining the reason for the absence.
· Art – We have art class one afternoon in a 5 day cycle. Check your weekly newsletter to see which day art class falls on each week.
· Allergies - Please let me know of any allergies your child has, including food-related.
Bb is for…
· Breakfast – Breakfast is offered for children from 8:45-9:00 for $1.50. If your child qualifies for free/reduced lunch, this offer extends to the breakfast program. Breakfast is only for students who want to buy breakfast from the school. You may not pack a breakfast for your child and send it to school.
· Back packs – Backpacks are a necessity for children once they enter kindergarten in order to transport many items to and from school throughout the year. Backpacks are a great way to express your child’s individual interests and creativity. My only caution is that you purchase one that is large enough. In kindergarten, you are going to want to make sure that the bookbag is tall enough to allow your folder to fit inside WITHOUT bending and to accommodate any size library book they might check out. Write their name and some kind of contact information on the inside to allow anyone to return the bag in case it is misplaced somewhere. Please make sure they bring their bookbags EVERY day (even on field trip days, holiday parties, the last day before an extended vacation, etc…)
· Birthdays – I love birthdays! Kids love birthdays! In our classroom I like to make sure we celebrate in some way on the day of your child’s birth (or the closest school day). You are more than welcome to provide a snack (cupcakes, rice krispie treats, etc…) for your child’s class or sometimes parents even prepare small goodie bags to pass out. If you are planning on having a birthday party for your child, it is NOT necessary to feel that you have to invite the entire classroom. There is no such policy stating so. If invitations need to be handed out, write the child’s name on them and send them into school. I am more than happy to make sure that they are sent home in folders. If your child has a summer birthday, I would like to still acknowledge their birth and so we can celebrate on any day of your choosing (please try to give me around a week’s notice)
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Baggie books – Baggie books are one form of homework that your child will be given this year. We will start around the beginning of October and at the beginning of every week, you will be sent home a paper book in a Ziploc baggie. Take the rest of the week to have your child practice reading this story. When they are proficient, sent it back to school and they can read it to me.
Cc is for…
· Communication – Communication comes in many forms: between your child and myself, between students, and between parents/family & myself. Always know that I try my hardest throughout the year to keep parents informed as possible in what is happening in the classroom and with their child (weekly newsletter, classroom website, class blog, notes, phone calls, emails, conferences, etc…) If you have a question, ask it (there is no such thing as a dumb question if you truly don’t know the answer), and never hesitate to contact me if you need to talk.
Conferences – On November 13 & 14th, parent teacher conferences will take place. Each family will be given a 20-minute slot (choosing which time is best for you) for us to discuss your child’s progress. These conferences are a perfect time to bring up any concerns you may have, plus further our communication in working together for your child’s success.
· Classroom Blog – check out our classroom blog to read great stories about a day in our classroom (blog is located at http://dayinkindergarten.blogspot.com)
· Contact Me - Feel free to contact me anytime! In an emergency case (in the evening hours), I can be reached at home at (717) 532-3412 or on my cell phone (717) 414-9939, otherwise you can call the school at (717) 375-2360 (the best time to reach me is between 8:00-8:45 and 3:30-4:00) or email me at tabbiann82@gmail.com or tabitha.eckenrode@casdonline.org (I check my email quite frequently, so you should get a quick response.) Another way to get a hold of me is the email link that can be found on my district web page.
Dd is for…
· Discipline Policy – I like to focus on “catching” children demonstrating correct behavior and praise children often on making those good choices and following classroom rules. We will talk together as a class about good vs. bad choices, correct behavior, and respecting our friends. Throughout the year, incentive and rewards will be given for individual and groups behavior as well. In our classroom, we have a ticket system where children will pull tickets if they aren’t following the rules or making bad choices.
v Loss of 1 ticket – warning
v Loss of 2 tickets – 5 minutes on the wall at recess
v Loss of 3 tickets – 10 minutes on the wall at recess
v Loss of 4 tickets – Child calls home to notify parent of behavior and note from teacher is sent home
Donations – you can help out with our kindergarten class by donating anything off of the following list:
o A box of tissues
o Ziploc bags (ANY size)
o Wet wipes (baby or sanitizing…we use both)
o Snacks
o dry erase markers
o Anything else you think might be helpful
Ee is for…
· Email – I have two email addresses: tabitha.eckenrode@casdonline.org (work) or tabbiann82@gmail.com (personal). The first week of school I will also be sending home a short note asking you if you are interested in provided your email address to make communication easier.
Ff is for…
· Field trips – Our class will be taking a trip to Renfrew (in Waynesboro) will occur during the springtime portion of our school year. Another field trip that I have done the past few years is a trip (in the winter sometime) to the Luhr’s Performing Arts Center at Shippensburg University. This field trip is extra (you provide transportation and pay for your own tickets) and NOT mandatory
· Folders – Everyday your child will be sent home with a folder (provided by me) labeled: My kindergarten folder. Inside the pockets will be placed any papers that need to be delivered and any of your child’s work. PLEASE remember that it is very important to empty your child’s folder every night, return any papers, notes, etc. (as needed), and return to school daily. Folders will be collected every morning when students come in to the room.
· First day of School - The ONLY thing your child will need for the first day of school is his/her book bag and lunch money or lunchbox (whichever is applicable). Please do not send pencils, folders, crayons, scissors, or glue! I will provide all of this for your child throughout the year. Any money or notes should be sealed in an envelope with your child’s name and grade on the front. Our first week here at school will be spent getting to know one another, our classroom, and our school. Your child will be given a tour of the school, have discussions about classroom rules & etiquette, plus be well on their way to making a room full of friends.
Gg is for…
· Good listeners – In my classroom, I am an organized teacher who helps my students be productive and fair to one another. To help maintain order, I practice a technique called “Give me five”. When it is time to learn or I need the students’ attention, I will ask the children to “give me five”. Giving me five means:
1) Eyes on speaker
2) Lips closed
3) Ears listening
4) Sit up straight
5) Hands & feet quiet
During the first week of school, we will practice together a lot so they understand what giving Mrs. Eckenrode five means. I encourage you to ask your child to “give you five” at home as well for extra practice and to show you how it is done.
Hh is for…
· Homework – This year, we will have two kinds of homework
1. Weekly baggie books sent home each week (we will begin this activity in the beginning of October)
2. A weekly skill building task sheet (every Monday, unless otherwise noted, a skill building task list will come home with your child. The instructions at the top of the page indicate to complete 5 out of the 10 tasks and return to school by Friday to receive homework credit)
Home Activities - In the past few years, kindergarten has grown increasingly more academic and is NOT the way it used to be. Due to this change, children are benefiting more and more from extra practice and repetition of skills outside of school. Working with your child and discussing their day with them is critical to their progress. This time does not have be a large portion, just 5-10 minutes daily. Review letters, letter sounds, count with them, or even read them a picture book. I will be available through the entire year to help with some ideas or things to try with your child at home to work on new concepts learned in class daily.
Ii is for…
· Introductions – My name is Mrs. Tabitha Eckenrode and this is my 7th year teaching with the Chambersburg Area School District. My first six years were a huge success, learning things all along the journey and I plan on bringing the good from previous years along and changing some stuff that may not have worked out the best to provide the best learning environment and experience for you and your child(ren) this year. I graduated from Shippensburg University in December of 2005 with a B.S. ED in Elementary Education and a minor in Reading. After being hired in CASD, I taught kindergarten at Marion Elementary for 4 years and two years ago I was transferred to New Franklin Elementary. Teaching and having my own classroom has been my dream ever since I was a child, walking into my own kindergarten classroom. I have a passion and love for children that can only be fulfilled in this profession where I can make such a difference and impact on young lives. In the spring of 2011, I finished my master’s degree at Shippensburg University in the Curriculum & Instruction program (with a concentration in Early Childhood). I currently live in Shippensburg with my husband, Dan, our 15-year-old daughter, Madeline, and our “furry child” (a 4 yr old German shepherd named Rocca). I have a variety of hobbies including scrapbooking & stamping, photography, reading, watching movies, cooking, and spending time with family and friends. Just this past summer, I have decided to also turn a hobby into a business and opened my own photography business: TabbiAnn Photography
· Independence – As bittersweet as it is, you are now the proud parent/guardian of a blossoming and growing kindergartener. They are growing up so quickly in front of you that some days it is hard to believe and it feels like it has happened in a blink of an eye (as all parents, at one point, have said!) In addition to our standard kindergarten curriculum, I want us to work together as a team to help your child become more independent. Each day they will be eating lunch and need to open up the things that are packed in their lunchbox or purchased in the cafeteria. Once fall rolls around, children should know how to zip up jackets, pull on winter hats, and put on their mittens/gloves. By the end of the year, kindergarteners are developmentally capable of tying their shoes. All of these skills are important life skills that make your life and mine easier and gives your child a sense of pride and accomplishment.
· Inclement Weather – In case of inclement weather, there are a variety of ways to stay tuned and up to date on the latest closings. Our district will post any announcements on the radio, TV, website, or by calling the hotline @ 261-8000.
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Jj is for…
· Joyful Noise – If you enter my classroom, on the mass majority of days, an untrained will hear MASS chaos, loud noises, and general pandemonium. To me or my students: all that noise is learning J We would love to have you come and visit any time to hear all of our learning!
Kk is for…
Kid Writing (journals) – District wide an initiative has been set for the primary grades to use the Kid Writing curriculum for journal writing. This curriculum has specific goals to help children become better writers and readers. By using “Pen Friends” (a series of pictures that help children remember how to spell some words), and other methods this curriculum has kindergarten children writing stories that consist of at least four sentences by the end of the year with hardly any spelling mistakes.
Ll is for…
· Library – We have library class one afternoon in a 5 day cycle. Check your weekly newsletter to see which day library class falls on each week. If your child does not return their library books, they will not be permitted to check out a new book during class time.
· Lunch – Lunch will be given to our kindergarten class from 11:35 to 12:05. Your child has 3 choices for lunch: you can pack them a lunch (no microwaves are available to heat up student lunches and your child needs to be able to open the majority of the food packages/containers on their own when eating) or the school offers a first and second choice for lunch. Lunch costs $2.30this year and you have two options of paying for those lunches. You can go online and put money into your child’s account (go to the district website then click on food services in the left hand column) or send in lunch money in a sealed envelope marked with their name & grade. Every month your child will receive a menu so you know what is being served for lunch & breakfast each day. If you were to lose this menu, you may look on the district website under food services for a menu.
Mm is for…
· Music - We have music class one afternoon in a 5 day cycle. Check your weekly newsletter to see which day music class falls on each week. Our class will participate in the annual music concert presented by our school
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Nn is for…
Newsletter – Weekly newsletters will be sent home each Friday for the following week so parents (and families) are always up to date on what is going on in our classroom. In the weekly news, you will be able to find out children’s birthdays, what day is which “special class” (i.e. library, gym, art, and music), special activities, and much more classroom news and important dates to remember.
· Nurse – Our nurse Mrs. Crystal Duffey will be available between 9:30-3:00 to help with any students’ needs. Please keep her up to date on any medical information and records that will allow her to keep your child as safe as possible.
· NO School – Make sure you are aware of any and all holidays/snow days when we will not be meeting for a day of school
Oo is for…
· Outside play – Our children have two recesses daily (sometimes more if rewards or incentives are granted) and need to dress to be prepared to be as comfortable as possible in weather conditions. Unless the temperature is below 25, it is raining, or the playground is covered in ice/snow, we go outside to play. Make sure your child has a proper jacket for any weather conditions and once winter hits accessories are recommended (scarf, mittens, hats)
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Pp is for…
· Proper Attire – Currently there is not a school wide dress code. I do ask though that you follow some guidelines when dressing your kindergartener. Please avoid belly shirts, short shorts or skirts, and flip-flops that easily fall off. We exercise everyday and some days we even get involved in some aerobic activities. Please have your child wear sneakers or shoes with backs for gym days. Another part of proper attire is making sure to dress according to the weather report. A child dressed in pants and a long sleeve shirt at the beginning or the end of the school year when temperatures are hot is going to be uncomfortable. The same is true when the temperature begins to drop and your child is still dressed in tank tops and shorts. Our students have two recesses per day plus gym outside in good weather conditions. You know your child well enough if they need a jacket for being outside or not.
· Physical Education (“gym”) - We have phys ed. class one afternoon in a 5 day cycle. Check your weekly newsletter to see which day music class falls on each week. On these days, it is best to dress your child in shoes with laces and no skirts or dresses for females.
· PTO – PTO is essential to making any school run smoothly and successfully. PTO puts the fun in learning school wide. Some PTO sponsored activities include spirit week, teacher appreciation week, holiday parties, some assemblies, and SO MUCH more! If you are interested in participating contact Kathy Metzger for any and all details.
· Parties – Throughout the year, our classroom will set aside a few hours and have a party to celebrate holidays and/or special events.
· Principal – Our regional principal this year is Richard Snyder. Also in our region is Marion Elementary and Lurgan Elementary..
Qq is for…
· Questions – Never hesitate to ask them – how else will we all learn new things?
Rr is for…
· Rules – In our classroom we have four simple rules that make it easy for children to feel comfortable, successful, and loved while they are at school
1. Keep your hands and body to yourself
2. Treat others the way you want to be treated
3. Raise your hand and wait to be called on
4. Make good choices
· READ, READ, READ – Every day our classroom will read books. Sometimes the goal is read to self, practicing words that the students themselves will be able to read. Other times I want to read a story to ask comprehension questions or fine tune our prediction. Still other times I read a story just for the sheer enjoyment of listening to a good story. You can do the exact same thing at home when you and your child read together. Sometimes they will be able to read a word inside a sentence, predict what might happen next, or answer simple comprehension questions. Did you know that when you read to your child(ren) it is teaching them the basics of reading: fluency, reading left to right, top to bottom, and back to front. “TV. If kids are entertained by two letters, imagine the fun they'll have with twenty-six. Open your child's imagination. Open a book.”
· Report Cards – Since our classroom has turned to the all-day kindergarten program, report cards will now be handed out four times a year (November, January, April, and June). Our district has revised our kindergarten report card to gear it towards becoming more standards based off of the standards that the Department of Education in Pennsylvania sets for all school districts to use as a guideline. Target skills & objectives are not based on a grade score (i.e. A, B, or C) instead they are graded by using W (working towards proficiency), P (proficient in tested skill) or P+ (beyond proficient)
Responsibilities – To go along with teaching children more independence this year, I also want to bestow some responsibilities upon them as well. 5 & 6 yr olds are able to remember library books and homework. They also are responsible for making good choices in our classroom and being kind to other. When children are given expectations and ask to rise to them, more often than not, they exceed those expectations with a smile on their little faces.
Ss is for…
· Scholastic book orders – Each month, two book flyers (SeeSaw & Firefly) will be sent home with your child to view & order books from. These book orders are, of course, not mandatory, but are an excellent way to build a home library at great prices! If you decide to order from these catalogs, I would prefer if you wrote a check out for the total. Your check (just one, even if you are ordering from both flyers) can be made out to Scholastic Books. A great bonus to ordering books from these flyers is that for every dollar you spent, 1 point is being given toward buying books for our classroom library. Our classroom is now set up to order books online through Scholastic.
· Snack – During the first week of school, I like to have a snack each afternoon to help break up the afternoon and make the transition to being in school all day long a little more bearable. After that initial week, we will have snacks periodically through the year. If you are interested in donating any snacks some great ideas are cookies, fruit snacks, pretzels, crackers, etc…
Tt is for…
Transitioning (to kindergarten) – Most children are eager to start school, but for some the beginning of school is difficult and often frightening. For these children, it is helpful to say your goodbyes at your house or at the sitter’s. Children who are dropped off may cling onto the parent and start to cry. If you must drop off your child, please see that he or she gets into the building safely and walks in with the other students. For the first couple days of school, I will be out front to greet the students and help them get into a morning routine. The best thing you can do is show excitement to your child about going to school, making new friends, and that excitement tends to become contagious. For other children, the thrill is there in the beginning and the resistance to come to school does not occur for a couple of weeks when the newness wears off. This behavior is normal as well. Sit down with your child & talk to them about why they no longer want to go to kindergarten. Do not hesitate to contact me if you fear a major problem could be occurring, so we can work together to fix the situation.
· Toys (from home) – I am not responsible for any lost or stolen toys that are brought to school. I definitely would never bring any valuable items to school either.
· Transportation – Due to regulations, your child will not be permitted to go home on a different bus or get off at a different stop unless previously arranged with the transportation office at the administration office (261-3413). You or a responsible person needs to be at the bus stop when your child returns home. If there is not a responsible person at the bus stop your child will be returned to school. This is upsetting to your child, so please be at the bus stop. If there would be an emergency, please call the school (261-3454). If your child is leaving school any different way than normal, we need a note that states so. If we do not have a note, your child will go on the bus and delivered to their usual bus stop. If your child has some kind of appointment and has to leave school early or be dropped off late, you must come in to the office and sign your child in or out.
Uu is for…
· Understanding – Sometimes our lives don’t exactly run according to plan. If anything is happening as home that you feel is going to affect your child’s performance at school, I hope you feel comfortable to come and talk to me about how I can help in any way and make the situation easier for your family.
· Uniqueness – Every child in our classroom is wonderfully special in their own way with an ability to bring amazing qualities and personality traits to our classroom that otherwise would not be present. In that context, our classroom & school has a zero tolerance policy for bullying. Every child should feel safe and secure at school.
Vv is for…
· Volunteers – I need your help to make our school year a success! You are your child’s first teacher, and now that your child is in kindergarten, I want you to be my partner and become involved in our kindergarten classroom this year while I am teaching your child. A lot of activities require extra hands. Anyone is welcome to help, even grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings (at least 18 yrs. of age), etc… I will be needing a parent volunteer to come in every day to help with marking students’ progress, working with students who need extra help, help students write in their journals, during guided reading and center time, and to help with anything else around the room that there may need to be done. A sign-up sheet will be available in the classroom at open house and through a survey sent home shortly after the beginning of school. If you are interested in volunteering, you will need to talk to our secretary in the office, Melinda, to make sure you get all required clearances. Please feel free to stop in and visit if you have free time. Our door is always open & we love visitors. If you find yourself unable to physically come into the room, another option is add your name to the list of people who are willing to have paper, pictures, etc… sent home with your child for you to help me cut out & return back to school. This is an important task that I like help with because running a kindergarten classroom requires lots of paper projects.
· Vacations - If you have planned a family vacation for sometime through the year it would be in your child’s best interest to contact me and see if I can give you any work so he or she does not fall behind while they are gone.
Ww is for…
· Webpage – Our district’s website (www.chambersburg.k12.pa.us) is a HUGE resource to any parent who has a child in the school district. To find my kindergarten page, simply…
1. Click on the schools link (located in the left hand column)
2. Click on New Franklin Elementary in the list of school names
3. Click on classrooms (located in the left hand column)
4. Click on Kindergarten then Mrs. Eckenrode’s Kindergarten class
· Words, Words, Words – Words can be found EVERYWHERE! Encourage your child to read environmental print (the title of a restaurant, the name off of a cereal box, toys’ or video names, etc…) Before long, your child is going to be an excellent reader and it all starts out as something small with a lot of help, support, and practice along the way.
Xx is for…
· eXciting eXperiences and eXplorations – Kindergarten is a year for creating a definition of what school is all about, getting to know your surrounding environment, and setting the foundations for a lifetime of learning. Every day your child will be learning dozens of new things and having lots of fun all at the same time
Yy is for…
· Yearbooks – The last week of school your child will receive a school yearbook compliments of the New Franklin PTO
Zz is for…
· ZZzzzz’s – It is vital that your child receives a good night sleep in order to be successful, alert, and prepared for a full day of school. Research says that children at this age typically go to bed between 7 and 9 p.m. and wake up around 6 and 8 a.m., just as they did when they were younger. The benefits of a good night’s sleep include keeping your heart healthy, reduces stress, boosts your memory, keeps you alert, and much more
