October Kindergarten Readiness Newsletter

Welcome Metro Schools Families!

Fall is here! It’s a great time to go outside and explore with your child and discuss all differences that the new season has brought. This month you will have an opportunity to connect with your child’s teacher on MNPS Parent Conference Day! We included information in this newsletter to support your parent/family-teacher conference.

 

 

Learning At Home

Each month this section will feature a recommended book and activity for families.

Early math matters, and each day our Pre-K students are developing their math skills in their classroom. Ten Little Caterpillars by Bill Martin is an excellent book to read with your child to support the new math skills your child is learning. As you read the book together, have your child find and count the caterpillars in the story. After you read, use real world objects (blocks, pencils, cheerios etc.) in amounts up to 5 to practice counting.

ACTIVITY: “Caterpillars in a Jar”

Place 10 cotton balls into a jar or bowl, and work with your child to count out each cotton ball. Have your child count the cotton balls again as you put them back in the jar. You can also have your child use tongs or tweezers to move the cotton balls, which is a great way to develop their fine motor skills. Fine motor skills strengthen the small muscles in your child’s hand that help them write.

Important Dates

• October 10: Stockpiled Day (Students do not report)
• October 13-17: Fall Break Holiday (Students do not report)
• October 31: Parent Conference Day (Students do not report)
• November 11: Veteran’s Day (Students do not report – District Closed)

Family Connect

Did you know that missing school 2 days a month means a child misses 10% of their school year?

That equals to a significant number of missed learning opportunities for a child. Pre-K is a great opportunity to develop healthy attendance habits.

Some ways to support a healthy attendance habit are:

• Set a regular bedtime & morning routine.
• Layout clothes the night before.
• Talk to your child about the importance of attending school and get them excited about school.
• Schedule medical appointments and extended trips when school is not in session.
• Develop a back-up plan for getting your child to & from school if something comes up.

If you need additional tips or information, connect with your child’s teacher or school. 

Pre-K Building Blocks

Parent/Family Conference Day are in October! For many families, this conference provides you with an opportunity to connect one-on-one with your child's teacher to talk about your child's learning experience in the classroom.

While teachers will have information to share, it is also important for families to share information about their child's school experience and to tell the teacher about family events that could impact your child, like an upcoming move or a new baby.

Helpful questions to ask the teacher during your conference are:

• What activities/centers does my child like best?
• What can we do at home to keep our child excited about learning?
• What goals do you have for my child this year?

If you still have unanswered questions after the conference, please follow up with a written note or schedule a second one-on-one meeting with your child’s teacher. Developing a solid relationship with your child's teacher can support your child's learning success.

Parent-Teacher Conference Tips

Parent-Teacher conferences are a great opportunity for you to connect with your child’s teacher. To have an effective conference, here are a few conference tips:

• Think of items you want to discuss with your child’s teacher prior to your conference.
• Write down questions that you have about your child.
• If you need an interpreter, please let your child’s teacher know 8-10 days prior to your conference.

Early Math Development

Pre-K students are often excited to begin learning early math skills. It’s easy to practice math skills at home through everyday activities and games.

Here are a few tips to support your child’s learning:

• Count food items together at snack time.
• When you’re cooking dinner, let your child help you measure ingredients for a recipe.
• Check in with your child’s teacher about math activities to bring classroom learning into the home.
• Your feelings about math can influence your child’s thoughts about math. Help your child enjoy math by talking about it in a positive manner.

For more activities visit the MNPS Early Learning website.