Welcome to Ms. Russo's's Class Page!


K-2- If you can dream it, you can do it! 

Welcome to Kindergarten! 

Kindergarten is an exciting year, designed to enhance your child's growth and development. It will be filled with discovery and joy, allowing  your child to work and develop in a warm, safe and challenging environment.

The structure of our daily activities is planned to encourage independence, self confidence and group cooperation through large group, small group and one-on-one participation in a variety of hands on experiences. Our activities will incorporate instruction in reading, mathematics, writing, science/ social studies. We will also be developing fine and gross motor skills along with improving social/emotional skills.  

I am looking forward to working together to make this a  successful school year! Please feel free to contact me, I will be happy to answer any questions/ concerns you may have. 

• My email is : 
  jrusso7211@ndsnet.org

Remind 101 is a one-way messaging system that allows your child's teacher to send you reminders about K-2 in the form of text messages. Please note that you will not be able to reply through this messaging system. You may contact me through emails or notes sent in to school.

The location for Kindergarten dismissal (parent/guardian pick-up) is the North Gate. During dismissal YOU ARE permitted to step inside the gate. 
If you will be having someone that is not a parent pick up your child, s/he will need to show identification. 
You must give a copy of their license before they pick up your child. Please be sure to provide the copy/permission in advance in order to make dismissal run smoothly. 

** Please make sure to check your child's folder every day. Please send notes and/or payments in an envelope labled with your child's name.

K-2- Specials Schedule
Tuesday- Technology
Wednesday- GYM
Thursday- Music
Friday- Art

Free Learning Websites you can visit: ABCya, StorylineOnline (for read alouds), Starfall, and Time Kids. ABC Mouse is currently allowing free access

Kindergarten Math and Literacy Activities for Home
 
At home your child can…..
Count items in the house such as toys, books, or cookies.
Sort objects by size, shape or color.
Put objects into groups/sets and compare how many are in each group/set.
Identify and create patterns in the environment (clothing, music, decorations, packages).
Describe patterns by their repeating unit (AB, ABB, ABC)
Line up toys or draw a picture of family members then tell which comes first, next or last. Explain why.
Choose a house hold object (cereal box) and explain how it can be measured (height, weight and length)
Compare the measurements of two objects using the vocabulary- shorter than, longer than).
Compare the weights of objects. (lighter, heavier).
Describe shapes of objects or food.
Show ways to make a number by using small toys to show ways to make a group of 5. Repeat this for other numbers.
Use stuffed animals to act out a story problem. Three bears are on the bed. Then 1 fell off. How many are on the bed now?
Use flash cards, dice, or playing cards to solve basic addition facts within 5.
 Reading Activities
Ways to use magnetic letters:
Spell his/her name or the names of family members.
Sort letters by shapes or characteristics, such as straight lines/curvy lines, circle/no circles, tails/no tails, or uppercase/ lowercase.
Put letters in ABC order (sing the alphabet).
Match uppercase letters with lowercase letters.
Say the name of a letter and have your child find that letter/Say the sound of the letter and have your child find that letter.
Have your child use his/her finger to trace letters in a pile of shaving cream or sand.
Building Words- Use magnetic letters to make 3 letter words (cat). Have your child read the word and use it in a sentence. Change one letter to make a new word (bat, sat, rat, mat, hat, pat). You can also change the middle or last letter (pan, pen, pin, - pat, pal, pad).
Build your child’s vocabulary by: Continuing to read aloud to your child even after he/she can read independently. Chose books above your child’s level because they are likely to contain a broader vocabulary. They will learn new words and how the words are used in context.
Before reading you can do a “picture walk”. Look at the pictures and discuss what the story may be about.
Some Hints for helping your child sound out words:
If a word is a high frequency/sight word  (to, the, is, like, little…) say the word and remind them that it needs to be memorized.
Have your child say the first sound in the word and make a guess based on the picture or surrounding words.
Have your child say each sound separately (c, a, t) Then they say the sounds together - cat. I tell them to tap it out, then blend the sounds.
“At the end of the day, the most overwhelming key to a child’s success is the positive involvement of parents.” Jane D. Hull
Thank you parents for your support and partnership in your child’s education!