How can family members play a role in the kindergarten experience?

• Volunteer in the classroom.
  
• Volunteer from home (prepare classroom materials).
  
• Chaperone a field trip.
  
• Attend a school-wide event.
  
• Read to your child daily.
  
• Submit your favorite theme-related reading suggestions.
  
• Complete homework assignments with your child.
  
• Support the kindergarten curriculum; reinforce what is taught in school.
  
• Donate items for classroom centers: Recycle your dress-up clothes for our Dramatic Play Center, and interesting throw-aways for our Art Center or Writing Center. Donate a natural artifact to the Science Center.
  
• Does your career or hobby pertain to one of our thematic units of study? Share what you know with us.
• Submit your ideas for theme-related projects and crafts.
  
• Send photos of your child for inclusion in the theme-related photo albums.
  

How can family members support the teacher?

• Use the kindergarten website as a resource.
  
• Read the kindergarten newsletter, as well as all kindergarten and school related announcements and bulletins that come home with your child.
  
• Empty your child’s take-home folder daily, even on Friday.
• See that your child eats a nutritious breakfast before coming to school. Children sometimes think they have a stomach ache when they are merely hungry.
  
• Encourage your child to use tissues and wash hands. Germs spread quickly in the kindergarten classroom. Children may get a tissue at any time without asking permission.
  
• Have your child use the bathroom before coming to school. Children will work toward using the bathroom during scheduled bathroom breaks. During lesson time, the children will wave the “t” hand sign and be excused to the bathroom quietly.
  
• Wear sneakers to school every day (sneakers are required in order to use the playground equipment and to participate in gym class).
  
• Tie double knots in all shoelaces.
  
• Purchase book bags (without wheels), coats, clothes, etc. that your child can manipulate independently.
  
• Have your child leave toys, jewelry, and hair accessories at home. Empty pockets before coming to school.
  
• Label all belongings that are brought to school.
• Communicate with the kindergarten team. Bring concerns directly to the teacher or school administration.
  
• Ask your child about his or her day at school. Show enthusiasm about school.
• Visit the public library. Help your child get his or her own library card.
  
• Keep a sight word ring (or similar prop) in your car and at home; practice often. Sight word recognition will be assessed and graded each marking period.
• Limit TV use.
  
• Join the PTA.

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