Helpful hints
Dear Kindergarten Families,
Welcome to the 2020-2021 school year! I am very excited to be working with you and your child! Together, we will accomplish so much this year. I know we’ll do big things as a team! I’ll do everything in my power to help your child be successful in this new format of learning. I am very passionate about teaching young children and I am so lucky to have your child in class this year!
I understand an online Kindergarten format was not the beginning of your child’s academic journey you most likely envisioned. Throughout the coming year, I hope to provide your child with many of the same engaging learning experiences they would be provided in a regular classroom setting. To do so, I look forward to your cooperation to ensure your child has a smooth transition into this very unique year of school.
Below I’ve highlighted a few areas in which your support will be greatly appreciated:
Communication
Keeping the lines of communication open will be paramount for ensuring your child’s success in the coming year. I am a firm believer in the power of three – the teacher, parent, and student relationship is something that I pride myself in developing early in the year. Even though we are not meeting in a traditional classroom setting, I want you to know that your child’s educational experience is of the utmost importance to me.
I will be using e-mail, Schoology, and the SeeSaw app for various types of communication with parents and activities for my students. I will also have set office hours for e-mail responses or a one on one Zoom meeting.
Quiet Space
With the transition to e-learning last spring, I quickly discovered what worked well and what did not with our littlest students. While a Kindergarten classroom is often bustling and noisy, there are times that require a quiet and calm environment so that learning may take place. This is important for your child’s online learning experience as well. I ask that if possible, you designate a quiet, work-friendly area of your home for your child’s e-learning, especially when we are engaging in synchronous (live via computer) lessons, which will take place several times per week in both a whole and small group format.
Having a stable space where your child’s iPad can remain on a flat surface without it moving around will help cut down on background noise while we are online. This should be an area where your child can be positioned in front of their iPad comfortably and we can see their smiling face (so please not in front of a window where backlight often causes them to look like a shadow). This will allow your child to have better interchanges with both myself and his/her other online peers.
Growth Mindset
It goes without saying that this year will be like no other! Kindergarten is a time of trying new things, learning and growing, being challenged, and yes, even making mistakes! It’s how we teach children to approach their work (especially when things do not come easily to them) that makes all the difference. Teaching children to think about their mistakes in a positive way also helps shape how they will feel about attempting new things in the future. We will talk a lot about mindfulness and what it means to be mindful when we work, and how a positive mindset can help us grow and be more successful!
Technology
Your child will be using an iPad to log onto our live Zoom meetings for synchronous* learning and to access all other materials they will need for asynchronous* learning through the online platforms Schoology and Clever. Navigating the iPad and the different areas where your child will be finding their work activities may present some interesting challenges in the beginning of the year but we will spend some time familiarizing ourselves these areas early on, so that it all becomes second nature. Understanding how to mute and unmute a microphone will be a lesson we will need to address on day one! I ask that you please help your child review the iPad features and symbols that we will talk about within the first week or so of school (mute/unmute, speaker, volume, etc.) We will be referring to them often.
*synchronous-together as a class, usually live on zoom
*asynchronous- watching a video, this is not done live
Jaindl Grand Champion Pride
Just as if we were in the classroom together, our focus as a Kindergarten family will be showing our Grand Champion Pride when we are meeting online to provide everyone with the best possible learning experience. That means following established Zoom rules which will be clearly explained and practiced within the first week of school. It will seem unnatural for students to have to raise their hand to speak in their home environment. I will need your help in reinforcing the understanding that the time they are participating in their online learning will be treated as closely to a school environment as possible. That means taking turns to talk, not having distractions in front of them, good listening ears, eyes on the computer, and raising hands to participate. I imagine these rules will take time to stick, just as they do at the beginning of any given school year.
Independence with Activities and Tests
As practiced within a regular classroom setting, you child will be taking regular assessments throughout the year in both ELA (English Language Arts) and Math. Assessments are important tools for providing me additional data to better understand your child’s academic strengths, as well as areas where they may require additional instructional support.
Most of your child’s formal assessments will be delivered through an online format where the test will read the questions aloud (they may need to press a speaker button next to the question to hear it out loud). While I understand it is a parent’s natural inclination to want to support and help your child do their absolute best, it is IMPERATIVE that you allow your child to answer the assessment questions completely independently. This not only allows valid data to be gathered but also prepares your child for the expectations of a typical classroom environment next year.
Purposeful Play
I believe that students should be given the opportunity to play with a purpose. If the students were in my physical kindergarten classroom they would have the freedom to play at different centers throughout the day. Even though they are not in my physical classroom this year, I still want your child to have time during the school day to play. I encourage them to explore outdoors, move their bodies, and get creative.
Supplies
I have tried to provide your child with as many learning tools as possible to make the online learning format work as similarly to the classroom format as possible. Many materials that are coming home to you are issued by the district only once and are expected to be used from year to year with future classes. I am entrusting them to you and your child with the understanding that they will be treated with respect. I will ask for them back once the school year is over. Please refer to the Supplies Checklist in the front of your child’s Distance Learning Toolkit binder for a list of items that will be expected to be returned. I recommend filling a backpack with the supplies and keep it near the learning area. I ask that you encourage your child to get it each day before school begins. It will be more meaningful if they only use these materials during online activities during the school day.
Pencil and Scissor Grip
While many Kindergarteners are quite savvy on technology, there is much to be said for developing those important fine motor skills that do not involve a keyboard or touch screen. Pencil grip and scissor manipulation are areas we focus on in the first year of school. I would normally be the one to help your child adjust grip or guide proper scissor handling, but our online format means we get to share the job of monitoring and helping your child with these skills! I have provided a thick pencil that should be used for the beginning of the school year as well as a pair of scissors. I recommend buying a pencil sharpener or having extra pencils available for school time.
Patience and Understanding
Last, but definitely not least, I thank you in advance from the bottom of my heart, for your patience and understanding as we navigate the beginning of the year and your child’s introduction to online learning. Last school year’s spring transition to e-learning was an incredible learning experience for me as a teacher and I was proud of the efforts given by my students and their families to making learning a priority. I feel that their successful transition occurred because of where we were in the year and the solid foundation they had already built from September to mid-March. My focus will be to build the same solid foundation for your child so that their online learning experience prepares them for the future. I enter this year fully knowing we will have great days as well as some challenging days, but together we can make this year one to remember!
Please know that I am here for you and your child this year! I know this is a lot to digest all at once, so please do not hesitate to reach out to me if any questions should arise.
Thank you for your time!
I sincerely look forward to working with you and your child this year!
Best Regards,
Mrs. Lindsey Berkheimer
Welcome to the 2020-2021 school year! I am very excited to be working with you and your child! Together, we will accomplish so much this year. I know we’ll do big things as a team! I’ll do everything in my power to help your child be successful in this new format of learning. I am very passionate about teaching young children and I am so lucky to have your child in class this year!
I understand an online Kindergarten format was not the beginning of your child’s academic journey you most likely envisioned. Throughout the coming year, I hope to provide your child with many of the same engaging learning experiences they would be provided in a regular classroom setting. To do so, I look forward to your cooperation to ensure your child has a smooth transition into this very unique year of school.
Below I’ve highlighted a few areas in which your support will be greatly appreciated:
Communication
Keeping the lines of communication open will be paramount for ensuring your child’s success in the coming year. I am a firm believer in the power of three – the teacher, parent, and student relationship is something that I pride myself in developing early in the year. Even though we are not meeting in a traditional classroom setting, I want you to know that your child’s educational experience is of the utmost importance to me.
I will be using e-mail, Schoology, and the SeeSaw app for various types of communication with parents and activities for my students. I will also have set office hours for e-mail responses or a one on one Zoom meeting.
Quiet Space
With the transition to e-learning last spring, I quickly discovered what worked well and what did not with our littlest students. While a Kindergarten classroom is often bustling and noisy, there are times that require a quiet and calm environment so that learning may take place. This is important for your child’s online learning experience as well. I ask that if possible, you designate a quiet, work-friendly area of your home for your child’s e-learning, especially when we are engaging in synchronous (live via computer) lessons, which will take place several times per week in both a whole and small group format.
Having a stable space where your child’s iPad can remain on a flat surface without it moving around will help cut down on background noise while we are online. This should be an area where your child can be positioned in front of their iPad comfortably and we can see their smiling face (so please not in front of a window where backlight often causes them to look like a shadow). This will allow your child to have better interchanges with both myself and his/her other online peers.
Growth Mindset
It goes without saying that this year will be like no other! Kindergarten is a time of trying new things, learning and growing, being challenged, and yes, even making mistakes! It’s how we teach children to approach their work (especially when things do not come easily to them) that makes all the difference. Teaching children to think about their mistakes in a positive way also helps shape how they will feel about attempting new things in the future. We will talk a lot about mindfulness and what it means to be mindful when we work, and how a positive mindset can help us grow and be more successful!
Technology
Your child will be using an iPad to log onto our live Zoom meetings for synchronous* learning and to access all other materials they will need for asynchronous* learning through the online platforms Schoology and Clever. Navigating the iPad and the different areas where your child will be finding their work activities may present some interesting challenges in the beginning of the year but we will spend some time familiarizing ourselves these areas early on, so that it all becomes second nature. Understanding how to mute and unmute a microphone will be a lesson we will need to address on day one! I ask that you please help your child review the iPad features and symbols that we will talk about within the first week or so of school (mute/unmute, speaker, volume, etc.) We will be referring to them often.
*synchronous-together as a class, usually live on zoom
*asynchronous- watching a video, this is not done live
Jaindl Grand Champion Pride
Just as if we were in the classroom together, our focus as a Kindergarten family will be showing our Grand Champion Pride when we are meeting online to provide everyone with the best possible learning experience. That means following established Zoom rules which will be clearly explained and practiced within the first week of school. It will seem unnatural for students to have to raise their hand to speak in their home environment. I will need your help in reinforcing the understanding that the time they are participating in their online learning will be treated as closely to a school environment as possible. That means taking turns to talk, not having distractions in front of them, good listening ears, eyes on the computer, and raising hands to participate. I imagine these rules will take time to stick, just as they do at the beginning of any given school year.
Independence with Activities and Tests
As practiced within a regular classroom setting, you child will be taking regular assessments throughout the year in both ELA (English Language Arts) and Math. Assessments are important tools for providing me additional data to better understand your child’s academic strengths, as well as areas where they may require additional instructional support.
Most of your child’s formal assessments will be delivered through an online format where the test will read the questions aloud (they may need to press a speaker button next to the question to hear it out loud). While I understand it is a parent’s natural inclination to want to support and help your child do their absolute best, it is IMPERATIVE that you allow your child to answer the assessment questions completely independently. This not only allows valid data to be gathered but also prepares your child for the expectations of a typical classroom environment next year.
Purposeful Play
I believe that students should be given the opportunity to play with a purpose. If the students were in my physical kindergarten classroom they would have the freedom to play at different centers throughout the day. Even though they are not in my physical classroom this year, I still want your child to have time during the school day to play. I encourage them to explore outdoors, move their bodies, and get creative.
Supplies
I have tried to provide your child with as many learning tools as possible to make the online learning format work as similarly to the classroom format as possible. Many materials that are coming home to you are issued by the district only once and are expected to be used from year to year with future classes. I am entrusting them to you and your child with the understanding that they will be treated with respect. I will ask for them back once the school year is over. Please refer to the Supplies Checklist in the front of your child’s Distance Learning Toolkit binder for a list of items that will be expected to be returned. I recommend filling a backpack with the supplies and keep it near the learning area. I ask that you encourage your child to get it each day before school begins. It will be more meaningful if they only use these materials during online activities during the school day.
Pencil and Scissor Grip
While many Kindergarteners are quite savvy on technology, there is much to be said for developing those important fine motor skills that do not involve a keyboard or touch screen. Pencil grip and scissor manipulation are areas we focus on in the first year of school. I would normally be the one to help your child adjust grip or guide proper scissor handling, but our online format means we get to share the job of monitoring and helping your child with these skills! I have provided a thick pencil that should be used for the beginning of the school year as well as a pair of scissors. I recommend buying a pencil sharpener or having extra pencils available for school time.
Patience and Understanding
Last, but definitely not least, I thank you in advance from the bottom of my heart, for your patience and understanding as we navigate the beginning of the year and your child’s introduction to online learning. Last school year’s spring transition to e-learning was an incredible learning experience for me as a teacher and I was proud of the efforts given by my students and their families to making learning a priority. I feel that their successful transition occurred because of where we were in the year and the solid foundation they had already built from September to mid-March. My focus will be to build the same solid foundation for your child so that their online learning experience prepares them for the future. I enter this year fully knowing we will have great days as well as some challenging days, but together we can make this year one to remember!
Please know that I am here for you and your child this year! I know this is a lot to digest all at once, so please do not hesitate to reach out to me if any questions should arise.
Thank you for your time!
I sincerely look forward to working with you and your child this year!
Best Regards,
Mrs. Lindsey Berkheimer