Greetings!
Welcome to kindergarten, new and returning families! Kindergarten is an exciting time of new beginnings, where your children will make new friends and learn many new things each day. Our days and weeks will be filled with numerous wonderful experiences and learning opportunities.
This year, we will focus on fostering kindness, teamwork, and positive friendships among the children. We aim to help them become more independent and confident every day. Academically, you will witness your child blossom into an early reader and writer, discovering the joy of words and stories. They will also develop essential math skills through hands-on activities that make learning both enjoyable and meaningful. My goal is to support each child in growing not only as a student but also as a kind, capable, and curious individual.
I appreciate your continuous support in your child's learning journey at home. Please enjoy our weekly newsletters, which highlight the growth and joyful experiences of our kindergarteners throughout the school year. I am excited to partner with you this year and look forward to celebrating your child's successes together.
Warmly,
Ms. Lowe-Watson, Teacher
Ms. Moore, Assistant
John R. Francis Education Campus
COMMITMENT TO RACIAL EQUITY
At John R. Francis Education Campus, we believe that developing global citizens, with a clear and purposeful focus on social justice and equity, is part of who we are and must be. We also believe in the power of education. We must continue educating ourselves, our children, and each other about our shared history, no matter how uncomfortable and difficult it may be.
John R. Francis Education Campus
OUR CODE OF CONDUCT
In our Tiger community, we uphold the 5Rs at all times to help our scholars remain safe, physically and emotionally. Students, faculty, and staff are expected to follow this code of conduct and hold visitors to the same standard. Below, we've included some examples of model behavior:
Respect for Self
Early/On-Time Arrival, Following Uniform Policy, Prepared & Ready to Learn
Respect for Property
Asking for permission and returning borrowed items, Maintaining Tech devices.
Respect for Others
Greeting community, Being an Upstander, Participating in conflict resolution
Respect The Rights Of Others To Learn
Follow Class Procedures, Advocate for Student Success, Assist Teacher
Respect Racial Differences
Recognize Racial Inequities, Raise Awareness, and Lift Up Voices
Upcoming Dates
October - Hispanic Heritage Acknowledgement Month Continued & National Bullying Prevention Month
Thursday, October 9th- Parent-Teacher Conference Day: No school for students
Friday, October 10th- Professional Development Day for Staff: No school for students
Monday, October 13th- Indigenous Peoples’ Day: DCPS Closed
Thursday, October 16th-Hispanic Heritage Celebration “La Tarde Latina" from 3:45 PM to 6:00 PM
Friday, October 17th- Save the date! Kindergarten Field Trip to the Kennedy Center
Wednesday, October 22nd – Unity Day Acknowledgment (Students wear “Orange”)
Friday, October 31st- JFEC Halloween Parade
Learning Resources
To achieve the Common Core State Standards, DCPS adopted the Eureka Math curriculum and developed its own curriculum for English Language Arts (ELA). DCPS provides families with curriculum guides to help them understand the thematic literacy units used throughout the District. You can find them here.
For additional resources on the Eureka Math curriculum used in all DCPS K-5 classrooms, these Common Core-aligned Roadmaps below will help you support your child with math-related content.
Click here: Kindergarten Math Roadmap
Click here: Kindergarten ELA Roadmap
Kindergarten Assessments:
Kindergarten students will take the Dibels and iReady Math and Reading Diagnostic Assessment three times a year.
DIBELS measures students’ foundational reading skills. This formative assessment is taken at the beginning of the year (BOY), middle of the year (MOY), and end of the year (EOY). DIBELS uses one-minute fluency measures to assess students’ development in certain key sub-skills closely correlated to fluent grade-level reading. The assessment uses seven indicators to accurately measure the acquisition of early literacy and early reading skills. Different measures are given at different grade levels.
The i-Ready Diagnostic is a computer-adaptive test that matches the difficulty of test questions to each student's ability. As students answer questions correctly, the test becomes more difficult. As students answer questions incorrectly, the test becomes easier for them. In both scenarios, the test adapts to determine each student's precise ability in the quickest and most efficient way possible. Math domains include Numbers and Operations, Algebra and Algebraic Thinking, Measurement and Data, and Geometry. English Language Arts (ELA) domains include Phonological awareness, which involves understanding that a spoken word has distinct sounds; phonics, which involves understanding the relationship between the sounds of spoken language and the letters of written language; high-frequency words; vocabulary; and Comprehension.
Click here: i-Ready Family Center
Click here: DCPS Assessment Guide for Families
Social-Emotional Learning Resources:
GoNoodle for Families is a website that engages kids in movement and mindfulness activities designed to promote physical wellness, academic success, and social-emotional health.
Conversation Starters for Families— Family conversations are an excellent way to connect and check in with one another. They help family members develop perspectives, build a family culture, cultivate respect for one another, and enhance problem-solving skills. "Conversation Starters for Families" offers a list of questions to help you and your family begin this valuable activity.
Academic Resources:
Math:
Click here: Eureka Math Module 1_Parent Tips
Click here: Eureka Math Module 2 Parent Tips
Click here: Eureka Math Student Workbook_ Module 1
Click here: Eureka Math Student Workbook Module 2
Click here: Eureka Math_ Module 3_ Student Workbook
Click here: Eureka Math_ Module 3_ Parent Tips
Click here: Eureka Math Student Workbook_ Module 4
Click here: Eureka Math Parent Tips_ Module 4
Click here: Eureka Math Student Workbook_ Module 5
Click here: Eureka Math Module 5 Parent Tips
In our class, we have several "Math Masters." I'm sharing sample math workbooks for first and second graders at the beginning of the year to illustrate the progression of mathematical concepts taught from kindergarten to first grade. You can also use these workbooks as an enrichment tool.
Click here: First Grade Eureka Math_ Student Workbook
Click here: Second Grade Eureka Math_ Student Workbook
Literacy:
Click here for Kindergarten Literacy Tools to Support Reading Development.
Raising a Reader, Raising a Writer!
It's important to remember these steps to promote reading and writing habits in children:
1. Set a regular time every day to read together and make it a predictable part of your daily routine.
2. Look for books with engaging text and eye-catching illustrations about topics your child is interested in. This will ignite their imagination. It's also important to look for books related to what's happening in your child's life, such as getting a new pet or starting school for the first time.
3. Surround your child with reading materials and writing tools so that they can easily access them.
4. Foster your child's awareness of print and how we use it. Children love seeing their names in print. Try to encourage them to write their first and last names on drawings, holiday cards, labels to attach to their belongings, and more. Also, remind your child to write their name on homework!
Read Daily and Ask Questions
Ask your child questions about the story as you read to them (or they read to you). Who are the characters? What is the setting? What is the problem? What is the solution? What do you think will happen next? What is this book mostly about? Encourage your child to respond to questions in complete sentences.
Ask your child about one thing that happened during the day (at school). Encourage your child to tell you many interesting details about a short period of a single event, rather than a general list representing an entire day. This is an excellent activity to do in the car.
Encouraging your child to write every day is essential. There are many lovely notepads and blank books available for selection, allowing your child to create their own illustrations or include photos and cut-out images from magazines and newspapers. Alternatively, your child can also dictate their thoughts to you.
Click Here for At-Home Literacy Skills Practice Activities.
Helpful Websites and Miscellaneous Information:
John R. Francis Education Campus- http://www.johnfrancisec.org
District of Columbia Public Schools- https://dcps.dc.gov/
JFEC Family and Student Handbook: The Family and Student Handbook will be available to help you understand our school-wide expectations, policies, and procedures. It includes important information, guidelines, and resources designed to support you throughout the school year.
DCPS Volunteer Clearance:
If you are interested in supporting our class through volunteering or chaperoning a field trip this school year, please complete the required steps. Please complete the Volunteer Fingerprinting Application.