You'll find that these are not only rules for the classroom, but global rules for life!  These ideas help  children and teachers understand that with every right and privilege comes a responsibility. _________________________________________________________

1. In this room, we all have the right to learn.  No one has the rig...(Read More)

Need to be out of your classroom unexpectedly? These generic sub plans will allow anyone to come into your room on a moment's notice and navigate through your busy day. Your substitute will thank you!Mrs. Middendorf’s Kindergarten Sub Plans DATE_______ Dear Brave Sub: NOTHING in a kindergarten plan is sacred! Everything has to be subject to last minute changes, because kindergarten is volat...(Read More)

We all had favorite teachers and favorite school memories. Your child's assignment this week is to have a conversation with you and other adults in his or her life about your earliest positive school memories. Did you go to kindergarten? What are some of the happy things you remember about an early teacher or classroom? Do you remember favorite activities, book...(Read More)

We love talking about the pets we know: our pets, neighbors’ pets, relatives’ pets, or pets we’ve read about. Your child’s hometalk assignment this week is to talk to you and others in the family about your pet memories. Did you or someone in your neighborhood or family have a pet that you remember from your childhood? Describe the pet t...(Read More)

      We’ve been learning the song America the Beautiful, and we’ve seen pictures from parts of our country that look very different than our community. Your child’s home talk assignment this week is to have a conversation with you, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and/or any other adults about places you may have visited when you were young. Reminisce with y...(Read More)

As the holidays approach, we'll be learning about holiday traditions celebrated by our families. Your child's assignment for this week is to talk to you, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other family members about the traditions you remember as a child. Were there certain activities you always did? Special foods that were always part of the holiday? Special vis...(Read More)

  February is Dental Health Month. We’re learning some very big words (incisor, molar), and we’re learning about habits and behaviors that will keep our teeth healthy. Kindergarten children are very "tooth conscious" because so many of us have wiggly ones! Your child’s home talk assignment this week is to have a conversation with you and...(Read More)

Our Homework is Our Home Talk! Dear Families, Research is clear! Children who have regular conversations at home with families, children who make connections between school and family life, and children who engage in interactive discussions with families about school consistently have better attitudes about school and...(Read More)

  We all know that parent involvement is crucial to successful early learning, but it can be difficult to find the right language when asking for a parent's help. This letter helps you cover all the necessary topics to make sure that you're doing all that you can to make the student's school experience more fun and rewarding. _____________________________________________________________...(Read More)

We all know that our early learners can only succeed if educational values are reinforced at home.  This letter is a simple tool that gives parents the opportunity to get involved. ____________________________________________________________ Dear Families, Your child is an important part of our school family. As part of our Friends and Familie theme, we are eager to become acquainted wi...(Read More)

As teachers we often find ourselves needing to communicate from school to home and often from home to school.  I've used the chart below to help me do this.  This is a great organizational tool that allows teachers and parents to get on the same page quickly and easily.  Simply create a chart similar to the one shown below, then give each child a folder, slip it in their back pack ...(Read More)