Kindergarten Orientation

Today was Emily's 'not a first day of school.'  That's because while the older kids started school and had a half day, the kindergarteners just went for an hour to meet their teacher, do a few activities and get acquainted with their classrooms.  We found out yesterday that her teacher is Mrs. Slick and that she is a "late owl."  Not quite the perfect fit for a true early bird, but oh well.  It meant that the first day of school looked a lot like a summer day - a little TV show after breakfast with Everett.

At 9:30 (the time she will start every day except Wednesdays - complicated) we walked up to her classroom and snapped a quick pic.  That is where she will normally line up and go in...

but today there were other directions of where to go.

Before long, the 15 late owls were lined up and ready to go in their classroom.

(the boy in front of her is Colin, and the three that you can see in the picture (below) at the end of the line are Jackson, Katie, and Hailey - all are our neighbors! The boy right behind Emily is Aiden, but we don't already know him.)

The kids were invited to pick a square on the rug for calendar time...

and a story.  The Kissing Hand... what a surprise!  ;)  That's the same book I always read to my kindergarteners on the first day of school.

Once the story was finished, the kindergarteners found their seat and journal.

They were asked to draw a picture of themselves and to write "My name is ______." on the bottom if so inclined.

Mrs. Slick liked Emily's drawing - the hourglass figure in particular.

So, of course, Emily included Mrs. Slick and her own hourglass figure in the journal.  :)

After drawing, we took a tour around the room via scavenger hunt and then it was back to the rug for a little song to practice names.

Emily is delighted to be in kindergarten and is very excited to REALLY have her first day tomorrow.