Welcome to the 2013-2014 ISR school year! By virtue of beginning Kindergarten, your child has begun an exciting new rite of passage. He or she has joined the ranks of the ‘big kids’ who stay at school all day. This is a great time for your family. Your child’s expressive skills are well developed and they are ready and willing to share their thoughts and feelings. And although they are keen to do this, they will still need your help from time to time to understand and communicate their emotions and experiences.

One of the ways you can help your child do this is by maintaining communication between home and school. International schools tend to be special as many parents are often traveling for business or personal reasons. In my years of international teaching, I have never come across a subject more likely to have children feeling out of sorts. Making the school aware of the dates and even location of your absence can be a huge help for the classroom teacher. At the Kindergarten age we are then able to find the place on our map, talk about our feelings in our morning meeting and share stories of similar experiences with one another. We can even add a countdown for your return to our morning calendar! This information is also shared with other teachers in the school to ensure your child receives some extra positive attention in your absence.

Another aspect of living abroad is our wonderful opportunity for travel. Having the ability to provide these culturally rich experiences for your child engages their curiosity and helps them to develop their inquiry skills. When out and about, be sure to explore the different geography your destination has to offer in addition to the museums and amusement parks. These experiences will provide your child with the life experiences needed for them to connect to the material they are learning.

For more great ideas on how you can help your Kindergarten child, take a peek at the article cited below. http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/article/what-to-expect-grade/what- kindergarten-teachers-wish-parents-knew

Looking forward to an amazing year together, Michelle Clare