WELCOME TO CURRICULUM NIGHT September 5, 2013 KINDERGARTEN 2013-2014

Kindergarten Curriculum Allen ISD Curriculum *To access the state curriculum guidelines for Kindergarten… go to www.allenisd.org click “Parents” click “Parents Guide to AllenISD” click “Kindergarten Guide” click on curriculum link (it will take you to the TEA website) **Many of your questions can be answered by navigating to the Allen ISD website or to the Norton kindergarten website.

Our Kindergarten Day (sample schedule) 7:55-8:00 Arrive and Unpack 8:00-8:15 Announcements 8:15-8:45 Calendar Activities 8:45-9:00 Reading Mini Lesson 9:00-10:00 Daily 5 10:00-11:00 Writer’s Workshop 11:00-11:30 Lunch 11:35-12:30 Math 12:35-1:20 Specials 1:25-1:45 *Snack*/Pack Up/Read Aloud 1:45-2:15 Castle 2:20-2:40 Recess 2:45 Dismissal

Read To Read Aloud Why “read aloud”? -provides a reading role model -vocabulary and language development -listening comprehension skills -story patterning and sequencing -PLEASURE! -promotes eventual success in reading!

Read With Shared Reading - students are invited to read along Big Books, poems, posters Guided Reading - small group instruction based on the student’s instructional level to apply reading strategies and skills Easy words Repetitive text

Read By Reading Buddies Book Baggies (home) Book Box (school) The reading is done independently by the student based on their level. Reading Buddies Book Baggies (home) Book Box (school)

Write To The teacher demonstrates the reasons for writing and the thought process behind it. The teacher models writing strategies that include spacing, handwriting, spelling, punctuation and vocabulary choices.

Write With Morning Message/Daily News -The student and teacher share the pen while the teacher guides, responds, and extends the student’s skills and ideas.

**Please note that AllenISD has gone to Modern Manuscript print. Write By (Draft Books & Reading Response Journals) Students select topics. Students are in charge of their own writing. Independent writing occurs daily. The teacher supports each student based on their individual writing level. **Please note that AllenISD has gone to Modern Manuscript print.

Daily 5 Read to Someone Read to Self Word Work Listen to Reading Work on Writing

Math To Teacher presents mini-lessons to explain new concepts and materials. Example: Teacher models sorting by different attributes with student participation.

Math With Teacher interacts with the students as they apply the new skill Can be both whole group and small group Example: Students practice sorting by a given attribute Math Warm Up: Counting, skip counting, word problems, number line, number sense, etc..

Math By The student independently demonstrates the concept taught and applies appropriately. Math Journals Math Workbooks

Science/Social Studies Fridays are our scheduled Science/ Social Studies focus days. This is the time when we concentrate more in depth on the week’s TEKS and concepts. There will be days when we visit the science lab, have guest speakers, do outdoor studies, etc… These concepts are often integrated into our literature and across the curriculum.

SPECIALS **Counselor Visit-first week of the month COLE Mon-Music Tues-PE Wed-Art Thurs-PE Fri-Fitness Friday SAVITCH Mon-PE Tues-Art Wed-PE Thurs-Music Fri-Fitness Friday ESPOSITO Mon- Art Tues-PE Wed-Music Thurs-PE Fri-Fitness Friday **Counselor Visit-first week of the month **Computers- once a week

CASTLE Collaboration Among Students and Teachers for Learning Effectively Kindergarten has a scheduled CASTLE time Monday through Thursday for 30 minutes. Teachers will collaborate on what enrichment or intervention each student will receive. Students will meet with a group to address specific learning needs. These are very flexible groups that change frequently. Sometimes students may be with their classroom teacher, sometimes not. Students who receive special services such as ESL and speech are scheduled during this time. This allows for the least number of interruptions to our instructional time.

Report Cards A report card will be sent home each nine weeks. No progress reports will be sent home for kindergarten students. The district’s report card guidelines can be found on the kindergarten website. Parent conferences will occur in October. Please plan to sign up tonight. No other formal conferences will be scheduled for the spring semester unless a need arises.

Testing TPRI (Texas Primary Reading Inventory) will be administered at the beginning, middle and end of the year. This is a test to evaluate a child’s reading readiness skills. Ex.. letter sounds, comprehension, rhyming, etc… AMI Math will be administered at the beginning, middle and end of the year. This is a test to measure a child’s mastery of fundamental mathematical skills and to acquire insight to their mathematical thinking. CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test) will be administered in December. This is a test to identify those students who possess high cognitive potential ability. It is NOT to reflect student achievement or mastery of classroom instruction.

Behavior Management PURPLE- Outstanding (two stickers in folder) BLUE- Good Day (one sticker in folder) GREEN – Ready to Learn (everyone starts the day here) YELLOW – Warning (one yellow sticker in folder still counts towards 10 stickers) ORANGE- Consequences (no sticker/ loss of recess) RED – Unacceptable (no sticker/ loss of recess/ parent contact) After your child has earned 10 stickers they will receive a reward! Detention will be assigned if your child’s folder is signed three or more days within one week.

Folders Daily Folder – Sent home each day and returned each morning; please initial each night on the conduct sheet; remove contents and return any correspondence in this folder. White Homework Folder – Sent home each day and returned each morning; A short homework assignment will be assigned in a calendar format. Please have your child complete each activity. This can be done nightly, on the weekend, etc.. We will check for completed homework the following Monday . Occasionally an additional special homework project or unfinished work may be sent home. These will be found in the left pocket of the folder. Wednesday Folder – Sent home on Wednesday and MUST be signed and returned on THURSDAY. Please remove contents and return any correspondence to teacher in the Norton Daily Folder.

Attendance/Tardies It is imperative that students are physically in the classroom by 7:55. It is important for your child to understand the value of being in school each day and on time. Please help your child learn this important life skill. If an absence must occur, please be sure to send a note explaining the absence within 5 days. Kindly remember that Allen ISD’s policy is that your child must be without fever, diarrhea, or vomiting for 24 hours before returning (without the aid of medication). Please review the attendance and tardy policies in the Kindergarten Handbook.

Additional Nuts and Bolts If your child’s regular dismissal procedure changes, please let us know IN WRITING as soon possible. Do not rely on e-mail as notification as we often don’t have the opportunity to check our e-mail most days until school is out. Lunch code- in order to maximize your child’s time to eat lunch, they MUST know their lunch code before buying. Please note that the plate lunch only includes one choice of fruit. Juice and bottled water are considered extras. For the safety of our students, please do not linger in your car and observe kids on the playground. We are unable to determine if you are a parent or a stranger. Please complete your volunteer background check online if you wish to help in the classroom or go on field trips. This can take 2 to 3 weeks to complete.

Thank you for coming to support your child’s education Thank you for coming to support your child’s education! We look forward to working together to make this year a SUCCESS!!!