Kindergarten Parent Information Night Wednesday, February 20, 2013, 7:00 p.m. Methacton High School Large Group Instruction Classroom (LGI)

Agenda… Introductions Eligibility Kindergarten Registration & Screening Kindergarten Readiness Typical Kindergarten Day Things To Do At Home Questions

Panel Members Mrs. Alison Navarrete ( Eagleville Kindergarten Teacher) Mrs. Shannon Broadhead ( Worcester Counselor) Mrs. Jamie Friedman ( Arrowhead Counselor) Mrs. Tara Ricci (Principal of Audubon Elementary) Dr. Todd Fay (Director of Pupil Services) Dr. Diane Barrie (Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment)

Eligibility Five years of age on or before September 1, 2013.

Kindergarten Registration & Screening March March 11 & 12 Arrowhead, Mr. Aaron Roberts Eagleville, Mr. Jason Sorgini Woodland, Dr. Zanthia Reddish - March 18 & 19 Audubon, Mrs. Tara Ricci Worcester, Mr. Bruce MacGregor Registration Information –Go to –Scroll down to “Announcements” to find the link to reserve your appointment.

Kindergarten Screening Purpose – to assess students’ basic skills in order to screen for a summer “Jump Start” program Provide information to kindergarten teachers regarding students’ skills and understandings

What Does Kindergarten Readiness Look Like?

Beginning of Kindergarten Identify some letters of the alphabet Recognize own name in print Write own name Grip a pencil correctly Use scissors, glue, and paint with relative ease Repeat full name, address, and telephone number

Beginning of Kindergarten Manage bathroom independently Dress self, zip coat Follow directions Clean up after self Separate from parents easily Listen without interrupting Display self-control

What Skills Will Children Develop in Kindergarten?

Social and Emotional Skills Share with others Display self-control Participate in activities Respect others and their property Show courtesy and thoughtfulness Identify and express feelings

On-Going Work Study Skills Listen attentively Follow directions Work independently Work neatly and accurately Complete tasks Put away materials and toys

A Typical Kindergarten Day…

Typical Kindergarten Day Arrival tasks completed independently (coats, backpacks, folders) English Language Arts –Storytown (phonemic awareness, phonics, letters, sounds, sight words, vocabulary, literature) –Kid Writing –Guided Reading groups

Typical Kindergarten Day Mathematics –Everyday Math (number sense, patterns, sorting, graphing, number identification, counting, writing numbers, skip counting) –Daily routines and EDM games Special Area Classes (30 minutes): Art, Music, Library, Physical Education

Typical Kindergarten Day Response to Instruction and Intervention (RtII) –Three tiers (25 minutes, 4 x/week) –Students placed in tiers based on results of universal screener tests and teacher input

Typical Kindergarten Day Computers –Everyday Math games Recess (15 minutes each day)

What Can We Do at Home?

Gross Motor Skills Jump from one marked spot to another along a path Balance on one foot for a count of 10 Practice skipping and hopping on one foot

Gross Motor Skills Move in rhythm to music Climb on playground jungle gyms Swing Bounce a ball

Fine Motor Skills Color, trace, copy Write own first name Cut on straight, curved, or zigzag lines Assemble puzzles

Fine Motor Skills String beads, Cheerios, or pasta on a shoestring Move spoonfuls of objects from one bowl to another Stack small blocks

Self-Help Skills Encourage the “I Can Do It!” attitude Practice dressing independently (zipping coats, putting on mittens, etc.) Manage bathroom needs independently Wipe own nose

Self-Help Skills Clean up after self Separate from parents easily Ask for help appropriately Communicate feelings

Developing a Love of Reading Read aloud to your child Talk to your child about the story Have reading materials available in your home

Model reading – read for pleasure in front of your child Help your child notice that words are everywhere Play oral rhyming games Developing a Love of Reading

Having Fun with Numbers Have your child count items – to support one-to-one correlation Talk about number relationships (“What number comes after three?”) Sort and classify items

Copy and create patterns Use math terms (“add, ”subtract,” etc.) Use sand and water to explore volume and capacity relationships Having Fun with Numbers

Grocery store play to explore counting money Block building to explore similarity, measurement, symmetry, and relationships Talk about “more” and “less” Having Fun with Numbers

Getting Ready for the First Day of School

What to Talk About What happens in school The teacher in a friendly way Making new friends Separation from home and acceptance of the situation

Parent Resources Go to district website under District Offices, select Curriculum and Instruction click on Elementary Curriculum Guides click on Kindergarten

Panel Members Mrs. Alison Navarrete ( Eagleville Kindergarten Teacher) Mrs. Shannon Broadhead ( Worcester Counselor) Mrs. Jamie Friedman ( Arrowhead Counselor) Mrs. Tara Ricci (Principal of Audubon Elementary) Dr. Todd Fay (Director of Pupil Services) Dr. Diane Barrie (Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment)

Questions?Questions?