Welcome, Families! Curriculum Night 2012 Kindergarten Samuel Beck Elementary School

Our Kindergarten Team Jennine Doughney Diane Koestler Shelly Moses Julieanne Orr Nancy Shuster Kristin Zimmerer

Kindergarten Schedule 7:25-8:00 Arrival/Word Work 8:00-8:15 Calendar 8:15-8:40 Skills Block 8:45-9:40 Specials/Conference Period 9:45-10:45 Writer’s Workshop 10:50-11:20 Lunch 11:20-11:50 Recess 11:50-1:00 Reader’s Workshop 1:00-2:00 Math Workshop 2:00-2:30 Science 2:30-2:45 Clean-Up/Pack-Up/Dismissal

So, what do you learn in Kindergarten, anyway? to recognize upper and lowercase letters of the alphabet to match letters with sounds rhyming words begin reading words to read sight words like I, and, is, the, my when to use capital and lowercase letters count numbers up to 100 to write numbers up to at least 20 identify and name shapes draw cut and manipulate shapes to classify and group objects according to such characteristics as shape, color, size, and texture (attributes) understand how people in communities work together recognizing patternsbasic addition and subtraction word families like “-at” (cat, sat, hat) use their five senses to make simple scientific observations to write sight words like I, and, is, the, my developing fine motor skills collecting and interpreting data: graphs, surveys calendar basics: months, days of the week, year… determining the weather the four seasons healthy habits the science inquiry process/questioning basic personal information: phone number, address... about my family different families and cultures holidays and what they mean how to be a good student/school procedures what a sentence is and how to write one social skills and more!!

Language Arts Book and Print Awareness Letters and Letter Sounds Syllables Beginning, Middle and Ending Sounds Blends and Digraphs Rhyming Words Blending to Read Words Basic High Frequency Words Writing Capital and Lowercase Letters Penmanship and Fine Motor Skills Write First and Last Name Read a Level 4-6 Book Comprehension

Language Arts Reading Test: DRA2-- What is it? DRA2 is a reading assessment that determines your child’s reading level. Most Kindergarteners are able to read a level A or 1 at the beginning of the year. By the end of Kindergarten, your child should be able to read a level 4-6.

Level 4

Level 6

Mathematics Count by Ones to 100 Write Numbers 1-20 Skip Counting by 2’s, 5’s & 10’s Patterns Shapes and Solids Positional Language Comparing and Sequencing Identify Half and Whole Identify Coins Read a Calendar Tell Time to the Hour Addition and Subtraction Problem Solving

Science Our Five Senses Observing and Gathering Information Simple Investigations Communicate and Record Findings Rocks, Soil, Water Weather and Seasons Light and Optics Living vs. Nonliving Things Animals Life Cycles Plants

Social Studies US and Texas Flags Customs and Cultures Celebrations and Holidays Landforms and Bodies of Water Jobs and Community Workers Location Terms Chronological Order

Technology Computer Basic Keyboard Skills Using a Mouse Technology Safety Start and Exit Programs Basic Technology Vocabulary

Kindergarten Grades Report Cards: Will go home each 6 Weeks However, a Parent-Teacher Conference will be held for each child in October in lieu of the 1 st Report Card. Progress Reports: Will be sent home after the 3 rd week of the last five 6 weeks. These are marked for each subject area as follows: P= progressing I= inconsistent progress

Kindergarten Grades Grade Explanation: Kindergarten uses a letter system on Report Cards based on academic and developmental growth D: “developed”: child meets that academic goal with 100% satisfaction every time. SD: “skill still developing”: child understands the skill, and can perform it most of the time, but may need more practice to achieve mastery level. X: “experiencing difficulty”: the child needs a lot of help with the skill. They may not know what to do, or very little of the skill at all. These are areas which need extra practice at home as well.

Nuts and Bolts…

Family Communication Student Handbook and Code of Conduct at Class Websites at Select Beck Elementary  Staff  Teacher Name Daily Communication Folders Pay Lunch Account Online: Parents  Menus/Food Services Transportation Changes Must Be ed to the front office at by

Communication Folders Students will take these to and from school every day! Be sure to initial calendar every night! Even on the good days! Zipper Pouch is used for sending money and important notes to and from school. Be sure to check for important information, homework, etc. Communication Folders

Love and Logic What is Love and Logic? Love allows children to grow through their mistakes. Logic allows children to live with the consequences of their choices. The Love and Logic program is as follows: 1.Shared Control: Gain control by giving away the control you don’t need 2.Shared Thinking and Decision-Making: Provide opportunities for the child to do the greatest amount of thinking and decision-making 3.Equal Shares of Consequences with Empathy: An absence of anger causes a child to think and learn from his/her mistakes 4.Maintain the Child’s Self-Concept: Increased self-concept leads to improved behavior and achievement

Attendance & Absences Attendance in Kindergarten is very important. This is because we do many hands-on and interactive activities that simply can’t be made up. When your child needs to stay home, please notify the front office and/or your child’s teacher via Make-Up Work Can be requested if your child is absent more than two days Work will not be sent home with siblings, neighbors, or friends

Birthday Celebrations We love to recognize your child on their special day! If you would like to provide a treat for your child’s class in honor of their birthday, you may send them to school with your child or bring them to the front office. The teacher will determine the appropriate time in the afternoon for sharing the treat. The birthday treat MUST be single-servings. (cupcakes, cookies, etc) Please also provide napkins for the treat. No party favors, balloons, drinks, or decorations are allowed.

Clothes and Shoes Please be sure your child is prepared: 1.Be sure they have tennis shoes to wear during P.E. and recess. 2. Be sure to leave a change of clothes in your child’s backpack for unforeseen incidents (accidents, mud, who knows?) P.S: Students should be bringing their backpacks every day!

Independence Kindergarteners are encouraged to be independent. They should be able to: Take care of own bathroom needs Do their morning jobs (put away folder, select lunch choice, put away backpack, etc.) Button, zip and snap own clothing and tie/velcro their shoes

Library We had our first trip to the library last week! Here are some good things to remember: 1.Help your child remember their library day. (A note on the fridge or by the front door always helps! ) 2.Please reinforce how we take care of our books. (We don’t eat or drink around them, we carry it carefully, etc.) 3.Always read your child’s books with them. Talk with them about the book they chose. Was it a good choice? Why/Why not?

PTA and Volunteering We love our parent volunteers! If you would like to volunteer, fill out the PTA volunteer form if you haven’t already. Parents/Guardians must have completed and NISD background check to volunteer (These must be completed each year) See the Beck Website for more details

A Little Housekeeping… To help your child be successful: 1.Be sure to leave all toys, jewelry, key chains at home. These can be distracting and risk getting lost if brought to school. Teachers are not responsible for lost student toys. 2.Please write your child’s first and last name on things you send to school: lunchboxes, jackets, backpacks, snacks, water bottles, etc. This will help us return lost items ASAP

How Can I Help My Child? Here are a few things you can do to help your child be successful in Kindergarten: Read with them every night. Write with them as much as possible. -Magna Doodles -iPads Count anything and everything. Make sure they get a good night’s rest. Fill ‘em up right at mealtimes.

Questions?