Kindergarten Orientation Freeport Kindergarten Center

Ms. Raber Graduated from IUP in 1991 with B.S. in Early Childhood Education graduated with my Master’s in Education. I have one year towards my Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction. I have taught 13 years in the Freeport School District. 9 th year teaching Full Day Kindergarten. Taught 1 st grade for 4 years. I have a son, Zachery, who is 18 years old and attends Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

How I can be reached? Note sent to school School phone: (Please note I will not be able to answer the phone during class and I may not get back to you until the end of the day).

What will my child need? *Back pack big enough for coat and large library book. *Small mat, blanket or towel to sleep or rest on at “rest” time. *PLEASE label all of your child’s things with first and last initial.

Academic Goals and Terms Know all alphabet letters (Upper and lower case) and sounds. Patterns/Shapes/Colors Know numbers 0-31 (Counting, recognizing and one-to-one correspondence). Math series from Harcourt, which is the same as Language Arts. Coins: penny, nickel, dime (recognize and value). Telling time on the hour. Graphing (being able to make and read).

Academic Goals and Terms Cont. Handwriting: writing their names (Correct letter and number formation). Zaner-Bloser Handwriting is what we use in the district Reading will be to concentrate on the ideas of Phonemic Awareness - is the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate the individual sounds in spoken words and Phonological Awareness – includes phonemic awareness, but also involves work with rhymes, words, syllables, and rimes.

Take Home Folder and Homework Each student will be given a take home folder with their name and room number on it. Your child will bring this folder home everyday with papers in it from that day along with any homework or school information. Look through the papers and if there is any homework please do it with your child, sign and return it in the folder to school the next day.

AbsencesToys Every time your child is absent please send an excuse with him/her to school the next day. Please do not send toys from home to school with your child (unless it is for show-and-tell or they have permission from me). Also please do not send any type of trading cards (Yu-Ghi-Oh, Pokemon, and sport cards).

Daily Routine Pledge, calendar, morning message, alphabet, place value, counting, and morning seat work (review of concepts already taught). Language Arts (reading, phonemic awareness) Snack Special Class – 10:35-11:05 Language Arts/Writing Lunch Rest time Math Science/Social Studies Learning Stations

Lunch Snack The first day of each week lunch money and juice money is due for the entire week. TIME – 11:55 – 12:25 LUNCH - $3.00/day JUICE -.50/day A monthly schedule will be sent home at the beginning of each month. Your child will have one day a month to bring in snack for the entire class.

Special Classes Day 1 Gym Day 2 Art Day 3 Computer Day 4 Library Day 5 Music

Morning Note The Question of The Day Every morning the student’s will have a morning note to begin the day (there is an example of a morning note in your folders). As the year goes on the note will increase in length and more in depth activities. Along with the note there will be a “Question of the Day” on the board (this is a great graphing opportunity).

Journal writing Graphing Each child will have their own journal and they will write in their journals everyday. At the beginning of the year the children will do a lot of copying as the year goes on I will encourage them to sound out the words. I like to graph everything. We will make different types of graphs (tally, columns, vertical and horizontal). We will use the graphs in many ways: vocabulary words, more – less, how many more, addition and subtraction, etc.

Learning Stations Language, math, writing, computer, art, puzzles, listening, and big book. Children will get to choose the station they go to, but can only go to each one once. The student may return after all have been completed.

“Take Home Book” and “Wonderful” Word Card Ring Once a week I will be sending home a “Take Home Book” that goes along with the High-Frequency words. Please have your child read the book to you and anyone else they want to read to, sign the book and return the book to school the next day. I will check for your signature and your child will receive a treat from the treasure box. I will send the High- Frequency word card ring home twice a week, please read the words with your child and send the cards back the next day.

Classroom Rules: 1.Raise your hand to talk. 2.Listen to the speaker. 3.Be Polite, No Bullying. 4.Use inside voices. 5.Use walking feet. 6.Keep our bodies to our self.

Classroom Management Each student is given a Special Note Card (flower, bug, animal, seasonal, etc..) Everyone’s Note card will start at the bottom of the “Stop Light” at the beginning of each day. We will have: (1)Verbal Warning (2) move to green light - warning (3) move to yellow light – miss some free time (4) move to red light - note send home

Management Cont. If your child’s note card is moved they will have an opportunity to get it moved back to green by improving their behavior through out the day.

Student of the DAY Show-and-Tell Each day I will give the Question Marked ? Box to a child. The first time they will have to place something in the box that has the same letter/sound of their first name. Second time, place something in the box the has the same letter/sound as their last name. I will have the Show- And-Tell days and topics marked on the Classroom Monthly Calendar.

*Scholastic Book Orders* At the beginning of each month I will send home a Scholastic and See Saw Book Order. If you are interested in ordering books please send the form and money (cash or a check made out to Scholastic Books) back to school by the date on the bottom or top of the book order form.

Book-It Will begin in October and end in March. I will send home a Book-It form each month. You and your child will read a book together then answer the questions on the Book-It form (for example: What was your favorite part of the book? Who was your favorite character? Where did the story take place?) Return Book-It form by the end of each month. Your child will receive a free pan pizza, paper award, and a treat from the treasure box.

Your Turn Please feel free to ask any questions. I look forward to working with ALL of you this year.