Thunder Hill Elementary School Kindergarten

Meet the Kindergarten Teachers Susan McAleer Diane Bachek Barbara Michaelian Hillary Hollis Jan Barnes Bharti Uppal Sam Stark Diane Green UMBC Intern

Daily Schedule 9:15-9:25 Morning Routines/Attendance/Lunch 9:25-9:50Opening 9:50-10:00 Take Ten 10:00-11:00 Math 11:00-11:30 Recess 11:30-12:00 Lunch 12:00-12:20 Quiet Time 12:20-1:40 Reading Block/Language Arts/Snack 1:40-2:40 Specials 2:40-3:10 Content 3:10-3:40 Choice Time 3:40-3:50 Prepare for Dismissal, Dismissal

Common Core Fast Facts State of Maryland adopted Common Core in June 2010 Forty-five states and the District of Columbia adopted Common Core State Standards Standards based statewide initiative Mastery curriculum PARCC assessments take place in grades 3-5 (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) For more information go to

Reading Group Block *Reading Groups –Reading Levels –Leveled books that coordinate with benchmark book level –Big books / Shared Reading * Language Arts Follow Up Activity –Seatwork is a follow-up activity to reinforce skills learned in reading group or a written response to a class read aloud. –Student may be working with an paraprofessional, resource teacher, and/or parent. *DAILY 5 –Students may work independently in the following activities: READ TO SELF READ TO A PARTNER WORD WORK LISTEN TO READING WRITING

Language Arts Letter of the Week Star of the Week Words Their Way

Math Homeroom Classes Kindergarten Curriculum- Investigations “Hands On” --use of manipulatives Common Core State Standards

Mathematical Practices 1.Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them 2.Reason abstractly and quantitatively 3.Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others 4.Model with mathematics 5.Use appropriate tools strategically 6.Attend to precision 7.Look for and make use of structure 8.Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning

Content Areas Social Studies Home and School Peoples of the Nation and the World Maps and Me Road Trip USA The Market Science Scientists and Engineers Earth Science (Weather) Physical Science (Pushes and Pulls) Life Science (Relationships in Ecosystems) Environmental Science (Human Impact on Environment) Health Mental Health Safety, First Aid, and Injury Prevention Disease Prevention and Control Nutrition and Fitness These subjects are taught in homeroom classes. Content subject matter is also integrated into reading.

STEAM

What is SOAR? S – Safe O – Organized A – Always Respectful R - Responsible

5 Point System & Clubs Students will begin the day with 5 points and every student should strive to stay on 5 or above. Students will record their daily total in their take-home folder (primary) and agenda books (intermediate). SOAR Celebration Clubs will occur every 2 weeks. Teams will brainstorm ideas for Clubs with students and will offer 3-4 twenty-thirty minute rotations: active activity, quiet activity, arts and crafts, movie, etc. Possible ideas include: read with a flashlight, dance party, bring in a board game, arts & crafts, drawing, etc. To attend the Clubs, students will need 80% of the total possible points for the first quarter. This percentage will go up throughout the year and parents will be informed. If you’re interested in donating supplies or assisting with Clubs, please contact your child’s teacher.

SOAR Tickets Students will continue to earn SOAR tickets. Two students’ names from every grade level will be randomly pulled on Monday mornings for the SOAR School-wide Lottery. Names will be announced on the a.m. announcements. Students who are picked will have their picture taken with Ms. Bowen to be displayed on the SOAR bulletin board. Students will also pick a SOAR reward from a menu of choices.

Classroom SOAR Ticket Rewards When students have earned 10 SOAR tickets, they will be able to trade-in their tickets to their classroom teacher for something from the Coupon Bin or the Prize Bin.

After School Students are permitted to go home with another child only after they have provided the teacher with a note. Students will not be allowed to leave with any other parent without a note. Students who are not regular bus riders will not be allowed to ride on a bus due to insurance regulations.

Daily Folder The Daily Folder will be sent home each night with class work and notices. We encourage you to look in the folder each night and also to use the folder to communicate with your child’s teacher. Homework We will begin a take home book program in the second quarter. We will also participate in the Pizza Hut Book-It Program which begins in October. Other homework activities which will be phased in as the year progresses: »Poetry Journal »Handwriting * Family Projects

Report Cards Evaluation Codes I - Independent W - With Assistance N - Not Apparent Effort Codes 1.Outstanding (consistent) 2.Satisfactory (most of the time) 3.Needs Improvement (inconsistent) Progress Reports will come home about every 5 weeks.

Field Trips We are in the process of planning the following field trips: Robinson’s Nature Center Baltimore Aquarium Sharp’s Farm Howard County Public Library We will also plan several “In House” Field Trips *Aviation Museum *Firefighters *Historical Society *Dentist

Kindergarten Parties We have four parties throughout the year. –Fall –Winter –Valentine’s Day –End-of-the-Year –Room parents will be involved in the planning. Parent volunteers will be contacted for help at the parties –Please be aware that food must be approved due to serious allergic reactions

Parent Volunteers Parent volunteers are needed to work with children in school during the week (time depends on program) and to work on projects at home. The teachers will contact you about the volunteer programs and schedule. We will need 2 room parents per class. We will contact you about a kindergarten volunteer meeting. There will also be a school-wide parent volunteer meeting. Siblings may not be brought with parents who volunteer. Parent Volunteer Programs will begin at the end of October. Laura Davis/David Floyd will need immediate help with kindergarteners starting the week of 9/14. You can contact Mrs. Davis via or give your name to the classroom teacher. Tues. 1:40 - 2:40 McAleer Wed. 1:40 - 2:40 Hollis Thurs. 1:40 - 2:40 Michaelin Fri. 1:40 - 2:40 Bachek

Labeling Please label all clothing, jackets, gloves, and lunchboxes. Medication All students taking medication must notify the teacher and the nurse. Please document all medication and give this information to Mrs. Taneyhill. You may send in cough drops, however, they must be kept in Mrs. Taneyhhill’s office.

Vacations If children go away during the school year, have them keep a journal about their trip that they will share with the class when they return. There is a form you will need to get from the office for an extended leave.

Reminders *Birthdays *Illnesses *Snack *Lunch Thank you!

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