Welcome to Kindergarten! Back to School September 17, 2015

This Year… In order to have a successful learning community and to help my students grow I have three goals. To teach them… Independence Respect Responsibility Please help me along this journey.

Responsive Classroom Responsive Classroom approach, which emphasizes the social, emotional, and academic growth of elementary school students in a strong and safe learning environment. The Responsive Classroom approach incorporates the students’ social and emotional growth into their academic learning, stemming from the notion that children learn best through social interaction and when they are explicitly taught social and emotional skills along with their academic lessons.

Responsive Classroom and Morning Meeting Responsive Classroom Morning Meeting is an engaging way to start each day, build a strong sense of community, and set children up for success socially and academically. Each morning, students and teachers gather together in a circle for twenty to thirty minutes and interact with one another during 3 purposeful components: 1.Greeting 2.Group Activity 3.Morning Message

Homework Folders Sent home daily. Please return folders daily. On Fridays your child’s classwork from the week will be placed in their folder..

Communication If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to me at You should always expect to hear from me within 24 hours during the school week. If we need to speak on the phone, or in person, you can to set-up a time to do so. If you have a time-sensitive matter during the day (For example: a change in dismissal plans), please call the school office.

Literacy In our literacy block we will do The Daily 5. We work as a whole class, in small groups and with each student individually. Activities are planned according to the needs and abilities of the children. Literacy is embedded throughout our day.

Fountas & Pinnell Reading Level A Mid-Year

Fountas & Pinnell Level E End of Year

Writing Working together in “Shared” & “Interactive” writing Whole class mini-lessons Writer’s Workshop Small groups based on student needs Time for one-on-one conferencing Working on a piece of writing at various stages (thinking, planning, writing, revising) Sharing work with others

Developmental Stages of Writing At the Beginning of Kindergarten: Preliterate: Scribbling scribbles but intends it as writing scribbling resembles writing holds and uses pencil like an adult

Developmental Stages of Writing Middle of Kindergarten: Beginning Sounds Emerge children begin to see the differences between a letter and a word, but they may not use spacing between words. message makes sense and matches the picture, especially when they choose the topic.

Developmental Stages of Writing At the End of Kindergarten: Transitional Spelling: readable and approaches conventional spelling. writing is interspersed with words that are in standard form and have standard letter patterns.

Math Our math program is Singapore Math which emphasizes a hands-on, problem-solving approach to learning math concepts.

Phonics

Handwriting A developmental, multisensory K-2 handwriting program

Science FOSS Kits – Full Option Science System Investigating Water Trees Wood and Paper Animals 2 by 2 Daily Weather

Social Studies Social Studies Alive! Me and My World explores the relationships in students' lives with their families, friends, teachers, and neighbors. Students learn that people live differently in different places and that they can help care for the world. UNITS 1.Who Am I? 2.What Is a Family? 3.How Do I Get Along with Others? 4.How Do I Make Friends? 5.How Do I Solve Problems with Others? 6.How Can I Be a Good Helper at School? 7.What Is in My Neighborhood? 8.Where Am I in the World?

Free Choice Play is very important to your child’s social and cognitive development. S/he will learn to cooperate, share, problem solve and HAVE FUN!

Lunch in the Cafeteria Thank you for sending in food that includes healthy choices and is easy for your child to eat.

Volunteering We literally could not complete the school year without the help of the parents. It is one of our goals to build a growing relationship between you, the parent or guardian, and the school to better meet your child's needs. Your participation is essential to the happiness and well-being of your child, which creates a very special link between the school and home.

Attendance/Sickness Policy If your child is going to miss a school day, please call the office and inform them by 8:20am or me. Children who are ill should not be sent to school. If your child will be out ill, please call the school office. Medications are to be administered at home. It is important that all have provided emergency numbers and authorized names for child pick- up to the classroom teacher and school office.

Birthdays Birthdays are very important in the life of a kindergartener and may be celebrated at school. Please let us know when and if you would like to celebrate, and we will put it in the schedule.

Field Trips/Chaperones We will have field trips over the course of the school year.. Our field trips are coordinated to work with our current curriculum unit. Before a field trip we will ask for chaperone volunteers. If you are asked to join us, you will be ed a document that has all the information you need to help out on the trip.

How can you help your child learn? Talk about the events of the day. Ensure that your child has a wide range of experiences to talk and write about. Read to your child every day. Play games with your child. Make sure your child gets enough sleep (approximately 10 hours for a 5 year old) and eats breakfast.

Helping at home with reading: Reading aloud to your child is the single most important thing you can do to help him or her become a successful reader.

Helping at home with writing: Provide writing “tools” and a table or desk to work at. Encourage young writers by asking them to tell you about their writing/drawing. Let them hang up their work, or send it to someone special.

Building Confidence Encourage first attempts at reading and writing, with positive comments. Ask your child to tell you about their work, and listen with interest. Avoid pointing out “mistakes”

Thank you for coming!