Back to School Night September 9, 2015 Gwynedd Square Elementary School Kindergarten Mrs. Cooper

Agenda Meet the Teacher Contact Information Curriculum Overview Homework Policy Behavior Policy Miscellaneous Helping Suggestions Questions???

Welcome to Kindergarten! A bit about me… Meet Mrs. Cooper

Contact Information Email: cooperam@npenn.org Voicemail: (215) 855-4331, extension 4600 Twitter (@Mandi_Cooper) Please do not use Twitter for direct messaging, though. Please use email, a phone call, or a note. 

Curricular Overview ~ Math Go Math ~ math program that addresses PA Core Standards Much more emphasis on numbers and operations Kindergarten Math Skills List More information on district website if you’re interested (link will be posted on my website by the end of next week)

Curricular Overview ~ Language Arts Journeys Program ~ 1st year of implementation Addresses PA Core Standards Literature based Strong emphasis on phonemic awareness & phonics Students are expected to identify letters and their sounds (short and long vowel sounds), write all 52 uppercase and lowercase letters, and blend letter sounds into words 20-80 high-frequency words (sight words, star words) More emphasis on writing than in past years Zaner-Bloser (handwriting) Guided Reading and Centers RTII (Star Time) Parents Go To Kindergarten ~ October 22nd

Curricular Overview ~ Science We cover three science units: Five Senses – 1st Marking Period Paper / Paper Making – 2nd Marking Period Ladybugs – 3rd Marking Period *We will also visit the high school’s planetarium later this year!

Curricular Overview ~ Social Studies We cover five social studies units: Who We Are Communities Work The USA Our Earth *Most of our social studies content is integrated with language arts.

Homework Policy Kindergarten students receive homework beginning late September. Homework serves a variety of purposes. It is meant to be an adjunct to what we are learning in school and it helps your child make connections between what we are learning and the real world outside of school. It also serves as a communication tool to let you know what types of things we are studying. It is meant to be an enjoyable experience for you and your child! I may occasionally send home an activity that your child did not finish in school to be completed at home. There will be a note written on the paper letting you know that it should be completed and sent back to school should this occur.

Homework Policy (continued) Weekly Ask Me sheets will be sent home on the first day of each week. The activities should be completed throughout the week, and the sheet should be signed by a parent and returned on the last day of the week. Math homework (Standards Practice Book) Homework assignments are designed to be flexible to meet a variety of student needs. Please let me know if you need suggestions for your child’s homework.

Behavior Policy We generated a list of rules as a class (with teacher guidance) that should be followed while in our classroom and at Gwynedd Square so that all children may learn and have fun in a safe, caring environment. We discuss these rules often, especially during the first couple of weeks of school, emphasizing why we have specific rules and encouraging students to make “good kindergarten choices.”

Behavior Policy (continued) Room 116 Rules Use a quiet voice. Raise your hand. Use kind words. Take care of our school. Be safe – always walk. Be a good listener and follow directions. Keep your hands, feet, and objects to yourself.

Behavior Policy (continued) A multi-tiered approach to behavior: Banks, tickets, and lots of positive reinforcement! Clothespin plan Schoolwide Positive Behavioral Support Plan (Panther Pride Slips)

Miscellaneous Information Class website Froggy Folders Report Cards – three times per year Conferences - 1-2 per year (November and Spring) Field Trips Kid Stuff Books Green Folders

Helpful Suggestions Read everyday. Count often. Practice counting beginning at numbers other than 1. Share your child’s enthusiasm for learning. Ask lots of open-ended questions. Be involved in your child’s education. Do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher with any questions or concerns. A strong connection between home and school greatly impacts learning!

Questions???