1. WELCOME TO CURRICULUM NIGHT KINDERGARTEN 2016-2017
WELCOME TO CURRICULUM NIGHT KINDERGARTEN *Please sign up for your Parent/Teacher Conference at the table in the hallway. *

2. Kindergarten Curriculum
Allen ISD Curriculum
*To access the state curriculum guidelines for Kindergarten…
go to
click “Parents”
click “Parents Guide to AllenISD”
click “Kindergarten Guide”
click on curriculum link (it will take you to the TEA website)
**Many of your questions can be answered by navigating to the Allen ISD website or to the Norton kindergarten website.

3. Our Kindergarten Day (sample schedule)
7:45-8:00 Arrive and unpack
8:00-8:15 Announcements/Morning Work
8:15-8:45 Morning Meeting
8:45-9:45 Reading Workshop
9:45-10: Writing Workshop
10:55-11:30 Lunch
11:30-12:30 Math
12:35-1:20 Specials
1:25-1:55 CASTLE
1:55-2:15 Pack and Snack
2:15-2: Daily Reflection
2:25-2:45 Recess
2:50 Dismissal

4. To,With and By
Allen ISD follows the To, With and By philosophy. This philosophy encompasses a gradual release of responsibility from the teacher to the child. We use this in all subject areas. The teacher first models/demonstrates the skill. Next, the teacher guides the students in applying the new skill. Lastly, the teacher monitors and assesses the students’ ability to perform the skill independently.

5. Reading
Read Alouds-Students are listening, gaining new vocabulary, developing comprehension skills, story sequencing and developing language.
Shared Reading - Students are invited to read along using predictable texts (Big Books, Poems, Posters, Songs)
Guided Reading - Small group instruction based on the student’s instructional reading level, where they will apply reading strategies and skills (Easy Words and Repetitive Text)
Independent Reading- Students are selecting books and reading independently based on their reading level (Reading Buddies, Book Baggies, Book Box)

6. **Please note that AllenISD has gone to Modern Manuscript print.**
Writing
Mini-Lesson-The teacher demonstrates/models writing strategies (spacing, punctuation, spelling, handwriting, meaning).
Morning Message/Interactive Writing-
Student and teacher share the pen while the teacher guides, responds, and extends the student’s skills and ideas.
Writing Journal-Students pick a writing topic and work through the writing process to publish their narrative.
**Please note that AllenISD has gone to Modern Manuscript print.**

7. Daily 5 Read to Someone Read to Self Word Work Listen to Reading
Work on Writing
Teacher Table (guided reading)

8. Mathematics
Mini-Lessons-Teacher models concept/skill through teaching with manipulatives.
Guided Practice-Teacher interacts with the students as they apply the new skills. Students practice these skills generally by using manipulatives and working in their math journal (whole group, small group or individually).
Independent Practice- Students independently demonstrate learned skills through hands-on math, workbooks, journaling, games and manipulatives.

9. Science/Social Studies
Fridays are our scheduled Science/ Social Studies focus days. This is the time when we concentrate more in depth on the week’s TEKS and concepts. There will be days when we visit the science lab, have guest speakers, do outdoor studies, etc… These concepts are also integrated into our daily literature and across the curriculum. Most of our Social Studies concepts have been embedded within our Reading Curriculum.

10. Specials Schedule Cole Esposito Savitch Murphy
Monday: Music Monday: Art Monday: PE Monday: PE
Tuesday: PE Tuesday: PE Tuesday: Art Tuesday: Music
Wednesday: Art Wednesday: Music Wednesday: PE Wednesday: PE
Thursday: PE Thursday: PE Thursday: Music Thursday: Art
TENNIS SHOES ARE REQUIRED TO BE WORN TO SCHOOL ON PE DAYS.
PLEASE NOTE ALL CLASSES WILL ATTEND FITNESS FRIDAY AND MUST WEAR TENNIS SHOES ON FRIDAY AS WELL.
*Counselor will visit our classrooms once a month.* *Technology is integrated throughout each week.*

11. CASTLE Collaboration Among Students and Teachers for Learning Effectively
Kindergarten has a scheduled CASTLE time Monday through Thursday for 30 minutes.
Teachers will collaborate on what enrichment or intervention each student will receive.
Students will meet with a group to address specific learning needs. These are very flexible groups that change frequently.
Sometimes students may be with their classroom teacher, sometimes not.
Students who receive special services such as ESL and speech are scheduled during this time. This allows for the least number of interruptions to our instructional time.

12. Report Cards A report card will be sent home each nine weeks.
NO progress reports will be sent home for kindergarten students.
The district’s report card guidelines can be found on the kindergarten website.
Parent conferences will occur in October. Please plan to sign up tonight.
No other formal conferences will be scheduled for the spring semester unless a need arises.

13. Testing
ISIP-Reading Assessment will be administered at the beginning, middle and end of the year.
This is an assessment that measures your child’s reading readiness, phonemic awareness and comprehension.
AMI Math will be administered at the beginning, middle and end of the year.
This is a test to measure a child’s mastery of fundamental mathematical skills and to acquire insight to their mathematical thinking.
CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test) will be administered in December.
This is a test to identify those students who possess high cognitive potential ability.
It is NOT to reflect student achievement or mastery of classroom instruction.

14. Behavior Management
PURPLE- Outstanding (box will be colored in purple and three stickers placed in folder)
BLUE- Good Day (box will be colored in blue and two stickers placed in folder)
GREEN – Ready to Learn (box will be colored green and one sticker in folder)
YELLOW – Warning (box will be colored yellow in folder and no sticker)
*ORANGE- Consequences (box will be colored orange and teacher will note behavior number code, and no sticker)
*RED – Unacceptable (box will be colored red, no sticker in folder and parent contact will be made)
If child is on orange or red there will ALWAYS be a number written in correlation to our Code of Conduct
After your child has earned 10 stickers they will receive a reward!

15. Folders
Daily Folder – Sent home each day and returned each morning; please initial each night on the conduct sheet; remove contents and return any correspondence in this folder.
White Homework Folder – Sent home each day and returned each morning; A short homework assignment will be assigned each week. Please have your child complete each activity. This can be done nightly, on the weekend, etc.. We will check for completed homework the following Monday . Occasionally an additional special homework project or unfinished work may be sent home. These will be found in the left pocket of the folder.
Wednesday Folder – Sent home on Wednesday and MUST be signed and returned on THURSDAY. Please remove contents and return any correspondence to teacher in the Norton Daily Folder.

16. Attendance/Tardies
It is imperative that students are physically in the classroom by 7:55.
It is important for your child to understand the value of being in school each day and on time. Please help your child learn this important life skill.
If an absence must occur, please be sure to send a note explaining the absence within 3 days.
Kindly remember that your child should be without fever for 24 hours before returning (without any aid of medication).
Please review the attendance and tardy policies in the Kindergarten Handbook.

17. Additional Nuts and Bolts
If your child’s regular dismissal procedure changes, please let us know IN WRITING as soon as possible. Do not rely on as notification as we often don’t have the opportunity to check our most days until school is out.
Lunch code- in order to maximize your child’s time to eat lunch, they MUST know their lunch code before buying. Students will be able to purchase ice cream on Fridays once cafeteria rules and procedures are more established.
Please note that the plate lunch only includes one choice of fruit. Juice and bottled water are considered extras.
For the safety of our students, please do not linger in your car and observe kids on the playground. We are unable to determine if you are a parent or a stranger.
Please complete your volunteer background check online if you wish to help in the classroom or go on field trips. This can take 2 to 3 weeks to complete.
Snacks must be LABELED with your child’s name and packed separately from their lunch. This is a five to seven minute pick me up, not a meal. No juice or Gatorade allowed. Only water, please.

18. Thank you for coming to support your child’s education
Thank you for coming to support your child’s education! We look forward to working with you to make this year a SUCCESS!!!