1. Welcome to Sendera Ranch Elementary

2. I am the future! iLearn iRead iSolve iCreate iAchieve SRE 2011-2012 School Year

3. Family Communication Planners – Please check daily This is where your child will record any corrections for behavior. If you see a note for behavior, please initial. School work comes home daily Weekly Newsletters on Thursdays Grade Level Newsletter Bi-Weekly on Thursdays School wide information home on Thursdays Progress reports will be available on line the Monday after the 3 rd week of each 6 weeks. Newsletters and Report Cards will be delivered electronically, unless otherwise requested.

4. Behavior Expectations Be respectful Be responsible

5. Behavior Guidelines Consequences per six weeks: Sign behavior log –1 signature – Parent must sign planner –2 signatures – Lose PAT/Complete behavior flow chart –3 signatures – Parent contact by teacher/ Possible drop in conduct grade to “S” –4 signatures – Parent contact by teacher/ Possible drop in conduct grade to “N” –5 signatures – Parent contact by teacher/ Possible drop in conduct grade to “U” Office referral Consequences are cumulative. These consequences may be adjusted at the discretion of the teacher based on the nature of the consequence. Praise for desired behavior: Enjoy up to 15 minutes of PAT daily Longhorn Bucks for “going the extra mile” Parent contact by teacher (positive notes sent home or a positive phone call)

7. Conferences We will have at least one parent/teacher conference this year. Parent conferences will take place on between Friday, October 7 th and Friday, October 14 th. Please sign up tonight!

8. Benefits of Homework Research has shown that the repetition and practice provided by homework increases a student’s knowledge and internalization of concepts by 28%. Homework will be a practice of what was already taught. Students should be able to complete homework without parental assistance. This provides the teacher another opportunity to provide feedback for the student’s learning. HW

9. Homework on NetSchool All homework is available Friday afternoon and will need to be completed and submitted by the following Friday morning. If a student does not have internet access at home, a paper copy of homework can be provided.

10. 4 Guiding Questions for Instruction What do we want your children to know? How will we know when they know it? What are we going to do when they do not know it? What are we going to do when they do know it?

11. What do we want your children to know? Reading Word Identification Fluency Variety of Texts Comprehension Literacy Response Literary Concepts Writing Ideas Organization Word Choice Sentence Fluency Conventions Voice

12. What do we want your children to know? Spelling Word Analysis Handwriting How will we know if they know it? DICTATION!! Word Analysis integrates instruction and practice in phonemic awareness, phonetics, penmanship, spelling, vocabulary, grammar, & reading.

13. What are we going to do if they know it or don’t know it? Read Aloud Literacy Stations Guided Reading Author Studies Reading Basal

14. What do we want your children to know? Math: Numbers and Operations Algebraic Thinking and Reasoning Geometry Measurement Probability and Statistics Problem Solving

15. What do we want your children to know? Science Matter and Energy Force, Motion and Energy Earth and Space Solar System Organism and Environmental Cycles Organism and Environmental Needs

16. Thinking Maps Circle Map Bubble Map Flow Map Brace Map Multi-Flow Map Bridge Map Tree Map Double Bubble

17. Technology in Action Student laptops Electronic Chalkboards Data Projectors Document Cameras Distance Learning Media Cast CPS Receivers (think George Jetson!) Eduphoria PIV – Parent Internet Viewer

18. STAAR Testing Dates Math: March 26 Reading: March 27 Science: April 26

19. Daily School Wide Schedule 7:20 – 7:25 7:20 – 7:40 7:40 7:45 2:45 Building Open for Students (Back/Front) Breakfast Students should be in classroom Students should be in their seat ready to learn Tardy Bell Dismissal of Walkers Dismissal of Car Riders Dismissal of Bus Riders/Daycare

20. Questions What questions do you have for us?

21. Thank you!

22. NISD Beliefs

23. SRE Mission Statement The Sendera Ranch learning community will motivate students and provide safety nets to ensure that students; reflect and think critically work with and through others perform on grade level or above.

24. Commitments To Students: 1.structured learning environment 2.mutual respect 3.security-safe learning environment 4.compassion 5.open communication 6.open to new ideas 7.to be an invested member of the learning community 8.positive 9.respectful 10.loving 11.caring 12.strong educational background 13.teach to everyone’s strengths 14.opportunities for all to succeed 15.extra time and support, as needed 16.always have their best interest in mind 17.consistency 18.use up to date teaching methods 19.love and logic 20.clearly defined expectations Commitments To Parents: 1.respect 2.keep them informed 3.make them feel like they are part of “the team” 4.listen to them 5.open door policy 6.safe environment 7.positive communication a.newsletters b.phone calls c.emails d.websites 8.encourage involvement 9.to be an invested member of the learning community 10. open to new ideas 11. develop relationships 12. consistency

25. NISD Grading Beliefs Grading and reporting serve a variety of purposes, but no one method serves all purposes well Grading and reporting will always involve some degree of subjectivity. Grades have some value as a reward, but no value as a punishment. Grading and reporting should always be done in reference to a learning criteria, never on the curve. There are 3 general types of learning criteria used in grading and reporting – product, process and progress criteria. (For more information see www.nisdtx.org – Parents – Grading Guidelines)www.nisdtx.org

26. Pinnacle Internet Viewer A letter was sent home with each student that has the information you need to access grades. If you have not received this, please contact the office. NISD has gone digital and will no longer send home paper copies of progress reports or report cards for students in grades 1 – 5 unless requested by the parent. Kinder students still receive a paper copy due to the format.

27. AS A PARENT OF SENDERA RANCH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, PLEASE HELP BY… Making sure your child is rested, on time, and prepared for school each day. Knowing how your child is doing in school by communicating with teachers by planner, phone, or e-mail. Monitoring your child’s homework and make sure study time is in a quiet place. Limiting TV viewing and read together daily with your child. Being an active participant in your child’s education.

28. Amplify the learning with Library, Art, Music and PE! LAMP it up!

29. SRE Library Our Library provides a Flexible Schedule that allows students full access to the library all day. Students also come to the library with their classes on a regular basis to check out book. Kindergarten and 1 st Grades come once a week. 2 nd through 5 th grade come every other week. Story times and lessons are scheduled at other times during the week as well.

30. Library cont. Kindergarten & 1st grade students may check out one book at a time. 2nd – 5th grades may check out 2 books at a time. Students who have overdue books must return those books before checking out any other books. Book Fair – October 7 – 14, 2011 Battle of the Books Competition for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students during the Fall Semester. The winning campus team will compete at the district level Please see the Library Website for Details and a List of Books.

31. We explore art techniques and materials to become better visual communicators and problem solvers ! We learn about art history, world cultures, art/math and art/science connections! We create original artwork that is on display in the hallways when we finish! We collect most of our artwork in a portfolio to prepare for 2 Sendera Ranch Art Shows &the Northwest ISD Art Show in the Spring. Art Education

32. ART (cont.) We explore, create and learn in the art room…… Most of all, we have fun! For more information about the art program here @ Sendera Ranch Elementary, please visit Patricia Chisholm’s website under the staff tab @ the Sendera Ranch website!

33. The Music Classroom Students will be given the opportunity to sing and play instruments alone and in a group. Students will learn basic music theory and will be able to read and notate music. Students will learn about the history behind music and learn about music from around the world. Students will be given performance opportunities throughout the school year. Students HAVE FUN!!

34. Other Fun Happenings in Music Longhorn Choir –Open to all 4 th and 5 th Graders –Rehearsals after school from 2:45-4:00. Day of week yet to be determined. 4 th and 5 th grade Recorders –Order forms will go home during the 2 nd six weeks. All-School Programs –Each grade level will perform in our Holiday and Spring programs. For more information and updates please visit my website, call, or email! Musically yours, Ms. Adler

35. The primary goal for P.E. is the physical and social development for all students. The major content areas this year will include: motor and manipulative skills, rhythms, health and safety, physical fitness and skill development and games related to both individual and team sports.

36. Safety First, Fashion Second! Wear athletic type shoes to P.E.! Flip –flops, platform shoes, heels, Croc type shoes or slip-on style shoes are not safe for your children during PE and recess time. Help your child learn to tie shoes. It’s safer! Wear shorts underneath dresses and skirts.