2. Mrs. Beasley’s Kindergarten Class Welcome, parents!

3. Welcome to Kindergarten!  I will introduce you to kindergarten and to our classroom.

4. All About Me  My background  I grew up in Bluemont, Virginia.  I attended Banneker Elementary, BRMS, LVHS, and Shenandoah University.  My experience  I’ve been teaching for 17 years.  Susan Keller is our Kindergarten assistant.

5. My Goals  To give my kindergarteners the academic and social skills they need to progress to first grade.  To provide a supportive and fun classroom environment.  To help them make new friends and discover new interests.

6. Classroom Community  Our classroom is a community. In our community, we have rules to help us get along with each other.  Our class rules are written on a chart paper and introduce our first two sight words:  I can listen to other people talk.  I can do what my teacher asks me the first time.  I can work quietly at my table.  I can be helpful and friendly.  I can do my best! Children are rewarded with praise, croc tickets, stickers, extra recess, certificates, etc. Children are given 3 reminders for a rule before being asked to take a time out and think about the inappropriate choice they made.

7. Class Subjects  The subjects we cover during Kindergarten are:  Reading and writing  Math  Science and Social studies  These are presented in thematic units of study.

8. Reading  Reading opens a world of excitement, creativity, and fun. As your child learns to read, he or she will continue to develop an understanding of the relationship between sounds and symbols. Equally important is the understanding that printed words “translate” into meaningful messages.  In class, your child is learning reading strategies to help him or her decode words and read for meaning. Simple techniques include examining book illustrations, finding chunks or words within words, looking at sentence structure, sounding out words, and recognizing sight words.

9. Writing  Your child will apply some of these same strategies such as sounding out words, writing known words and drawing pictures when beginning to write.

10. Math  To offer students meaningful mathematical problems.  To emphasize depth in mathematical thinking.  Approaching mathematics content through inquiry helps students develop flexibility and confidence in approaching problems, fluency in using mathematical skills and proficiency in evaluating their solutions.

11. Our Daily Schedule  7:50-8:00/11:35-11:45 Morning Announcements  8:00-8:15/11:45-12:00 Calendar Activities/Morning Meeting  8:15-8:25/12:00-12:15 Shared Reading  8:25-8:55/12:15-12:45 Math Time  8:55-9:25/12:45-1:05 Writer’s Workshop  9:25-9:45/1:05-1:25 Snack  9:45-10:25/1:25-2:15 Reading Activities (Literacy Centers & Guided Reading)  10:25-10:40/2:15-2:25 Read Aloud  10:40-10:50/2:25-2:35 Wrap Up/Dismissal

12. Take Home Folders Kindergarten students will bring home a communication folder green for AM and PM K. This should go home and be returned EVERY DAY! Students should read or listen to an adult read at least one book every day. Please color a symbol for the books that you read with your child on the monthly book list. This book list will be part of our kindergarten reading program and students will be eligible for a choice from the treasure box for completing their monthly list. If you read a book more than one time, please write a number next to the title so that I can count each time you read it.  Thank you for your help! It’s going to be a great year!  Mrs. Beasley

13. Snack We will have snack in the cafeteria Students may bring their own snack Students may only purchase milk at KWC. Total cost for the year is $50 Please send food to nourish our minds and bodies

14. Field Trips  We are allowed one planned field trip this year!  Parent chaperones are welcome and needed on field trips.  Younger brothers and sisters are not permitted to attend field trips with our class.  Our field trip will be in the spring, there will be more information to follow.

15. WWW. Here are some websites to use at home http://www.starfall.com/ http://www.learningplanet.com/act/abcorde r.asphttp://www.learningplanet.com/act/abcorde r.asp http://pbskids.org http://tumblebooks.com

16. Let’s Have a Great Year!