Welcome, Families!

Welcome, Families! Curriculum Night 2013 Kindergarten Samuel Beck Elementary School

Our Kindergarten Team Claire Jones 817.215.0475cjones03@nisdtx.org Diane Koestler 817.215.0461 dkoestler@nisdtx.org Kristen Abernathy 817.215.0487 kabernathy@nisdtx.org Julieanne Orr 817.215.0455 jorr@nisdtx.org Nancy Shuster 817.215.0467 nshuster@nisdtx.org Katy Beazley 817.215.0468 kbeazley@nisdtx.org

Kindergarten Schedule 7:25-8:00 Arrival/Word Work 8:00-8:15 Calendar 8:15-8:40 Skills Block 8:45-9:40 Specials/Conference Period 9:45-10:45 Writer’s Workshop 10:50-11:20 Lunch 11:20-11:50 Recess 11:50-1:00 Reader’s Workshop 1:00-2:00 Math Workshop 2:00-2:30 Science 2:30-2:45 Clean-Up/Pack-Up/Dismissal

Language Arts Book and Print Awareness Letters and Letter Sounds Syllables Beginning, Middle and Ending Sounds Blends and Digraphs Rhyming Words Blending to Read Words Basic High Frequency Words Writing Capital and Lowercase Letters Penmanship and Fine Motor Skills Write First and Last Name Read a Level4-6 Book Comprehension

Language Arts Reading Test: DRA2-- What is it? • DRA2 is a reading assessment that determines your child’s reading level. • Most Kindergarteners are able to read a level A or 1 at the beginning of the year. • By the end of Kindergarten, your child should be able to read a level 4-6.

Level 4

Level 6

Beginning of Year Writing

End of Year WritingStage 4

Mathematics Count by Ones to 100 Write Numbers 1-20 Skip Counting by 2’s, 5’s & 10’s Patterns Shapes and Solids Positional Language Comparing and Sequencing Identify Half and Whole Identify Coins Read a Calendar Addition and Subtraction Problem Solving

Science Our Five Senses Observing and Gathering Information Simple Investigations Communicate and Record Findings Rocks, Soil, Water Weather and Seasons Living vs. Nonliving Things Animals Life Cycles Plants

Social Studies US and Texas Flags Customs and Cultures Celebrations and Holidays Landforms and Bodies of Water Jobs and Community Workers Location Terms Chronological Order

Technology Computer Ipad Using a Mouse Technology Safety Start and Exit Programs Basic Technology Vocabulary

Kindergarten Grades • Report Cards: • Will go home each 6 Weeks • However, a Parent-Teacher Conference will be held for each child in October in lieu of the 1st Report Card. • Sign up sheet is by the door. Please sign up before you leave. First Come, First Serve! • Progress Reports: • Will be sent home after the 3rd week of the last five 6 weeks. These are marked for each subject area as follows: • P= progressing • I= inconsistent progress

Kindergarten Grades • Grade Explanation: • Kindergarten uses a letter system on Report Cards based on academic and developmental growth • D:“developed”: child meets that academic goal with 100% satisfaction every time. • SD: “skill still developing”: child understands the skill, and can perform it most of the time, but may need more practice to achieve mastery level. • X:“experiencing difficulty”: the child needs a lot of help with the skill. They may not know what to do, or very little of the skill at all. These are areas which need extra practice at home as well.

Nuts and Bolts…

Family Communication • Student Handbook and Code of Conduct at • www.nisdtx.org/studenthandbook • Class Websites at www.nisdtx.org • Select Beck Elementary Staff Teacher Name • Daily Communication Folders • Pay Lunch Account Online: • Parents Menus/Food Services • Transportation Changes Must Be e-mailed to the front office at beckelem@nisdtx.org by 2:00pm

Communication Folders Communication Folders • Students will take these to and from school every day! • Be sure to initial calendar every night! Even on the good days!  • Zipper Pouch is used for sending money and important notes to and from school. • Be sure to check for important information, homework, etc.

Attendance & Absences • Attendance in Kindergarten is very important. This is because we do many hands-on and interactive activities that simply can’t be made up. • When your child needs to stay home, please notify the front office and/or your child’s teacher via email • beckelem@nisdtx.org • Make-Up Work • Can be requested if your child is absent more than two days • Work will not be sent home with siblings, neighbors, or friends

Birthday Celebrations • We love to recognize your child on their special day! • If you would like to provide a treat for your child’s class in honor of their birthday, you may send them to school with your child or bring them to the front office. The teacher will determine the appropriate time in the afternoon for sharing the treat. • The birthday treat MUST be single-servings. (cupcakes, cookies, etc) • Please also provide napkins for the treat.  • No party favors, balloons, drinks, or decorations are allowed.

Clothes and Shoes Please be sure your child is prepared:  Be sure they have tennis shoes to wear during P.E. and recess. P.E. is everyday! 2. Be sure to leave a change of clothes in your child’s backpack for unforeseen incidents (accidents, mud, who knows?) 3. Bring a light jacket for cool classrooms and cool days outside. P.S: Students should be bringing their backpacks every day!

Independence • Kindergarteners are encouraged to be independent. They should be able to: • Take care of own bathroom needs • Do their morning jobs (put away folder, select lunch choice, put away backpack, etc.) • Button, zip and snap own clothing and tie/velcro their shoes. Be teaching it at home! (Double-Knot before they leave for school!

Library Here are some good things to remember: Please reinforce how we take care of our books. (We don’t eat or drink around them, we carry it carefully, etc.) 2. Always read your child’s books with them. Talk with them about the book they chose. Was it a good choice? Why/Why not?

PTA and Volunteering We love our parent volunteers! • If you would like to volunteer, fill out the PTA volunteer form if you haven’t already, at the PTA table. • Parents/Guardians must have completed an NISD background check to volunteer (These must be completed each year) • See the Beck Website for more details

A Little Housekeeping… To help your child be successful: • Be sure to leave all toys, jewelry, key chains at home. These can be distracting and risk getting lost if brought to school. Teachers are not responsible for lost student toys. • Please write your child’s first and last name on things you send to school: lunchboxes, jackets, backpacks, snacks, water bottles, etc. This will help us return lost items ASAP 

How Can I Help My Child? Here are a few things you can do to help your child be successful in Kindergarten: • Read with them every night. • Write with them as much as • possible. • -Magna Doodles • -iPads • Count anything and everything. • Make sure they get a good night’s rest. • Fill ‘em up right at mealtimes.

Questions?

Welcome, Families!