to our Open House!

1. to our Open House! Presented by the Kindergarten Dual Language Team Mrs. Horgan & Ms. Moore

2. Dual Language Program • There are two teachers and two teaching assistants available in two separate language learning environments: One in English and one in Spanish. • We have the BLUE team and the RED team: • Squares (English Dominant) • Triangles ( Spanish Dominant)

3. Class Schedule & Routines • AM Schedule: Pledge of Allegiance in theater • Morning Literacy Block • -Morning Meeting • - Read Aloud • - Reader’s Workshop • - Writer’s Workshop • - Phonics and Handwriting 11:20-12:20 Lunch / Recess • Quiet Time (Bathroom/Drinks) • Read Aloud • Math • Specials / Social Studies / Science • Snack and Dismissal

4. Literacy Block: Reading and Writing Workshop • Reading Workshop: Includes teacher read-alouds, a shared read, guided reading, word work and phonics instruction. • Writing Workshop: A mini-lesson begins our workshop, followed by independent work and a shared discussion about what the students have done.

5. Responsive Classroom Responsive Classroom is a widely used, research-backedapproach to elementary education that increases academic achievement, decreases problem behaviors, improves social skills, and leads to more high-quality instruction. Every day consists of a morning meeting, which includes: -Greeting, share, song/activity and a message http://www.responsiveclassroom.org/

6. Math-Envisions • New program that the district has chosen to comply with state standards. • Each lesson includes: • Interactive piece (digital math stories/games/big book) • Hands on materials such as daily take home pamphlets/worksheets • Children will practice new concepts in a partnership or group, utilizing manipulatives or tools to make discoveries.

7. Homework • Read every night: You can read to your child, or your child can read to you by telling a story about the pictures. Fill in the nightly reading log. • Practice writing their name with the first letter uppercase and the rest of the letters lowercase. • Practice Sight Words (write the words out on index cards and have your child practice 3-5 words a night. Continue to add words as they learn them. • Talk to your child about the day. Ask them questions that do not require a simple “yes” or “no”. • Talk to your child about letters, shapes, colors, and numbers that you see in the environment when you go for a walk or ride in the car. • Encourage your child to make lists such as grocery list, shopping list, etc. • Math practice book • Dual Language book bags

8. PAF Handwriting Program The PAF handwriting program is what we use when teaching our students how to form letters and numbers in kindergarten as well as first grade. This program helps prevent children from using bad writing habits and encourages proper formation of letters and numbers. Hat line Belt line Writing line Shoe line

9. Snacks and Birthdays • Snack time occurs in the afternoon, where the students have a daily nutritious snack, in accordance to the district’s policy promoting “healthy eating”. • Please provide ONE healthy snack item and ONE drink for snack time. PLEASE USE A BROWN PAPER BAG. • Your child is welcome to celebrate his/her birthday in our classroom. Please notify your teacher with a date, which you will be sending a treat. We will celebrate during snack time at 2:30. • Nutritious snacks are recommended and are to be brought into school for sharing. We like to keep our celebrations fun, yet simple! Breakfast: Make sure your child has breakfast at home or at school!

10. Oops!! Extra Clothing • Please send in a complete set of clothing for your child. Accidents happen and we want to be prepared. (shirt, pants, underwear, and socks) • Please put all clothes into a bag labeled with your child’s name. • Also as the seasons change, we will return current clothing for an exchange in accordance with the weather. 

11. Take Home Folders • Backpacks must be checked for important information and folders should be emptied every night. • Please put any notices/letters for the teacher/office in the folder so that it can be collected in the morning. Envelopes with name and purpose (lunch money/book orders) are required. • Dismissal changes* • Reading logs need to stay in your child’s folder. When the log is filled, we will provide a new one. Please empty!

12. Science • In Science throughout the year, your child will learn about: • Five Senses • Apples and Pumpkins • Weather/Seasons • Insects, Plants, and Living Things

13. Class Trips • Policies: • Permission slips • Post Road T-shirts • Chaperones/ Buses • Money collection for trips* Some of the trips that we are working on are: WP Library, Apple Day (Greenburgh Nature Center comes to school), Stepping Stones Museum, The Botanical Gardens, “Let’s Get Buggy”!, Shows at the Rochambeau Theater and an end of the year picnic at Saxon Woods Park. ** Please note that chaperones are not allowed to ride the school bus on field trips. Also, siblings are not permitted on field trips. Post Road

14. The “Thinking” Chair The Thinking Chair gives the children the opportunity to “think” about what they have done and how they can avoid doing it again. It is a positive way to prevent negative behavior.

15. INTERNET AGREEMENT FORMS • Please remember to sign your child’s internet agreement form. • Your child will not be able to use the computer unless you sign the consent form. • THANK YOU!!

16. Contacting Us • If you need to speak to us regarding anything related to your child, please don’t hesitate to do one of the following: 1 . Write us a note with your concern, or with a request to schedule a telephone or in-person conference. 2 . E-mail: mariamoore@wpcsd.k12.ny.us crystalhorgan@wpcsd.k12.ny.us **Please be sure to email both teachers

17. for attending Open House! We are looking forward to an amazing year with your children!  Mrs. Horgan & Ms. Moore