Welcome to Kindergarten!

1. Welcome to Kindergarten! Please take a few minutes to write you child a LOVE note to let them know you were here! LOVE notes are located on tables in bin. Please remember to: Visit back table and sign up! Look through Kindergarten Info. Folders located on your child’s desk. Thank you!!!

2. Welcome to Back to School Night 2014-2015 Miss Rebecca DeMarco Classroom Paraprofessional Mrs. Betty Wagner Senior Connector: Mrs.Riu

3. Miss Rebecca DeMarco • B.A. Elementary Education K-6 and Special Education (K-12) • Students with Disabilities Certification (K-12) This is my third year teaching Kindergarten at Central School. Previous experience in Pre-School and Third Grade.

4. Homeroom Parents Mrs. Maureen Schroeder Mrs. Patty Edelman Mrs. Amy Deibert

5. A Day in Kindergarten begins with..Fine and Gross Motor Skills • Gross motor skills are defined as the movements of the large muscles of the body that enables such functions as walking, kicking, sitting upright, lifting, and throwing a ball. Since gross motor skills can be learned and improved with practice, children need plenty of opportunities to exercise these skills. • Fine motor skills can be defined as small muscle movements: those that occur in the finger, in coordination with the eyes. Fine motor skills won't develop overnight, but with time and practice.

6. Balanced Literacy • Word Study • Reading Workshop • Writing Workshop • Sounds in Motion (SIM) - piloting with Mrs. Reu • Daily 5 Literacy Framework-Center Based

7. GO Math Program Two critical areas: • Representing and comparing whole numbers, initially with sets of objects -counting, comparing, modeling, joining, separating with sets along with effective strategies for answering quantitative questions • Describing shapes and space • 2-D, 3-D shapes presented in a variety of ways • spatial responding to model objects

8. Science Social Studies • Living/ non- living things -attributes -characteristics • Observations and discussions -Ex. Nature Walk • Friends and Family • Geography • Holidays • Working together/Citizenship • Community helpers • Past/Present

9. Homework • Assignments will begin after Parent Conferences in November. • Please read with or to your child each night. • Practice and memorize sight words posted on our classroom website often. • Shoe tying

10. Classroom Discipline Approach • Classroom Behavior Chart- working towards becoming a “Star Student” - Students will be accountable for their behavior - Individual accountability • Table Tally Marks– working together as a small group • “Friday Fun Day” - making good choices as a community

11. Star Student of the Week Each student has been assigned a week this year. During the Star Student’s Week: • Student presents poster to the class and displayed all week • 1 item for Show and Tell each day (5 items total) • Special guest visitor (please set up a date with me prior)

12. Birthdays • All treats must be brought to the office no later than 10 am • Invitations- all students must receive an invitation if they are distributed in school • 16 students in our classroom • Summer birthdays can be celebrated in June

13. Mystery Readers and Visiting our Class • Looking for Mystery Readers throughout the year! • If you have specialized knowledge, talent, or skill you would like to share with our class please let me know. We are always opened to grandparents visiting as well! (Profession/Heritage/Culture)

14. Parent/Teacher Conferences • November 3rd, 4th, 5th • Dismissal is at 1:20 pm • Please sign up for a date and timetonight. • Our first Kindergarten report card is issued in December.

15. Digital Resources • All access codes for your child are located on top of folder. • RAZ Kids – Reading A-Z • Edu Typing – practice typing skills • GO Math – Specific Games will be given for each chapter • Brainpop Jr. – educational video