300 likes | 310 Views
Back to School Night Mrs. MacKenzie’s Fantastic Transitional Kindergarten & Kindergarten Students. Welcome! Thank you for coming to Back to School Night. Introduction A little bit about me….
E N D
Back to School Night Mrs. MacKenzie’s Fantastic Transitional Kindergarten & KindergartenStudents
IntroductionA little bit about me… I have 2 daughters and a son. My oldest daughter Joanna graduated from San Diego State, my youngest daughter Rachel graduated from San Marcos, and my son Patrick, who was an Adams Tiger, graduated from Stanford and currently attends Harvard Business School. He has also been a teacher, and with my Dad who was a teacher and principal, that makes us a 3 generation teaching family. My husband Robert is a pilot and graduated from UCSB.
I graduated from UCSB with a major in Spanish. • 20th year teaching at Adams. • Before becoming a teacher I worked at UCSB in education and math departments. • 3 years of teaching 2nd grade • 14 years teaching 1st Grade… • I’m thrilled to teach TK-K for my third year because it’s a magical year where the students make huge new discoveries and friendships. • We’re going to have a great year together!
What is Transitional Kindergarten? • Transitional Kindergarten is the first year of a two-year kindergarten that uses a modified kindergarten curriculum that is age and developmentally appropriate.
Kindergarten Students • For Kindergarten students we parallel the Kindergarten standards, completing them in a more hands-on, developmentally appropriate way. • Students who are determined to have mastered the K standards and are developmentally ready for First Grade will be considered for First Grade, whether in TK or K. • You’ll be absolutely amazed at what your child will learn this year!
This class uses small group, hands-on learning. • Systematic, hands-on, project based, step-by-step approach to learning as compared to regular Kindergarten classes. • With 3 teachers, we do small group (about 6-7 students) rotations all morning, based on your child’s math and reading level. • Tons of fun materials, activities and games. • WE GET MESSY!
Afternoons in TK-K • Energetic young children. • Play-based learning activities. • We use song, dance, rhyme, stories, the school garden, rhythm instruments, poems, and building / writing / art / kitchen and play centers with an amazing variety of materials.
We are a team! We all work together for the success of your precious child. We can’t do it withoutyou!
Weekly Responsibilities • BACKPACK:Sending & checking daily. • HOMEWORK in envelope: Friday-Friday • BAG OF 5 Books in plastic bag • TIGER FOLDERS: READ IT ALL please! • LIBRARY BOOK in special bag • Everything comes back on Friday! Packing up Thursday night helps: homework (checked), folder, Tiger Folder, Bag of 5 Books
To be Proficient at the end of TK, your child should be able to: • Read 52 uppercase/lowercase letter names • Read 52 uppercase/lowercase letter sounds • Rhyme • Write their name, numbers and the alphabet • Read sightwords • Know geometric shapes, colors, days of the week • Count to at least 30 correctly • Identify numbers to 30 • Demonstrate simple addition and subtraction concepts • Create patterns • Compare objects by weight and length • Begin to read!
**To be Proficient at the end of Kindergarten, your child should be able to: • Read 52 uppercase/lowercase letter names and sounds • Read short and long vowel words. • Read 34 K Sightwords • Know + and – facts by memory 0-5 • Use expanded vocabulary • Write sentences and stories with capital letters and punctuation. • Understand numbers to 100. • Make number combinations (10= 4+6, 7+3, 2+8, 1+9, 0+10, 5+5, 6+4, 3+7, 8+2, 9+1, 10+0) • Make tens and ones from numbers to 100 • Geometry: Describe attributes, identify and compare shapes • And more!
Science Units • Life Cycles: Pumpkins, Butterflies, Insects • My Body/My Senses • Our Natural World, Rocks, Shells • Animals Large and Small • Habitats • Investigating Water: sink and float, waterways • My Body, My Senses, Nutrition, Dental Care • Plant Life Cycle • Spring Activities • Magnets
Math: We make counting FUN! • Math concepts achieved in whole group and small group activities with cool things to count and measure! • We will challenge your child’s mathematical thinking and problem solving with hands-on and paper and pencil activities. • Math activities will be integrated throughout the curriculum, from calendar to cooking to science to writing!
Language Arts • Lifelong love of books and reading! • Through song, chants, rhymes, Nursery Rhymes, big books, Open Court phonemic awareness, Heidi Songs, Core Knowledge, Scholastic and Reading A-Z decodable readers, technology, phonics and targeted daily activities, we will learn letter names, sounds and reading skills that form a foundation for lifelong reading success.
Music Instruction Weekly music instruction includes rhythm instruments, singing and dance. Our instructor Mr. Larson is a credentialed teacher and our students simply love their music program. __________________
Social Studies Units • Learning that a good citizen involves acting in certain ways • Patriotic Songs, National and state symbols • John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success • Events, places and people of other times • Holidays such as Presidents’ Day, Veterans’ Day, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday
Computer & Technology Our class currently has 7 ipads, a netbook and a laptops. Thank you Village Properties and our wonderful PTA!
Physical Education Mrs. Julie Churchman returns this year as our fantastic P.E. Instructor. The children will learn a variety of new skills and games, while practicing their good sportsmanship.
ART • We will do ART in our classroom, using a variety of materials. • We will GET MESSY as we learn to cut, paint, draw and CREATE!
Motivation • Positive motivation always comes first. • We talk about why we’re getting ready for Kindergarten, First Grade, upper grades, high school, college and beyond. • We inspire students with WHY we are learning our lesson objective today-how it’s going to help them, how it’s fun and how they can use it in their lives. • Objectives are posted and referred to during lessons.
Behavior Plan • Handle within classroom by teaching and practicing communication. • Positive methods with logical consequences. • Students are encouraged to solve the problems they have caused and to be responsible and kind. • Strong student-teacher-parent relationships prevent most problems. • Conduct Report – for serious offenses. Student speaks with principal and a phone call home. Conduct Report
MISCELLANEOUS REMINDERS: • BRING A BACKPACK EVERY DAY PLEASE • No toys or other school supplies at school (except on sharing days). • District policy states no sweets for birthdays or in lunches. • TK Students will not celebrate birthdays in class. • On rainy days, a plastic raincoat with hood will keep your child dry. Rainboots work well too. Please send an extra pair of socks & shoes if possible in their backpack. • Little girls, please wear shorts under skirts for sitting on the rug.
SHARING • Your child may bring something to share that shows something they do with their family. • OUR SHARING DAY WILL BE THURSDAY AFTERNOONS.
A daily snack (banana, apple, crackers & cheese) really helps kids focus. • Doctor and dentist appointments in the afternoon whenever possible! • Book orders are optional, and will be sent home approximately monthly. • Tennis shoes are best. Kids need to be able to run, jump, climb and dance! No flipflops or open-toed sandals at school. • Please make sure kids have plenty of sleep and a quiet place for homework (with TV off).
Field Trips! • Fall: October 23rd: Trinity Gardens • Winter: Ellwood Butterfly Preserve • Spring: The Fair (animal and plant exhibits) • Walking trip to Samarkand??? • Do you have any good ideas?
Student of the Week We will soon begin having a Student of the Week. They lead calendar and are the Teacher’s Helper and Line Leader for the week. At school they will decorate a special poster with their friends to bring home on Friday. We will start the year with every student having one day to be leader, then go to every student having a week. They love this.
**Our Enrichment Schedule begins in October • MONDAY AFTERNOONS: We visit the Garden with a lesson from Miss Wendy every other Monday at 12:45! • FRIDAY AFTERNOONS: We will have Music, Design and P.E. specials. • LIBRARY will be Tuesdays at 1:00. Children will bring their book home for one night and return it the next day.
But most important: PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE • Join the PTA! There are only brief monthly meetings! • Join the PTA! You’ll learn more about how your child’s school works. • Join the PTA! It shows your child you care about their school and it’s fun!. • OUR CLASS GOAL IS TO HAVE THE MOST PARENTS INVOLVED THIS YEAR! • Join the PTA! You’ll make new friends. • Join the PTA! There is Spanish translation so everyone can participate!