Welcome to Parents’ Night

1. Welcome to Parents’ Night Ms.Cappellani’s Class

2. Goal To Create Life Time Thinkers

3. Fairness is giving every child what he/she needs not treating all children the same.

4. Reading A Balanced Literacy Approach Word Study/Phonics • Mini lessons are taught followed by practice • Making letters, words, and word families • White boards, Play Doh, chalkboards, and magnetic letters are used Read-Aloud Time The teacher reads out loud to the children in order to: • Develop language and talk about the book • Extend world knowledge • Develop new ways of thinking about text and illustrations Shared Reading • Poems, stories, song, big books, or charts are read by the teacher and students together • With support the children learn about reading behaviors, conventions of print, and are able to focus on learning some words

5. Guided Reading Children read small books in flexible groups that have been specially chosen to offer an appropriate level of support but also some challenges. Each lesson consists of: The book from the previous day being read first (It is then bagged up to go home that night to read and must be returned the next day). A new book briefly introduced to provide support and pique interest The new book read independently using a soft voice, while the teacher looks for evidence of problem solving, intervening when needed The book is then discussed Children are moved after running records and expectations are met in the leveled book guide

6. I teach mini-lessons Read to Self - Students shop for a “Good Fit” book while focusing on the ways to read a book. Read to Someone Listen to Reading Work on Writing Word work The students will choose a literacy area and work independently. Daily 5

7. Find a quiet spot where you are able to listen to your child read without distractions. Then ask your child to tell you what the book is all about before reading. The reading may seem easy for your child because it will have been a book that has been read four or five times. Yeah! He/she should be reading fluently which means reading smoothly with expression at a good pace. If your child gets stuck here are some things to try: (Ideas are listed on the bookmark) Look at the picture and think about the story. What would make sense? Get your mouth ready to say the beginning of the word. Think about what would make sense that starts with that letter. Go back and reread the whole sentence. Find parts of the word you know and reread the sentence. Ways to Help your Reader

8. Writing Handwriting • We will begin working on the correct lines and strokes. • Focus on holding the pencil correctly, correct letter formation, configuration of each letter, spacing, proper use of upper and lower case letters, learning to write on lines Writer’s Workshop We will begin with Journal Writing • Lucy Calkins Curriculum for mini-lessons including modeled lessons for specific writing skills like Sentence Formation, Focused Writing Ideas, Different Styles of Writing using Mentor Texts & Author Studies and Non-fiction Writing • We put a lot of emphasis on teaching students how writers use their own lives and experiences as a springboard for their writing topics. We call these “small moment” stories. • Mini-lesson, students write, I conference, and the students share.

9. Writing continued Interactive Writing-the children and I share a pen to: • Look at aspects of words • Look at how words are put together into a sequence of sounds • Look at how words are constructed letter by letter or in parts • Practice letter formation, spacing, and punctuation Shared Writing-The teacher does all of the writing while the children generate ideas.

10. Spelling • 25 Word Wall Words found in Kindergarten packet-more will be added Ways the children practice learning the new words: • Rainbow Spelling • Magnetic letters • White boards/chalk boards • Making connections

11. Mathematics Daily Math • Calendar Math, Place Value (counting straws), Graphing (the weather each month), Tallying (weather) • Problem of the Day book McGraw-Hill Textbook • Hands on activities • Games are an integral part (Playing cards, Dominoes, Dice) • Pretesting and differentiated groups CGI (Cognitively Guided Instruction) • Story Problems where students solve using multiple strategies and teach the class his/her strategies. Ways to help your child at home: • Begin recognizing coins and values • Practice flashcards with addition then later subtraction • Play games that require adding and subtracting strategies • Play games that require adding and subtracting strategies • Count by 1’s, 2’s, 5’s, and 10’s to 100.

12. Science/Health FOSS • Trees-a hands on exploratory program that promotes thinking skills and uses the scientific process. Harcourt Text-inquiry based learning • Plants and Animals All Around • Focus on Butterflies • Weather and Seasons Health • Cleanliness-washing hands, blowing noses, how to cough • Foods and Nutrition • Safety • Tooth care

13. Social Studies Integrated through read alouds, shared reading, Weekly Reader Goals • Define a school environment-rules and consequences • Understand how we are a part of a neighborhood, community, country, and world • Demonstrate character traits of responsibility, honesty, caring, and respect PBIS-Positive Behavioral Intervention Strategies Conscious Discipline-Based on brain research, Comprehensive social/emotional intelligence classroom management program focusing on rules and consequences with problem solving, establishing a school/classroom family, communication, and acceptance.

14. Specials Classes • Music with Mrs. Glennon– 1-1:30 (2 days one week three the following) A or B week • Art with Mrs. Miller 1:30-2 (2 days one week, three the next) A or B week • Physical Education with Mr. Flannery-daily 12-12:30 • Computers-Thursday 10-10:30 • Library-Fridays 2:30-3(Remind students to put books in their backpack on Thursday night.) • Guidance-Every other Thursday from 12:30-1:00 with Donna McGovern • Early Release: Departure 12:50.

15. General Information • Correspondence through monthly calendar and Daily News Monday through Thursday. Classroom newsletters will be sent periodically through out the year. • Whale of the Week forms are sent out the Friday before, so you will have time to fill them in. Fill the special red All About Me Bag for Monday including pictures. Whale of the week can bring in a sharing item every day of the special week. Send 2 boxes of crackers. • Electronic report cards will be used at the kindergarten grade level with a number grading scale of 4-1. • If your child does not know how to button, zip, or tie shoes please help him/her learn these life-long skills. • All children need to bring a sweatshirt or jacket daily as the weather is changing. • Birthday treats may be sent in the day of your child’s birthday or on the Friday before just drop me a note. • Please return Take Home Folders daily. • Eat a healthy breakfast and use the bathroom before school.

16. Gift Ideas As the holidays approach please consider getting your child some things that will help with learning. • Addition and subtraction flashcards • Puzzles • Counting games • Card games • Magnetic letters • Diaries • Books (Scholastic Books are reasonably priced and levels are given for most). • White boards/chalkboards

17. THANK YOU