Bethany Kindergarten

1. Bethany Kindergarten

2. School Day • 7:45 Students are expected to be in the building • 2:45 Dismissal • Absences/Tardies • Excused Absences-send a note within 3 days • Unexcused Absences • Sign-In Procedure • Raptor Attendance & Visitor Procedures

3. Debi Hanson • 22 years teaching experience • Three children • Enjoy reading / Working Out/ Crafts and making Kindergarten great

4. Welcome to Kindergarten • The Bethany Kindergarten is ready for a new school year. • Bethany is called the Bethany Bunch- each grade level has a different mascot that begins with a B, in Kindergarten we are the Bethany Bears!!

5. Kindergarten Arrival • Students enter the Kindergarten area at 7:30 and after putting their backpack, snack, water bottles, lunchboxes and take-home folders away, enter the room and begin Writer’s Workshop. • Morning Procedures – include BBTV announcements, attendance, etc.

6. Dismissal • Carpool will exit and load in the front. Post cardstock sign in window. Older siblings sit with younger siblings. • Walkers will exit out the 1st grade backdoor near the small playground. Older siblings will be with younger siblings. • Daycare and PASAR will be escorted to the gym area. • If you have a change of dismissal plans, please send a note in your child’s take home folder. If it is last minute, please call the front office before 2:30. DON’T SEND AN EMAIL OR LEAVE A VOICEMAIL.

7. Daily Schedule • 7:30 – 8:00 Writer’s Workshop • 7:45- Tardy Bell - Announcements and Pledge • 7:45-8:15 Writer’s Workshop • 8:15-10:15 Learning Block • Language Arts/Language Arts Centers/Developmental Centers • Math/Math Centers/Integrated Curriculum (Social Studies and Science) • 10:15-10:45 Recess Guidance: every other week • 10:45-11:15 Lunch Mon.-Hanson, Wed.-Gillmore and Mullins • 11:55-12:45 Specials • Library: Every Week - Wednesday • 12:45-1:00 Snack time Hanson - 8:15-8:45 • Gillmore - 9:45-10:15 • Mullins - 12:55-1:25 • 1:00-2:30 Learning Block

8. Specials • P.E. Days – have your child wear sneakers. P.E. will be everyday except Art day. • Each week your child will go to Art once, Music twice and P.E. three times. • Your child’s Specials schedule is attached to the front of your Parent Handout.

9. Assessment in Kindergarten • MAP – Measure of Academic Progress Reading and Math - 3 x’s a year • TPRI – Texas Primary Reading Inventory • IRI – Individual Reading Record

10. Gifted and TalentedPACE Services for academically gifted and talented students in grades K-12. Referral and Assessment 11-12 Deadlines November 9, 2011 3:00 pm Referral packets must be completed and returned to Christi Pavlasek by the deadline. • Destination Imagination • Open to all PISD students • Creative problem solving • Coaches needed for teams • Information on-line • Do not contact Christi Pavlasek

11. Monday Morning Assemblies Purpose *Kick off the week in a positive way *Promote school unity and spirit *Announcements and notices *Encourage on time arrival *Promote community involvement and support *Recognize student accomplishments *Focus on the school wide expectations *Promote patriotism

12. 7 Habits • Be Proactive • Begin with the End in Mind • Put First Things First • Think Win-Win • Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood • Synergize • Sharpen the Saw

13. Math Calendar – Days, weeks, months, and years. Number order, counting, odd and even numbers. Patterns, sequence, ordinal numbers, Graphs, place value, weather, position words. Whole group instruction – Daily block of time to teach grade level appropriate math skills and extend mathematical thinking. Differentation – allowing for each child’s level Math Workshops– Area in room where independent math activities take place. Students are also able to revisit other math games and manipulatives. Math Homework – Monday-Thursday – 1 problem and 1 discussion question per day. Return on Friday. Beginning in September.

14. Connie Gillmore • 18 years teaching experience • I have a great husband, 3 children with wonderful spouses and 6 precious grandchildren. • Enjoy spending time with my family and traveling.

15. Language Arts In Kindergarten • Modeled Writing • Guided Writing • Shared Writing • Independent Writing • Modeled Reading • Shared Reading • Guided Reading • Independent • Reading • Star words • Word work • Handwriting

16. Writing Writer’s Workshop – First thing each morning students use pictures and words to express their thoughts. As we move through the year students write more and draw less. Modeled Writing – The teacher writes in front of students demonstrating writing mini-lessons. This is also a time to show correct penmanship. Shared Writing – Students share personal experiences with the class. Some writing is done by the teacher and some by the student. Guided Writing – The teacher does mini-lessons to teach new writing skills or reteaches skills that may need more work. This is done with the whole class, a small group or with an individual.

17. Modeled Reading – The teacher selects good literature to read to students. • Shared Reading – The teacher and the students read stories together to build reading skills. • Independent Reading- students reading books independently. • Guided Reading – Students read books • that the teacher selects to • accelerate each student’s • reading level. Reading in Kindergarten • LiteracyLibrary • Monthly At- Home Reading Calendar

18. We do a lot of work with words: Putting words together. Taking words apart . Rhyming, Blending, Changing Handwriting Our kindergarten uses a handwriting program that introduces correct letter formation and finger grip. Kindergarten has 30 Star words including an advanced and challenge list. Our Kindergarten students need to know how to read them, write them, and locate them in sentence.

19. Classroom Stations Computer Station – This station has computer programs to develop math, reading, writing, science and social study skills. Please have your child practice username and password. Literacy Stations –These stations have activities that develop and extend literacy skills learned in the classroom. Math Workshop – These stations have manipulatives and math games that extend math concepts. Teacher Station – Area of room where the teacher will work with small groups.

20. Developmental Learning Centers – The kids call these “Big Centers”. In Kindergarten we have a large area where students work on sharing and verbal communication skills. This area is made up of several small areas each set up to help foster social and academic growth. Computers Manipulatives Art Library / Writing Listening Puppets / Felt Math Blocks Sand and Water Table Dramatic Play

21. Wendy Mullins • 14 years teaching experience • Two adorable children: Drake in 3rd and Claire in1st. • Enjoy working out, home improvement, shopping and being with my family.

22. 1stsix weeks Solid Foundations Off to a Beary Good Start 2nd six weeks Systems All Aboard for Systems 3rd six weeks Communication How Do I Learn About my World? 4th six weeks Interactions What’s the Connection? 5th six weeks Diversity What’s Alike / What’s Different? 6th six weeks Changes Change is All Around Me Science and Social Studies are taught each day. We call this our Integrated Curriculum. Each six weeks we have a new overarching idea.

23. Grade Level Volunteers • All parents should fill out the PTA volunteer form online. • All volunteers need to complete a background check each year. • We need lunchroom helpers, classroom helpers, center helpers, and at-home/material helpers. • You can read in the classroom, take things home, or volunteer in other areas of the building. • The grade level liaison, Mrs. Brandeland, or room parent will contact you once you have signed up. • Sign-up sheets are available. Please sign up 

24. RECESS During the school day the kindergarten students will have a 30 minute block of time for recess. This will usually be outside play. Snack • Snack Time – Use water bottles • Healthy Snack-fresh fruit, crackers, etc. • No popcorn, chips, candy, cookies, etc. • Kid Friendly Container • Separate from lunch • Birthdays-We love celebrating birthdays! • 2:15 – arrange a day with your • child’s teacher. Recess Time: 10:15-10:45

25. Kindergarten lunch time is from 10:45-11:15 • Students may bring their lunch, buy a lunch from the lunch line, or do a combination of both. • Each student will have a lunch code. Please have your child practice on the keypad provided. • This is a number that is entered if the child buys anything from the lunch line. This number is also their ID and computer number. • Lunch price is $2.25 for children. $3.00 for adults. • In the lunch line your child may get 5 items: • 1 main entrée 1 milk • 1 fruit 1 bread • 1 vegetable (they may have 2 different vegetables if they are offered) • Other items will cost more!!!! • Tables are provided in the cafeteria if you wish to eat lunch with your child. • Since there is only one teacher on lunch duty, we need volunteers to help at lunch. Lunch

26. Rest Time Kindergarten is a busy place and the students work and play the whole day. Our schedule has us involved in learning academically and socially from 7:30-2:45 each day. For the first 2 weeks of school, after Specials, we will take a few minutes to lay down on the floor and listen to a story, look at books in our personal area, or just rest our bodies and brains. To start the year off your child may bring 2 bath size towels. We will send these home Friday to be washed.

27. Take Home Folders / Homework / Communication • Daily Folder – to be returned EACH DAY • Parent/Teacher Communication • Communication Card / 9 weeks calendar • Positive Behavior Expectations and Rewards • Book Bags / Enrichment Activities • Conferences – 3 with teacher, 1 with student • Contact teacher by email/voicemail • Electronic Bethany Bits • myPISD.net – will be up and ready in the next few weeks.

28. Field Trips • Kindergarten takes one field trip. • In the Spring – The Outdoor Learning Center - March 22, 11:15-2:15 • Volunteers are needed for field trips, but remember to complete your background check.

29. Bethany Kindergarten