Welcome to Hogue’s Happy Hoots Curriculum Night!

1. Welcome to Hogue’s Happy Hoots Curriculum Night!

2. Welcome to Curriculum Night! • Please find a seat with a stack of papers at the tables. • If you have not joined PTA and would like to, I have placed forms on the tables that you can fill out and return to me.

3. All About Mrs. Hogue: • This is my second year at Mason. I previously taught 1st grade, 3rd grade, and kindergarten in South Carolina and North Carolina. • Graduated from Erskine College in Due West, SC with a B.S. in Early Childhood Education • Master’s of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Lesley University • Master’s of Art) from Gardner-Webb University

4. During this school year I will working towards receiving my ESOL endorsement. • I am married and have two dogs who are like children to me. My husband and I love all things sports and outdoors and are certified scuba divers. • I am a HUGE Clemson Tigers fan!

5. Meet Ms. Karen Shepherd • I have worked as a kindergarten paraprofessional for 9 years here at Mason. • I obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration at Morgan State University. • I am married and we are the proud parents of Taylor and Jayden. Taylor is a college sophomore. Jayden is in ninth grade. • I enjoy quality time with my family, reading, swimming, travelling and spending time at the spa.  • I truly enjoy working with children to help them achieve the ultimate goal of a secure education. I look forward to working with your children this year to be the best that they can be!

6. GCPS Mission: * The mission of GCPS is to pursue excellence in academic knowledge, skills and behavior for each student, resulting in measured improvement against local, national and world-class standards.

7. Academic Knowledge and Skills *The AKS is the GCPS curriculum and Common Core Standards. Please read and sign the perforated portion on the last inside page of the AKS brochure. • For more information about the Kindergarten AKS and Common Core please visit www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us.

8. Language Arts • Kindergarten will be focusing on reading with meaning and comprehension. • Fiction and Non-Fiction will play an integral part in small guided reading groups. The goal is to go deeper and have a solid understanding of the story, characters, and main idea before moving on to a higher level of reading. • You will see book baggies coming home in the coming weeks with small leveled readers. Please be sure these are returned each time they are sent home as we use them daily. Please sign the reading log and complete any work that is in the bag.

9. The Daily Five • Authors Gail Boushey and Joan Moser are two sisters who co-authored this philosophy. • The program creates independence while encouraging students to learn about their world through reading, writing, and hands-on exploration. • The five areas include: read to self, read to someone, listen to reading, writing, and word work. • Students will rotate throughthese areas daily while I work with individuals or small groups with guided reading and skills on their instructional level.

10. Jolly Phonics • This program is designed to teach the letters and sounds within the alphabet in a short amount of time. Each day two letters or blends along with their sound are introduced through a short story. A motion that goes along with the sound is taught to help recall. • Once each letter and sound is taught, we review them daily to keep them fresh in our minds. • Students will bring home worksheets with pictures showing the motion for each letter sound. This allows you to learn the motions and work with letter recognition with your child. • The first set of letters you will see are s, a, t, p, i, n. This enables students to make small words right away and see letter and print connections.

11. Math • EnVision from Pearson is our exciting new math curriculum this year. • It has interactive lessons that include literacy, modeling, independent practice, and short quizzes at the end to determine understanding. • There are workbook pages that go along with each lesson and enables them to show understanding as well. These also have ‘home connections’ which allows you to work with your child at home as well once they are sent home. • There is opportunity for re-teaching and challenge activities depending on the level of the student. • There are a multitude of math manipulatives with this curriculum to engage students, allow for practice, and enable them to gain deeper understanding of the curriculum and skills needed for first grade.

12. Writer’s Workshop: • The children will participate in daily journaling activities. Writing activities include: 1) modeled writing 2) shared writing 3) interactive writing 4) writing conferences 5) Author’s chair

13. Science, Social Studies and Health * We are currently using Houghton Mifflin for Science which includes Earth Science, Life Science, and Physical Science. All materials are accessible through our computers and can be easily adapted with technology. There are CD’s, manipulatives, science journals, and reading material for the students to make connections to science! • Various resources for Social Studies include Our World, Now and Long Ago and the Nystrom curriculum which includes mapping skills, geography, and American Symbols. • These are integrated with our math and literacy units.

14. G-KIDSThis is the standardized assessment tool that is used for assessing Kindergarten students in GCPS. The children are assessed throughout the year to determine if they are meeting the Georgia State Standards and the Common Core Curriculum.

15. Report Cards Each nine weeks a report card will be issued. There are two times throughout the year for scheduled parent conferences. One is in September and one is in February. If there are ever any concerns, please feel free to schedule a conference.

16. Homework: • In September the children will have a weekly homework calendar. Homework is never intended to be more than 15-20 minutes each night. Homework should be turned in every Friday. The children will have a blue “Homework Folder.” • Establishing a nightly homework routine will help your child practice skills, teach responsibility, and prepare them for First grade.

17. Teacher Webpage • My webpage is located on the Mason Website • Please visit to find daily schedules, upcoming events, homework calendars, and newsletters. • Go to Mason’s website – www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/Mason • Click on Faculty and Staff • Click on your child’s grade • Click on your child’s teacher • The teacher’s website will appear.

18. Mason PRIDE Expectations • PRIDE - Personal Responsibility In Daily Effort • I will respect myself, others and my environment • I will show self-control by not hurting myself or others. • I will follow directions given by the adult in charge the first time. • I will be prepared for all of my learning activities • I will stay on task and do my best.

19. Positive Rewards • Positive Rewards • Positive Behavior All Day – Stay on green( 1 stick at the end of the day) • 1st “Caught Doing Something Good” – moved to blue (2 sticks at the end of the day) • 1st “Caught Doing Something Good” – moved to purple (3 sticks at the end of the day) • *Students can earn extra gems throughout the day if they are already on purple and caught doing something good.* • **Sticks are used to grant access to the treasure box. If they receive 5 sticks they can choose from the treasure box. This will increase throughout the school year to encourage students to strive for greatness. **

20. Class Consequences • 1st Offense – verbal warning • 2nd Offense– clip moved to yellow • 3rd Offense – clip moved to orange-five minutes alternate recess, time off centers or preferred activity • 4th Offense – clip moved to red-10 minutes alternate recess, behavior note home or a call home • 5th Offense – 20 minutes alternate recess, a call home, possible time in another classroom, possible office referral • Fighting or injuring another student is cause for automatic move to red with a note or call home. This may also result in a written responsibility plan with an administrator **Students have the opportunity to move back up by showing improved behavior and cooperating with the teacher**

21. Friday Folders *Weekly newsletter…… the newsletter tells you what we have been doing in class, upcoming events, important dates and the following week’s special. The newsletter will be posted on my website weekly and will not be sent as a paper copy unless requested. *Please look through your child’s work with them. Praise them for their hard work, share with the family and hang some up on the refrigerator. *Sign the behavior folder, discuss any effort or conduct concerns. Praise them for a great week and their awesome accomplishments!

22. Backpacks • If at all possible, please have your child bring a backpack that is large enough to hold a folder and a winter jacket. Many times there is a lot to send home and it does not fit in the small backpacks. As the weather gets cooler, they need jackets in the morning but may not need them in the afternoon. Thank you!

23. Money • If you send money to school with your child, please put it in an envelope or baggie labeled with the intended purpose (lunch, ice cream, field trip, book order, etc…) • If you use a baggie or envelope I will return it to you to use again.

24. Changes in phone numberor addresses: *If you: move to a new house change jobs get a new phone number We need to have new phone numbers and addresses.

25. Attendance Policy • Gwinnett County requires children be in school. • If your child is ill, please send a note explaining the situation or email me at Kandi_Hogue@gwinnett.k12.ga.us • Five unexcused absences will result in a letter from the school and from Social Services. This does not include deaths in the family or family emergencies. Please contact me with this information. • School begins at 8:15. Excessive tardiness will also result in a letter from the school to help determine how to help your child be on time. Please have your child to school by 8:00 if they want to eat breakfast. • Students must be checked out by 2:00 for any appointments.

26. Transportation Changes If you are changing your child’s transportation for the day or future, you have to send it in writing the morning of the change or before. They will not accept emails and if I am absent the substitute does not have access to my email. I do not always have time to check emails during the school day. If there is an emergency and you need to change it mid-day, you have to call the office and let them know and they will get a message to the classroom.

27. Breakfast • If your child eats breakfast at school it is important for them to be here as early as possible. There are many students who eat breakfast and it can take some time to get through the line. • Breakfast stops being served after the first bell at 8:10 and students will then take their breakfast to class.

28. Birthdays *Children can share a special treat with their friends during lunch time. Please NO: balloons, goody bags, candy or cakes. Cupcakes or cookies are easiest. • You are welcome to eat with your child at lunch…please sit at the long table by the traffic light. * Party invitations can only be passed out at school if the ENTIRE class is being invited.

29. T-Shirt Money: * I will be collecting $4.00 per student for T-shirts. • The children will be making an end of the year shirt. • You may use the baggie provided with the letter at your table.

30. Fever policy:Children need to be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school. This means without medication.

31. Medications: • Medications must be brought to the clinic in the original prescription container by an adult. DO NOT send medication in with a child. • Parents or guardians will need to fill out a medical form in the clinic.

32. Library • We will go on THURSDAYS! • We will be visiting the library weekly to check out books. This will begin after our library orientation. • Please be sure their library book is returned each week or students cannot checkout another book until it is returned. Will keep in book boxes until Thursday when we return them! • We also will have various lessons with Ms. Armstrong, the media center clerk, relating to the AKS throughout the school year.

33. Volunteers • Parents are welcome to volunteer in the classroom during the morning for 45 minutes per day. • This may involve assisting students with Literacy or Math work, taking students to the library (Thursdays), and assisting the teacher with copying or preparing materials. • If you are unable to physically come in and volunteer but would like to help prepare materials at home, please let me know. • Volunteers will begin in September! Email me to set up a time or sign the volunteer sheet on the round table..

34. What is DonorsChoose.Org? • A GREAT way for you to help enhance your child’s educational experience.

35. Scholastic Book Orders • These orders will be sent home about once a month. You may order as little or as much as you wish. This is not mandatory, just an opportunity to increase your child’s library at home or find great gifts! • Please when you return the order form from the back of the flyer to include: name of student, books you have chosen, total amount due, and a check for the amount. I cannot accept cash. • We earn bonus points for ordering and I then order free books for the classroom through this process.

36. Questions and Answers

37. Thank you for coming! I am looking forward to an exciting year with you and your child!