Kindergarten Curriculum Night

1. Kindergarten Curriculum Night

2. Kindergarten Team • Carla Fisher • Tanya Dickson • Karen Tullo

3. Kindergarten • A fun place to learn and grow • National Common Core Standards

4. What are the Common Core Standards? • An expectation of students at each grade level, putting students, parents, teachers, and school administrators on the same page, working toward shared goals. • A progression of learning expectations. • While most states already have standards in place, they vary widely from state to state in their coverage and level of rigor.

5. What are the Common Core Standards? • Aligned with college and work expectations • Rigorous content and application of knowledge through high-order skills • Informed by other top-performing countries so that all students are prepared to succeed in a global economy and society Source: http://www.corestandards.org/about-the-standards/

6. Why is this important? • A common set of standards ensures that all students, no matter where they live, will be focused on graduating from high school. • In an increasingly mobile society, families with children transferring to new schools will not have to adjust to new learning expectations. • Standards will be the same for all students in states adopting them, making transitions smoother for students. • All students must be prepared to compete with not only their American peers in the next state, but with students from around the world

7. Link for more information • Arizona Department of Education http://www.ade.az.gov/standards/contentstandards.asp

8. Language Arts • Reading • Writing • Listening • Speaking

9. Key Components of Reading • Phonemic Awareness: the ability to isolate and manipulate the sounds of language • Phonics: “the alphabetic principle” mapping print to sound • Vocabulary: the ability to understand and use a broad variety of words • Fluency: the ability to read with accuracy, automaticity and expression • Comprehension: the ability to understand what is read by applying appropriate strategies

10. Reading Skills and Knowledge • Provide key ideas and details from text • Understand the craft and structure of various kinds of text • Make comparisons within and between texts • Engage in group reading activities • Concepts of print • Understanding of spoken words, rhyming, syllables and sounds • Apply decoding skills • Read common sight words • Read appropriate texts

11. Harcourt Trophies • Research based • 12 themes • Big books (and smaller versions) • Trade books to go with themes • Decodable readers • In class • Reproducibles • Songs, chants and poems

12. Speaking and Listening Development • Demonstrate listening comprehension • Effectively presents knowledge and ideas orally

13. Writing and Language Development • Draw, dictate and write to create different types of texts (opinion, narrative, informational) • Engage in the writing process • Participate in projects to recall or gather information • Use appropriate writing conventions • Acquire and use appropriate vocabulary

14. D’Nealian Handwriting • Proper grip • Paper (slant, lines) Aa Bb Cc DdEe Ff GgHh Ii JjKkLl Mm NnOo Pp QqRr Ss TtUu Vv Ww Xx YyZz 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

15. Math

16. How you can help at home • Engage children in conversation with the expectation that they will express detailed thoughts in complete sentences • Have conversations with your children which require them to express and support their opinions • Provide opportunities to write • READ, READ, READ • Provide opportunities to count items and rote count • Reinforce math vocabulary (one more, less, equal, etc) • Recognize and write numbers (grocery store) • Homework that is provided (hardcopy in tonight’s packet • In the future it will get e-mailed to you at the beginning of a new unit.

17. Science • Weather • Earth Sciences • Living and Non-living • Magnets • Human Body/5 Senses

18. Technology • Develop essential technology skills • Apply Technology • Conduct Research using Technology • Imbedded in all content areas • Volunteers Helpful

19. Social Studies • American History • World History • Civics and Government • Geography • Economics

20. Health • Being healthy • Ways to stay healthy • Healthy food choices • Making good choices • Goals and choices • Helathy family and community choices

21. Procedures

22. Arrival/Dismissal – The school campus opens at 7:45 A.M. Staff members will be on duty from 7:45 until the bell. • All Day Kindergarten • First bell rings at 8:10, School begins at 8:15 • Dismissal at 3:05 • Early Release Day – Dismissal at 1:05 Tardy: • If you arrive after the bell and the class has already gone inside you’ll need to go to the front office for a late pass.

23. Attendance: • Attendance Phone Line – 541-4401 (24 hrs./day) • If possible, inform teacher in advance in writing. Rainy Day Schedules: • Have children go through the front (door A) to their classrooms. • If possible, try not to come in early. • Teachers will be in their rooms at 7:45 or shortly after. • Rainy day dismissal at door L

24. Birthdays: • Birthday parties CANNOT take place during school hours. • Invitations CANNOT be given out at school. • Each teacher will determine how children’s birthdays will be recognized in the classroom. Labeling: • Please label your child’s belongings, so children will not mix up various items. • This labeling needs to include lunchboxes, backpacks, jackets, water bottles, towels, etc.

25. Transportation: • PLEASE inform your child’s teacher of any changes in WRITING!! • If address, phone, work number or any other important information changes please keep us updated in writing.

26. Snack: • Please send in a healthy daily snack. • Please make sure it is NOT in their lunch box and they know where to find it in their backpack • If you choose, place a weeks worth in labeled plastic bag Lunch: • Please encourage your child to make different choices each day. • Lunch Prices $2.50 includes drink • A la carte milk $.50 water $.35 Homework: • Homework guidelines for Kindergarten are 3 times per week/5-10 minutes. • The most important homework we can assign you is to read to and with your child on a daily basis. • Homework will usually require family interaction.

27. Library: • Remember your child’s library day and have your child bring their book to school. Students won’t be able to check out a new book, if they don’t return last week’s book. Suggestions: • Keep books in a special place away from pets and younger siblings. • Talk with your child about taking care of his or her library book. • Keep library books in a zip lock bag if your child carries a water bottle in his/her backpack. • First check out will be the last week of August for all K classes.

28. Book Orders • They take 2-3 weeks to arrive. • Scholastic Book Club is a great value and helps to build your home library – our classroom library, too. • Check with your child’s teacher for deadlines and for special instructions. • On-line ordering and payment now available. If sending order and payment to classroom - Checks ONLY!

29. Volunteers: • We love volunteers!!! • Check with your child’s classroom teacher to see when a regular schedule will be in place. • School Wide: • Computer Lab • PTO • Library Volunteers • Art Masterpiece • Work Room

30. Report Cards • Only go home twice a year for kindergarten (January and May) • Not everything we teach is on the report card

31. Appropriate Attire • Clothing – need to follow the dress code in the Family Handbook • Shoes – gym shoes or sandals w/straps • Flip flops are not safe on the playground equipment • Gym shoes required on P.E. days Fisher – Thursday Dickson – Tuesday Tullo - Friday

32. School-wide Behavior Management System • Be Safe • Be Respectful • Be Responsible

33. Common Area Behavior Expectations

45. Thank you for attending tonight. Together we will instill a desire for life long learning in your child.Warmly,Ms. Dickson, Mrs. Tullo, and Mrs. Fisher