Welcome to Kindergarten!!!

While you are waiting…

• Check out the display in the hallway• Browse the classroom• Look through the papers at your child’s seat• Leave your child a love note

Classroom support ... • Cheryl Signore, Teacher That’s me

• Gretchen Stegina– Classroom Paraprofessional

• Theresa Smith– Literacy Coach

• Liz Mancini– Social Worker/ TOOKR Time

(Treating Ourselves and Others with Kindness and Respect: Social skills lessons that focus on self-regulation of feelings, understanding the feelings of others, using our safe words and actions to solve problems with our friends, and learning to get along in a group. )

Classroom Philosophy

• Promote self-awareness and self-discovery

• Foster independence and the love of learning

• Instill the necessary skills to help children be a productive member of a group

• Teach students how to ask for help and to be helpful

• Encourage and guide students to move beyond their current level of understanding and comfort

• Make school a fun place to be!

Typical Daily Schedule

• Morning Meeting• Number Corner• Reader’s Workshop• Snack/Recess Time/Creative Play• Phonics/Word Work• Writer’s Workshop• Recess/Lunch• Read Aloud• Math• Science/Social Studies• Specials • Wrap it up!

Snack/Lunch

• One easy to manage peanut free snack• Water only• Be sure your child knows the difference between

the snack and the lunch

• Be sure your child knows if he or she is buying lunch each day

Bucket filling and bucket dipping…

“Each of us has an invisible bucket. When our bucket is full, we feel great. When it is empty, we feel awful. Each of us has an invisible dipper. When we use that dipper to fill other people's buckets ~ by saying or doing things to increase their positive emotions ~ we also fill our own bucket.”

Classroom Workshop Model

Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop includes:

• Teacher Modeling• Active Engagement• Individual Practice (Teacher Conferring)• Reflection/Sharing

Reader’s Workshop Units of Study

• Launching Workshop Model• Nursery Rhymes• Fiction and Non-fiction Picture Books• Informational Books• Getting to Know an Author• Rich Reading Diet (various genres)

Writer’s Workshop Units of Study

• Launching Workshop Model • Narrative – “Writing for Readers”• Opinion – Book Review• Informational – “How To” Books• Narrative – Authors as Mentors• Opinion – Book Review• Persuasive Writing of All Kinds

Problems & Investigations + Work Places

Number Corner Home Connections & Student Books K-5

Structure and Components of Bridges in Mathematics:

Bridges Math Topics

• Counting by ones and tens• Problem Solving within ten• Writing numbers 0 to 20• Doubles, Adding and Subtracting• Compare numbers and quantities• Place Value – tens and ones• Compare/classify 2 and 3 Dimensional Shapes• Estimate, measure and compare length

. . . . . . Properties of objects Sense of self and family Characteristics of living things Sense of diverse communities Weather: daily and seasonal Holidays and traditionsMan-made and natural materials Citizen of a school community

Differentiation

• Assess, teach to the abilities, and reassess.

• Looks different based on student needs and subject matter.

• Three ways to differentiate: content –what is being taughtprocess - how skill is taughtproduct - how students show what they have learned

“Homework”

• Sharing: Each student will share once a week, based on a specific topic. Make sure your child is prepared to show and/or tell about it.

• Reading: It is important to read to/with your child often. Talk about what is happening in the story or book.

By the end of Kindergarten, you can expect your child to…

• Hold a pencil/crayon correctly• Cut with scissors• Pay attention for longer periods of time• Follow directions• Know the basic shapes and colors• Recognize and write letters of the alphabet (upper and lower case)• Spell and write first and last name• Know the relationship between letters and sounds• Recognize sight words and read simple sentences• Retell a story that has been read aloud• Identify numbers to 20• Count by ones, fives, and tens

Communication/Conferences• Please check green folders every night for important information.• Email is the best source of contact

• Please send in an actual note if dismissal plans change from the regular schedule. If dismissal plans change during the day, please call the main office.

• My monthly newsletter covers everything we are learning in the classroom.

• My website has resourceful links and great photos of our class!

• Conferences are Nov. 5 (in the evening) and Nov. 6 (afternoon) An email with a link will be sent soon for you to sign up for a conference ( www.signupgenius.com )

How can you be involved?

• You must be Helping Hands trained. See the Guilford Lakes website for available training dates

• School wide and PTO Activities (Book Fair, Field Day, Festivals, Fundraisers)

• Classroom “Mystery Readers”• Lion Pride Assembly (February)• Writing Celebrations (a couple times a year)

Thanks for visiting your child’s classroom!

Additional Information and Support for Parents:

• Bridges in Mathematics website:www.mathlearningcenter.org

• More information on Bridges in Mathematics, 2nd edition:www.mathlearningcenter.org/bridges/overview

• More information on Number Corner, 2nd edition:www.mathlearningcenter.org/nc/overview

• Support for Families by grade level:www.mathlearningcenter.org/support/bridges