Kindergarten Curriculum Night September 11, 2012

Agendas Main communication between school & home Transportation changes Absence notes Front pocket for money (lunch money or book fair money needs to be in a baggie with their name on it.

Thursday Folders Go home on Thursdays Keep all completed work at home Work marked as “Incomplete” or “Please finish”, etc. should be returned in agenda asap Return EMPTY folder on Friday morning

Homework Nightly reading – between 15 – 30 minutes (record in agenda on the correct day ) Can include reading to or reading by your child. Track the words as you read so your child can follow along. Nightly practice of sight words (must be recognized by “sight” – not sounding out)

Curriculum We use the Common Core State Standards for language arts and math (45 states have adopted this as their curriculum) We use the N.C. Essential Standards for Science We use the N.C. Essential Standards for Social Studies The Common Core State Standards provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in college and careers. With American students fully prepared for the future, our communities will be best positioned to compete successfully in the global economy. Provides consistency across the states. See: for more information.

Our Daily Schedule 7:30 - 8:00 - Unpack / Morning Enrichment 8:00 - 8:15 - Calendar 8:15 - 9:00 - Science (M, T, W) S.S. (Thur. Fri.) 9:00 - 9:50 - Specials (except Mondays – 2:10 – 3:00) 9: :00 – Snack 10: :00 – Literacy (Shared Reading, Words their Way, Reader’s Workshop, Writer’s Workshop) 12: :30 – Recess (except Wednesdays we have free choice centers) 12: :40 Prepare for lunch 12:40 – 1:05 – Lunch 1:05-1:15 – Bathroom Break 1:15– 2:30 – Math 2:30 – 3:00 – Interactive Read Aloud 3:00 - Dismissal

Specials Monday – Computers (Ms. Geary)/ Science Lab (Ms. Buchanan) alternate weeks Tuesday – Media (Mr. Green) Wednesday – PE (Miss Viapiano) Thursday – Music (Mr. Ablan) Friday – Art (Mrs. Starnes)

Science Themes (integrated through the general curriculum as much as possible) Animals Plants Weather (including seasons) Matter Moving Right Along (simple machines) 1 lab lesson in the classroom each week Science Lab as special every other week

Social Studies Themes Families Unique Individuals Citizenship Changes (over time, within the community) Holidays and special days in the community Geography (simple maps and symbols) Economic concepts (wants & needs) Technology (transportation, media, computers)

Literacy Throughout the year, we will work on the following skills: Identification of letters & letter sounds Phonemic awareness: the ability to distinguish and manipulate individual sounds (phoneme isolation, phoneme identity, phoneme substitution, oral segmenting, oral blending, sound deletion, onset-rime manipulations (i.e. j- ump, st-op, str-ong). Listening Comprehension Sight Words (know by sight – not sounding out)

What is balanced literacy? A balanced approach to literacy instruction combines language and literature-rich activities associated with holistic reading instruction with the explicit teaching of skills as needed to develop the fluency and comprehension that proficient readers possess. Such instruction stresses the love of language, gaining meaning from print, and instruction of phonics in context. The Balanced Literacy approach to reading instruction incorporates many reading strategies in order to meet the varying needs of all students. Some of the components of the approach include phonemic awareness and phonics instruction, reading aloud to children, independent reading, guided reading, shared reading and literacy centers for independent practice. Balanced Literacy

Balanced literacy cultivates the skills of reading, writing, thinking, speaking, and listening for all students. Balanced literacy allows for flexibility within the classroom. It allows the teacher to meet each child where he/she is and move him/her forward in the manner and time best suited to the individual. Balanced Literacy Cont.

What does Balanced Literacy look like in the classroom? Shared Reading: A selection of text in which the students and teacher read the same poem, story, etc. (10 – 10:20 am) Words Their Way: This is the word study portion of our literacy time. The students will be identifying letters, sounds, words, and definitions using word sorts. (10:20 – 11:00) Reader’s Workshop: A time for the students to interact with age appropriate text independently, with a partner (shared reading), or with the teacher. (11 – 11:30)

Writer’s Workshop – (11:30 – 12:00) Interactive Read Aloud – “A teaching context in which students are actively listening and responding to an oral reading of a text.” The Continuum of Literacy Learning, Grades K-2. A Guide to Teaching, page 163. (2:30 – 3:00) What does Balanced Literacy look like?

Literacy Themes Off to School Finding Friends By the Sea Stick to It My Shadow Teamwork Ready, Set, Grow Red, White, and Blue Windy Days

Writer’s Workshop Lucy Caulkins – Writer’s Workshop Predictable Charts (I am, I see, etc.) Telling stories through pictures (5 color rule) Labeling pictures with letters / sounds (inventive spelling- don’t panic!) Writing short sentences to tell a story across 3 fingers (by end of year)

What is inventive spelling? Deer pair ants, Ur stoodnt wil b brnging hom riting, doo not b skaird ov the speling. The inglish langwij iz kunfewzing two lern. Cidz uz “phonetic” speling in thair wrk to xpres thair thouts. Foursing cidz too uz cunvenshunal speling reedoss thair dezir and abillite to right. It iz mi joub to teech ur child 2 uz reesorsis and lerning to beecum a grate ritr. U can hlp ur child bi incoruging thim at eech divelupmentil stag. Axk ur child to reed and esplane thair riting to u. Az ur child lerns about the inglish langwij that wil mak the tranzishun to “adult writing”. Thank u 4 ur saport, Mrs. Boes

Math Investigations (hands-on exploration) Number sense Problem solving Counting and cardinality (to 100 by 1’s and 10’s, write numbers to 20, etc) Algebra (addition & subtraction) Number & Operations (place value 11 – 19) Measurement & Data (compare, graphing) Geometry (identify 2-D and 3-D shapes, compare)

What is PBIS? PBIS stands for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Majors vs. Minors Office Referrals Are you making a good choice? What should you be doing? Interventions – time away, loss of privilege What is a bee? What are “bee” incentives?

Bee Incentives 25 = candy 50 = hat day 75 = recess on PE day 100 = wacky hair day 125 = pajama day 150 = class choice with teacher approval 175 = game day on non-PE day of recess 200 = educational video at 2:15 on a Friday

Have You Filled A Bucket Today? School-wide character building theme based on the book: Have You Filled A Bucket Today? By David Messing. The Bucket-Filling school program has several CURRICULUM GOALS : 1. To teach children how to reach out and express love, respect and appreciation to others 2. To help children become other-centered rather than self-centered 3. To help children express their feelings (good and bad) in a healthy manner 4. To help children understand where feelings originate and how to protect their feelings from being hurt 5. To establish a framework for more constructive words and actions and less bullying 6. To create more positive home and school environments CONCEPTS LEARNED: Bucket Filling (showing love and respect for others) Bucket Dipping (bullying)

Progress Reports & Report Cards Grading Scale (3, 2, 1) Progress Reports are sent home mid quarter Shows progress toward the end of the quarter Sign and return progress report Report Cards – manila sheet needs to be signed and returned in report card envelope 1 st quarter conferences will be held in October. Conferences will be held on an as needed basis thereafter.

Miscellaneous Pay Pams is the easiest way to pay lunch money Please send an easy-to-open snack each day Scholastic Book Clubs – class/parent gifts Sight Word List Check my wiki page often for information