Welcome to Kindergarten! Michelle Pisauro michelle.pisauro@lz95.org Allison Moyer allison.moyer@lz95.org (847) 438-2351

May Whitney’s Vision! Everyone feels safe, respected, and confident as a learner and an individual. Academic growth is evident and valued. Students and teachers have a growth mindset with high expectations for learning. Students, staff, and parents work together to achieve success.

Feedback, Grading & Homework Policy As a staff we have reflected on our feedback, grading, and homework practices to ensure they are positively impacting student achievement & their mindset towards their work. Look for more info in our next newsletter!

Professional Learning Our professional learning will impact your child’s education. Here are the professional learning experiences we have this year as a district and building. 1. Full-day Kindergarten (K teachers only) 2. Common Core State Standards Math (1st & 2nd grade) Literacy (3rd-5th grade) 3. New writing materials (K-5) 4. Book Study: Comprehension & Collaboration: Inquiry Circles for Curiosity, Engagement, and Understanding 5. Inquiry Learning – writing one unit in science or SS so our students can experience this kind of learning. Please note Dr. Osburn’s summer newsletter that was sent to all community members – MW was highlighted for this kind of learning.

Some of our learning… Saying and writing his/her first and last name. Recognizing the letters of the alphabet and their sounds. Recognizing shapes and colors. Counting up to 30 items. Recognizing the numbers from 0-30. Listening to stories and talking about them. Reading and writing sight words. Reading books (listening to and reading to self). Writing daily in a journal, making sure the illustration matches the writing.

Curriculum Reading- Reading Fundamentals Writing- Writing Fundamentals Handwriting- Handwriting without Tears Phonics- Jolly Phonics Math- Origo Science- National Geographic Social Studies- TCI

Reading Classrooms are moving to a workshop model for literacy instruction. Components of a reading workshop model include read alouds, direct instruction mini-lessons, small group instruction, time for independent practice, writing about reading, conferring with the teacher and time for collaborative conversations. Students will read and work with a wide variety of authentic literature and trade books.  Reading Fundamentals is the series K-5 classrooms will use to guide reading instruction. Each Unit of Study includes mentor texts, a variety of leveled books for guided reading and independent reading, and a selection of digital shared teaching resources that systematically integrate reading skill/strategy instruction with the study of genre. For more information visit www.schoolwide.com. Raz-Kids- online program with leveled books. Phonics- Jolly Phonics-letter sounds taught through movements

When you read a story to your child… Help your child touch the words as you read from left to right and from top to bottom Have your child identify sight words they know. Ask your child questions about what was read. Have your child tell you what he/she remembers about the story. Have conversations about the story, make connections to your child.

Concepts of Print Where is the front of the book? Where is the back of the book? Point to the title on the cover. Point to the first word on the page. Point to the last word on the page. Talk about the picture. Use your finger to show them how to track the words. Show them where they go on each page and from page to page. Show them how the pictures match the words.

Writing Handwriting Without Tears- teaches correct letter formation (always start letters at the top!) This year District 95 elementary classrooms are implementing a new writing curriculum using the Schoolwide Fundamentals Writing Units. It mirrors the reading curriculum and is aligned to the Common Core standards. Writing instruction will also be taught using a workshop model in which students will experience direct instruction, guided instruction and time for independent writing practice. Within the writing instruction, students will learn narrative, informational/explanatory, and opinion writing. Journal Writing Writing Center

Math Stepping Stones by Origo is the series used in K-5 classrooms. Stepping Stones is an online teaching resource that is fully aligned to the Common Core State Standards. Students have print journals, but there will not be a printed mathematics textbook. The focus of the Stepping Stones series is an emphasis on conceptual development of mathematics. You can expect your child to have many hands-on experiences with manipulatives and visual representations in addition to traditional computation. Number sense and fact fluency will continue to be emphasized. Math Center Subitizing

Science/Social Studies Science- Each grade studies units on earth, life, and physical science topics over the course of the school year. The current text resource for science instruction is National Geographic Science. The series offers a broad range of print and digital resources as students engage in science study and inquiry. Social Studies- K-1 teachers introduce students to concepts of family and community life.

Specials PE: Thursday 12:45-1:15 please make sure your child is wearing gym shoes and clothes they can move in! Library: Friday 12:45-1:15 please make sure your child brings their book back. They can’t check out another book if they haven’t returned their book!

Growth Mindset Classroom In our classroom and our school we believe in ourselves! “I Can!” not “I Can’t.” Embracing challenges Giving our best effort Learning from feedback

Important information Extra clothing (labeled) to keep at school Snack-nut free, milk Absences- coming up… Homework/purple folder- check every day Birthday Treats- coming up… Book Orders- Scholastic Conference sign up Mystery Reader Sign Up- 2 kid friendly books! PTO Newsletter-Going Green!

Birthday Celebrations! We will celebrate your son/daughter with a crown and a song. If you wish to send something in with your child you are able to, however, there are no consumable birthday treats allowed. If you are going to send in something with your child, please send in something tangible (stickers, pencils etc.) Please do not feel like you have to send in anything, we will celebrate no matter what!

Absences If your child is going to be absent, please call the attendance line (847) 540-3900 Please email or call us!

Behavior… We encourage learning appropriate behavior, and know that the children are 5 and 6 years old! We will help children learn the difference between appropriate and inappropriate behaviors. The children have generated a list of rules for the class, please continue to review the class/school rules with your child. Blue- Excellent behavior Green- Ready to learn Yellow- Think about it/warning Red- Parent contact (multiple warnings)

If you need to reach us… Email is best! allison.moyer@lz95.org or michelle.pisauro@lz95.org Phone: (847)438-2351 Send a note in your child’s purple folder! If your child is going home a different way than we normally send them home we need a note! We believe in fostering a positive school/home relationship. You are your child’s first teacher, and we want to partner on this journey with you. Please let us know if you have any questions or comments, we can’t fix/change/help what we don’t know about!

Questions…