Who is this teacher? Kindergarten Handbook Curriculum Continuous Quality Improvement Title 1 Information Forms and Questions

Hi! My name is Sue Thomas. I have a son who attends Missouri State University as a Junior this year. My husband, Brian and I have been married for two years. I have been teaching Kindergarten for 17 years. I have taught in Platte County for 11 years. I went to University of Central Missouri and doubled majored in Early Childhood and Elementary Education 1 st -8 th. I received my Masters of Education at Baker University. Sports: Soccer, Football and BaseballStore: Target Food: Italian Hobbies: Exercise and cooking Subject: ReadingColor: Black/Red

Classroom Management Procedures STAR folders Snack/Birthdays/Classroom Parties

Jolly Phonics- Jolly Phonics is a fun and child centered approach to teaching literacy through synthetic phonics. With actions for each of the 42 letter sounds, the multi-sensory method is very motivating for children and teachers, who can see their students achieve. The letter sounds are split into seven groups. The sounds are taught in a specific order (not alphabetically). This enables children to begin building words as early as possible. Click here for letter songs.here Homework will be daily! Once letter sounds have started, tricky words (sight words) will start soon after. A folder for Jolly sounds and a tricky word bag with decodables books will be sent home daily and will need to be brought back to school. PLEASE DO NOT WORK AHEAD and DO NOT MARK or GET RID OF DECODABLES!!!! Handwriting- Linda DornLinda Dorn Teachers use many resourceful tools to help us teach with rigor in our classroom. Here are just a few:

Workshop Model- The workshop model is designed to access the range of ways that children learn and acquire knowledge—from listening to the teacher model a skill to hands-on learning opportunities. It is a rigorous and challenging, yet affirming, educational model that generally consists of the following components: Mini lesson, independent practice, conferring, and sharing student learning. Good Habits Good Readers- This program is a comprehensive balanced literacy program. The program provides a balance of flexibility and structure to support literacy learning through whole-group (Shared) and small-group (Guided) instruction. Envisions- This new program develops conceptual understanding through daily Problem- Based Interactive Learning and step-by-step Visual Learning. It is a hands-on approach paired with the workshop model and centers.

QCI focuses on student ownership in their learning by goal setting and creating their own action plan to reach their goals. Each student will set an individual goal each quarter that they will work on at home and school to reach. As a class, we will also set goals each quarter to work on together. It is so much fun when we meet our goal and get to celebrate!

Pathfinder Title I Information

Parent Involvement Plan The Platte County R-3 School District values partnerships involving home, school and community members to assist in the development of our students. The district recognizes that parental involvement raises academic achievement levels for students. Public Law , No Child Left Behind; reinforces the importance of parental involvement within the school system.

Please see the handout provided for information about ways that Pathfinder will provide Parental Involvement. In addition, as the parent of a child attending a school that receives federal funds, you have certain rights. These may also be found on the provided handout. If you have any feedback or changes to suggest, please Ms. Domeny, Assistant Principal at Pathfinder and Barry, at Parent Involvement Plan

Please turn in any forms (i.e. signing in for tonight's meeting, conference sign up, handbook sign off, office forms, etc…) I will be here for the next few minutes to answer any questions but as always feel free to me! Thank you for taking the time to meet with me tonight!