Welcome to Back to School Night! SCIS - ECE ~Kindergarten~ Ms VanGestel

Welcome to Ms. VanGestel’s Class! -This is my third year in Shanghai - I am from Nova Scotia, Canada - I grew up overseas in International Schools. -I received my teaching degree in Canada. -I was in Bahrain (KG) and Thailand (1 st grade) before coming here. The last two years I taught 1 st grade at SCIS.

Ms. Anne Assistant in the classroom She also teaches Mandarin to some of the students

Typical Day Arrival & Morning Choices Morning Meeting Word Study/Handwriting Recess & Snack Reading Workshop World Languages (Mandarin/Dutch) Recess & Lunch Inquiry (Social Studies or Science) Writing Workshop Specialist Classes (PE, Music or Library) Math Centers Dismissal

Morning Arrival Children arrive 8:10-8:30am Unpack bag Take out their snack, water bottle and communication folder Morning Choices The morning routine helps children with the transition from home to school and promotes positive interaction with others.

Morning Meeting Children gather on the rug to: Greet one another Read morning message Review today’s schedule Review who the classroom helpers are Complete calendar

Word Study and Handwriting Word Study -An approach to spelling instruction -Explore phonemic awareness, letters and sounds, reading words and early reading concepts Handwriting (Handwriting Without Tears Program) -An approach to help students develop consistent habits in forming upper and lower case letters -Uses common language (i.e. big line, little line, big curve, little curve)

Recess (Morning and Lunch) 15 to 20 minutes of outdoor time twice a day Recess is usually outside except for Thursday mornings when we visit the indoor playroom Recess is held inside when it is a rainy or poor air quality day Recess gives children opportunities to interact with other Kindergarten students, develop their gross motor skills and learn social skills.

Literacy Reading Concepts of Print Decoding & Word Recognition Reading Comprehension Comprehension & Analysis of Grade- Level Appropriate Text Concepts in Kindergarten : Writing Handwriting & Word Study Ideas & Context Organization Voice Word Choice Sentence Fluency Conventions Presentation

Reading and Writing Workshop Begin with group lesson Practice implementing lesson with active engagement Link lesson to independent reading/writing time Teacher conferences and mini-lessons done individually or in small groups Share and review lesson goals at the end The workshop approach enables students to achieve success through a consistent routine. New concepts are introduced and scaffolded through guided practice.

Inquiry: Science and Social Studies Concepts in Kindergarten: Communities (SS) Natural Resources (Science) Cultural Awareness (SS) From Farm to Table (SS) Healthy Choices (Science) Life Cycle of Animals (Science)

Math Concepts in Kindergarten: Number Sense & Numeration Classification Positions & Patterns Data Management & Graphing Measurement (length, weight, capacity and time) Geometry, Fractions & Symmetry Money (local currency) Addition &Subtraction

Specialists Subjects Children develop their multiple intelligences by participating in these classes. MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFriday 10: :00 Mandarin ~Various Levels 10: :00 Mandarin ~Various Levels 10: :00 Mandarin ~Various Levels 10: :00 Mandarin ~Various Levels 10: :00 Mandarin ~Various Levels 1:00-1:40 P.E. ~Mr. Roselle (P.E. shoes!) 1:00-1:40 Music ~Ms. Babb 1:40 - 2:20 P.E. ~Mr. Roselle (P.E. shoes!) 1:40-2:20 Music ~Ms. Babb Library ~Ms. Keller (return books!)

Centre Time Arts and Crafts (i.e. paint, crayons, markers, colored pencils, oil pastels) Children develop social, emotional, cognitive and physical skills through center time. Fine Motor Skills (i.e. buttons, play dough, cards, Lego, various writing tools) Math Activities (i.e. file folder and computer games, linking chains, Unifix cubes, pattern blocks, puzzles) Literacy Activities (i.e. alphabet games, puzzles, computer games, magnetic letters) Dramatic Play Activities (i.e. kitchen centre, tools centre, castle, costumes, stuffed animals)

Communication Communication Folder Website his.net/nvangestel/ his.net/nvangestel/ Will respond to within 24 hours of sending - After 3:30 on Friday – respond by Monday afterschool Report Card (Quarterly written progress reports) Conferences (Fall & Spring)

Kelso’s Choices Big Problem vs. Small Problem

Transportation Procedure the transportation coordinator, Angela Hu at and CC me at if there are any changes one day in advance

Portfolios Portfolios will be digital this year More information to come later

Birthdays Please inform me a few days in advance if you wish to celebrate your child’s birthday. Birthday parties are held at 2:30. Please bring all supplies (plates, cups, forks, a knife, etc). Please do not bring gift bags for other students.

Volunteer Field trips Mystery Reader One volunteer I am looking for right now is a room parent

Room Parent Set up mystery reader on sign-up genius Organize class parties (International Day of Peace, Halloween, winter, end of year) Collect money from parents for a class fund There might be a few others things that come up as the year goes on as well If you are interested, please send me an !

Thanks for coming!