1. Kindergarten Back to School Night Mrs. Laura Buffington West Manheim Elementary 2015-2016

2. Other School Personnel Mrs. Matthews- classroom para educator Mrs. Hartlaub- Reading Support Teacher Mrs. Helt- Student Achievement Coach Mr. Kolb- School Counselor

3. Fine Motor Development Fundations- handwriting program Handwriting- pencil grip and formation Skills assessed: Prints first name Cuts accurately Writes numerals 0-9 with a model

4. Literacy Development Various Phonemic Awareness Activities, Poetry, Phonics Lessons; Guided Reading; Kid Writing

5. Literacy Development Skills assessed- Reading –Letter/Word Work Recites alphabet Names capital/lower case letters Recognizes high frequency words (50) –Phonetic Awareness Says rhyming words Identifies letter sounds Blends sounds Segments sounds

6. Guided Reading Groups based on child’s ability (reading level or skill/strategy need) Centers (computer, math, ABC/word work, library/listening/ Tag, writing/art, fine arts/puppets, etc.) Skills Assessed: Comprehension at instructional level (with-in and beyond text) Books will come home in “reading bags.” If name is on book keep at home, otherwise return to school the next day

7. The Philosophy Of Kid Writing Children learn best in risk-free environments with high levels of challenge and support Children need many opportunities to write about topics of their own choosing. Children learn best through social interaction with a more knowledgeable peer or adult.

8. Children need frequent, ongoing opportunities to play with written language and investigate how written language works. We need to help children do their own phonics-based writing or kid writing rather than taking dictation from children. Our expectations of children’s writing send the empowering message, “YOU CAN DO IT!” Taking dictation sends the self-limited message, “You can’t, so I will do it for you.”

9. Steps of Kid Writing Child draws a story picture and tells his or her “story” to an adult. Child writes the story using “kid writing”. The adult helps the child sound out words the child does not yet know how to spell. Beginning writers often do not leave spaces between words and use only consonants. We have used space man to help them with spacing.

10. At the beginning of the year, we may only see one consonant sound or several for each word. As the year progresses, we will encourage the children to stretch the word out and try to write as many sounds as they hear. The adult underwrites the child’s story in “adult writing” - using a pencil. Please be careful about spelling, use capital letters only where they belong, and your writing should be smaller than the child’s and is usually at the bottom of the page.

11. 1 sound for each word - not always the first sound, spaces between words, voice to print match

12. Use of magic line as place holder for unknown word, 1 or 2 sounds per word, spaces between words, voice to print match

13. 1 or several sounds per word, word “the” and “a”, spaces between words, voice to print match

14. If a child identifies the letter sound, but has no idea how to write that letter, refer to the alphabet chart and show the child how to write the letter, using the dry erase board. Remember to praise the child for his or her attempts and to ignore the mistakes. However if a child wants to write an incorrect letter for a sound, guide them to the correct letter. It is important to guide the child to put a written form for each word in their story - we call this voice to print match.

15. Expectations The picture should match and support the story. The picture needs to have enough detail. The adult will help to sound out and stretch the words. It is fine for the other students to help with this.

16. Kid Writing Skills Assessed Uses appropriate sounds to write Uses spaces between words Uses basic sight words Writes story with related ideas

17. Math Development EveryDay Math Skills assessed (various other skills will be introduced and practiced) –Counts to 100 –Recognizes basic geometric shapes (triangle, square, rectangle, circle, rhombus, trapezoid, hexagon) –Counts 20 or more objects –Reads any number to 20 –Counts by 10s to 100 –Writes any number to 20

18. Social Development Obeys school and classroom rules Works well independently Completes tasks to the best of ability Demonstrates responsibility Listens attentively Works cooperatively with others Adjusts to changes in routine Shows evidence of self-control

19. Other Curricular Areas Science Social Studies Technology Health (no grade on report card in these areas)

20. Report Cards Students will be evaluated on a 3+, 3, 2, 1 scale for motor, literacy and math development: 3+ This is an area of strength for your child. 3 Your child demonstrates a complete understanding of this skill as presented this trimester. He/she is able to perform the skill consistently and independently. 2 Your child demonstrates an understanding of this skill as presented in this marking period. He/she needs assistance and/or practice to perform this skill consistently and independently. 1 Your child is in the process of building his or her understanding of this skill. He/she is not yet able to perform this skill consistently and independently. A blank indicates your child was not assessed this marking period. For social development students will earn an (S) if they are making satisfactory progress and an (N) if he/she needs improvement. Envelopes- sign and return each trimester Conferences- with all families in October; as needed the rest of the year

21. Behavior WM STAR rules are: Strive to do your best Take responsibility for your actions Always be safe Respect people and property Minor and major infraction sheets will come home as needed.

22. Homework Start with handwriting practice (Weekly with newsletter on Mondays, after we have learned all of the letters this will change to other skill work. Return by the following Monday) Book-n-Bag (1-2 per month; family may assist; students will read to class and keep at school for rereading) Math (Home Link with certain lessons, do not return unless specified on the paper) Reading Log (30 min/week, sent home monthly, cut off and return for one week at a time on Mondays)

23. Kindergarten Club Mrs. Hartlaub (reading teacher) AM 10:30-11:00 PM 11:15-11:45 Parent must be able to transport

24. Miscellaneous Information Daily Message Star of the Week Surprise Bag Book Orders Highlights Orders

25. What can you do? Sign up for Remind- Receive text or email updates and reminders right from me Sign up for Seesaw- See what your child has been working on in class (access online or using app for mobile devices) These are new for us this year and we ask for your patience in working out potential issues.

26. What does my child need to be a learner? Water (lots of it!) Food (less processed, less sugar and refined flours, more fruits and veggies) And…

27. Sleep!

28. For more information… Visit http://prek.swsd.wikispaces.net/http://prek.swsd.wikispaces.net/ and http://laurabuffington.swsd.wikispaces.net/ http://laurabuffington.swsd.wikispaces.net/

29. Wish List Soft tissues Fun-shaped hole punchers White and colored cotton balls Brown paper grocery bags with handles Sponges Gel pens, smelly markers Bingo daubers (various colors) Sharpees (various colors) Aluminum foil Play dough Individual CD/tape players for listening center AA and AAA Rechargeable Batteries (for Tag readers and CD/tape players)

30. Remember, you are your child’s first and most important teacher!

31. Thank you for coming tonight!