1. Welcome to Parent Information Night Kindergarten 2015-2016

2. Introductions Mrs. Kari Resch 14th Year teaching full day kindergarten at St. James 19 years experience BS in Education with emphasis in Early Childhood for USD. Endorsement in Special Education from Morningside. “If you can dream it, you can do it.” -Walt Disney

3. Introductions Miss Leane Snyder 5th year as a full-day kindergarten teacher at St. James Also worked in Glencoe #35, Schiller Park #81, and Roselle #12 Studied elementary education at Carthage College and Language and Literacy with Library Information Specialist at National- Louis University “ I love teaching kindergarten because the children grow so much from the beginning to the end of the school year. Helping them learn to read and write is very special.”

4. Introductions Miss Jessica Good 2nd year teaching at St. James School Previous experience in Western Springs #101 Bachelors in Elementary Education from Drake University with Reading Endorsement “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” Benjamin Franklin

5. Classroom Expectations Follow Classroom and School Rules – Individual Behavior Plan/Behavior Calendar Green, Yellow, and Red – Varies by teacher – Parents will be contacted when student ends the day on red – Whole Class Behavior Plan Each class is working on an incentive program to recognize excellent individual and whole group behavior

6. Important Information Mystery Bag – Circulates throughout class Birthdays – Celebrate with a snack from the SJS approved list – ½ birthdays will be celebrated – Birthday reader is welcome to share a story Scholastic Reading Club – Book order forms and code Family Heritage Project – February – 15 minute presentations

7. Important Information Community Helpers – Parents visit and share about their jobs Field Trips – Goebbert’s Pumpkin Farm in October Lottery for parent volunteers – End-of-the-year Picnic Second Step – Teaches social/emotional skills for school and life Artist Awareness – Parent volunteers introduce children to varied artists

8. Homework Read for 15-20 minutes every night Practice Jolly Phonics sounds Practice high frequency words Word Box Homework – Starts in October Spelling Homework – Starts in January

9. Morning Schedule Calendar and Morning Meeting Jolly Phonics/Heggerty (phonemic awareness) Centers-all subjects Prayer/Snack Read Aloud Centers (continued) Daily Review Prayer

10. Snack Healthy snacks are encouraged – Fruits and vegetables – Cheese – Yogurt The SJS Snack List must be adhered to – allergies

11. Afternoon Schedule Lunch/Recess Brain Break Centers Free Play Recess/P.E. Prayer/Snack Pack Up Daily Review Prayer

12. Specials Music P.E. – ½ day once a week, full-day twice Technology – Integrated into curriculum Library – Starting week of 8/31 – ½ day twice a month, full-day once a week

13. Kindergarten Curriculum Reading: (MacMillan/McGraw-Hill Series) – Small Group Instruction – Heggerty Phonemic Awareness (Blue Book) – Jolly Phonics – Comprehension – High Frequency Words

14. Kindergarten Curriculum Language: – Six Traits Writing Ideas Conventions Organization Voice Word Choice Sentence Fluency We will start Six Traits in November.

15. Math Curriculum Aligned with Common Core Standards – Daily Practice and instruction towards mastery of concepts Number recognition Counting/One-to-one correspondence Addition and Subtraction Reading a Calendar Geometry Measurement – Use of manipulatives Cubes, dice, counters, pom-poms – Introduction of common terms

16. Science and Social Studies Curriculum Science: – Presented through informational nonfiction texts – Hands-on experiments Science Lab Social Studies: – Community helpers – Presented through informational nonfiction texts

17. Religion – Introduction to prayers – Creation – Noah’s Ark – Giving Thanks – Advent/Christmas – Angels – Family – Lent/Easter – Mary – Bible Stories

18. Grading Policy GradeDescription OOutstanding SSatisfactory IImproving NNeeds Improvement HHaving difficulty

19. What can you do to help? Encourage your child to read daily or read to you Check e-mail frequently for communication Read through the weekly newsletter on our website Check your child’s M.O.O.S.E. daily! Do not hesitate to contact us with concerns or questions

20. Contact Information Mrs. Kari Resch – kresch@stjamesschoolah.org kresch@stjamesschoolah.org Miss Leane Snyder – lsnyder@stjamesschoolah.org lsnyder@stjamesschoolah.org Miss Jessica Good – jgood@stjamesschoolah.org jgood@stjamesschoolah.org