1. Back to School Night September 12, 2013 Gwynedd Square Elementary School Kindergarten Mrs. Cooper

2. Agenda  Meet the Teacher  Contact Information  Curriculum Overview  Homework Policy  Behavior Policy  Miscellaneous  Helping Suggestions  Questions???

3. Meet Mrs. Cooper  Welcome to Kindergarten!  A bit about me…

4. Contact Information  Email: cooperam@npenn.orgcooperam@npenn.org  Voicemail: (215) 855-4331, extension 4600  Twitter (@Mandi_Cooper)  Please do not use Twitter for direct messaging, though. Please use email, a phone call, or a note.

5. Curricular Overview ~ Math  Go Math ~ newly adopted math program that addresses Common Core Standards  http://www.npenn.org//Domain/1182 http://www.npenn.org//Domain/1182  H:\Math\Parent Letter Intro Go Math 9-10-13.docx H:\Math\Parent Letter Intro Go Math 9-10-13.docx  Math Night ~ date and location to be announced

6. Curricular Overview ~ Language Arts  Harcourt Trophies Program  Literature based  Strong emphasis on phonemic awareness and phonics  Students are expected to identify letters and their sounds, write uppercase and lowercase letters, and blend letter sounds into words  Kid Writing  Zaner-Bloser (handwriting)  Guided Reading and Centers  RTII (Star Time)  http://www.npenn.org/cms/lib/PA09000087/Centricity/Dom ain/631/RtII_brochure.pdf http://www.npenn.org/cms/lib/PA09000087/Centricity/Dom ain/631/RtII_brochure.pdf  Parents Go To Kindergarten ~ October 24th

7. Curricular Overview ~ Science  We cover three science units:  Five Senses – 1 st Marking Period  Paper / Paper Making – 2 nd Marking Period  Ladybugs – 3 rd Marking Period *We will also visit the high school’s planetarium later this year!

8. Curricular Overview ~ Social Studies  We cover five social studies units:  Who We Are  Communities  Work  The USA  Our Earth *Most of our social studies content is integrated with language arts.

9. Homework Policy  Kindergarten students receive homework beginning in October. Homework serves a variety of purposes. It is meant to be an adjunct to what we are learning in school and it helps your child make connections between what we are learning and the real world outside of school. It also serves as a communication tool to let you know what types of things we are studying. It is meant to be an enjoyable experience for you and your child! I may occasionally send home an activity that your child did not finish in school to be completed at home. There will be a note written on the paper letting you know that it should be completed and sent back to school should this occur.

10. Homework Policy (continued)  Weekly Ask Me sheets will be sent home on the first day of each week. They should be completed throughout the week, signed by a parent, and returned on the last day of the week.  Math homework – workbook or pages?  Homework assignments are designed to be flexible to meet a variety of student needs.

11. Behavior Policy  We generated a list of rules as a class (with teacher guidance) that should be followed while in our classroom and at Gwynedd Square so that all children may learn and have fun in a safe, caring environment. We discuss these rules often, especially during the first couple of weeks of school, emphasizing why we have specific rules and encouraging students to make “good kindergarten choices.”

12. Behavior Policy (continued)  Room 116 Rules  Use a quiet voice.  Raise your hand.  Use kind words.  Take care of our school.  Be safe – always walk.  Be a good listener and follow directions.  Keep your hands, feet, and objects to yourself.

13. Behavior Policy (continued)  A multi-tiered approach to behavior:  Banks, tickets, and lots of positive reinforcement!  Table stars – foster cooperation between classmates  Clothespin plan

14. Miscellaneous Information  Report Cards – three times per year  Conferences - 1-2 per year (November and Spring)  Ask Me Sheet– sent home most weeks in the beginning of the week  Early Dismissals and Delayed Openings

15. Helpful Suggestions  Read everyday.  Count often.  Share your child’s enthusiasm for learning.  Ask lots of open-ended questions.  Be involved in your child’s education.  Do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher with any questions or concerns. A strong connection between home and school greatly impacts learning!

16.  Questions???