Welcome!

Kindergarten Information Session

March 6, 2014

Kindergarten

“Tell me, I will forget. Show me, I may remember. Involve me, and I will understand.” – Ancient Proverb

Daily Schedule• 7:30-7:50 Morning Work and

Announcements• 7:50-8:05 Morning Meeting• 8:05-8:35 Writing• 8:40-9:25 Specials• Monday

– Music• Tuesday

– Computer Lab/Science Lab/ Media Center/ Guidance

• Wednesday – P.E.

• Thursday

– Art• Friday

– P.E.

• 9:30-10:00 Snack and Whole Group Reading

• 10:00-11:30 Reading Groups/Literacy Centers

• 11:30-11:50 Calendar Math• 11:50-11:55 Restroom• 11:55-12:25 Lunch• 12:30-1:20 Math Groups• 1:20-1:35 Recess• 1:40-2:10 Science/Social

Studies• 2:10-2:15 Pack-up/

Announcements• 2:20 Dismissal

ReadingWhole Group Instruction We… -use ‘Big Books’ to introduce concepts of print such as one-to-one correspondence,

tracking left-to-right and top-to-bottom. -introduce/reinforce skills through interactive projectors.

Differentiated Reading Groups We use differentiated groups to meet the learning needs of each student. Students are

able to read at their “just right” level daily. Some of the skills taught in reading groups include: -Letter Identification -Letter/Sound Correspondences -Sight Words -Word Families -Decoding Strategies -Comprehension -Story Elements (setting, characters, plot, etc)

Learning Centers and Assistants Skills are reinforced through independent learning centers and activities led by classroom assistants

MathCalendar Math -Days of the Week -Place Value -Months of the Year -Date -Graphing -Days of School

Whole Group InstructionWe utilize Math Story Books and Interactive LCD Projectors to introduce and review mathematical concepts.

Differentiated Math Groups We meet the learning needs of each student when covering the following units in greater depth: -Unit 1: Sophisticated Shapes -Unit 2: Counting with Friends -Unit 3: Comparing Numbers -Unit 4: Measurement -Unit 5: Investigating Addition and Subtraction -Unit 6: Further into Addition and Subtraction -Unit 7: Review Unit

Writer’s Workshop(divided into four sections)

• Mini-lessonTeacher will introduce/review a skill that is appropriate for students (ex: spacing words)

• Writing TimeStudents work on self-directed writing projects (applying the skills they have learned).

• Conference TimeThe Teacher meets with students to review writing and provide feedback on the student’s writing.

• Sharing TimeA sharing schedule is created in order to give each student an opportunity to share his/her writing with the class.

During the year, we will focus on three genres of writing: narrative, informational, and opinion

Science/Social Studies/Health

• Welcome to School• Bus Safety• All About Me• Maps/Globes• Colors• Five Senses• Fall• Pumpkins• Apples• Bats• Owls• Native Americans• Pilgrims• Thanksgiving• Kwanzaa

• Hanukah• Christmas• Snowmen• Polar Animals• Penguins• 100th Day of School• Black History• Dental Health• Presidents• Community Helpers• Transportation• Farm Animals• Spring• Butterflies• Oceans

Skills are taught through the following grade level themes:

STEMScience Technology Engineering Math

• STEM is an educational initiative that integrates engineering in the fields of science and math while incorporating the use of technology.

STEM at Woodland– STEM club– Navy SeaPerch Underwater Robotics– Cubelets– STEM days

Supporting Academic Programs

• SuccessMaker (math and reading)• IXL.com (math)• Radical Reader• Math Maniacs• Field Trips

Assessments• GKIDS (Georgia Kindergarten Inventory of Developing

Skills) – The baseline is completed in August. Teachers update student progress through out the year using data from formal assessments.

• Fountas & Pinnell Reading Assessment – Used to determine each student’s independent and instructional reading levels (basis for forming reading groups)

• Fluency Assessments – Sight words are assessed in September (5-10 wpm), February (20 wpm), and May (30 wpm).

• STAR Early Literacy-Computerized assessment that focuses on early reading skills. Provides areas of strength and weakness for the teacher

• Formal Assessments - Checklists, rubrics, and performance assessments

• Math Unit Assessments

Grading SystemS-SatisfactoryN-Needs ImprovementU-Unsatisfactory

• A Progress Skills Checklist will go home three times per year (September, February, May)

• Report cards go home four times per year (October, January, March, May)

• GKIDS Report (end-of-year)

Behavior ExpectationsClassroom Rules:• Students help the teacher create a set of

classroom rules during the first week of school. For example: -Treat everyone with respect. -Listen to your teachers. -Keep your body to yourself. -Be careful in the classroom.

Behavior Management PlanSchool-wide Behavior System: PRIDES. Each teacher is a

part of a pride Red, Yellow, Green or Blue. Students/classes can earn paws for good behavior, attendance, and outstanding work. The PRIDE with the most PAWs each nine weeks earns a celebration

Classroom Behavior System: This will be established by the teacher and communicated to the parents at the beginning of the year.

Possible Rewards: Possible Consequences: -Extra Privileges -Removal of materials -Charms -Time out - PAWs Daily Behavior Reports:Parents are informed of their child’s behavior on a daily basis.

Parent Involvement• Room Parent

-Works with the teacher to coordinate classroom parties and volunteer opportunities for parents.

• Classroom Volunteers-Donate party supplies/snacks-Assist the room parent during classroom parties

-Help tutor or work with a small group of students

• Classroom Mystery Readers -Many teachers have parents come in on a weekly basis to read to class.

*Other volunteer opportunities are communicated through school or classroom news.

Kindergarten Round-up!Thursday, May 8: 8:30- 10:00 amPerspective students will experience:Classroom visitBus tourCafeteria tour and snack

Parents may register at this event.Items needed for registration:• Birth certificate• Immunization record• Social Security card• Eye, ear, and dental form on the Georgia form• Proof of residency: lease or mortgage

Thanks for Coming!