Welcome to Kindergarten!

Our team members are: Alicia Holter (ITL) Kristina Rainier (teacher) Candace Beasley (teacher) Crystal West (PE) ? (.5 PE in AM)

Our Schedule
8:35 Students enter building 8:45 Late bell rings 8:45-10:30 Language Arts 10:30-11:30 (recess/lunch) 11:30-11:50 Content

Our Schedule
11:50-12:50 Related Arts 1:00-1:15 Snack 1:15-2:30 Math 2:30-3:00 Free Choice 3:15 Dismissal

Guided Reading

Differentiated groups based on assessments (flexible/changing) Ongoing assessments Formal groups begin in October Rotations (PE, centers, teacher, seatwork) Integration of Science/Social Studies Take Home Books

Core Curriculum in Math

Begins in Kindergarten in 2011 Helps create consistent curriculum throughout the state and across the country in states that have adopted it Howard County has worked to align our curriculum with these new standards. www.corestandards.org

Common Core Changes

Fewer objectives More focused on number sense and problem solving No longer includes fractions, time, money, or weight as measurement Counting to 100 by ones (practice this at home) Counting on from numbers other than one (start at 29 and count to 40)

Math
Hands-on approach Learning through games Classes remain in homeroom Games differentiated Calendar Math Number Talk

New Guidelines for Above Grade Level Students

Students will work on Kindergarten objectives through October. Students who are exhibiting above grade level performance will then be given the End Of Year Kindergarten Math assessment. If they score 90% or above, the teacher will use First Grade objectives with those students.

Above Grade Level Students

Students will not be marked above grade level on their report card until the end of the school year. Students may need to review some Kindergarten concepts. This status will be determined after administering the End of Year Common Core First Grade Math Assessment.

Science Units
Information is integrated with Reading, Writing and Art Units are: Weather (changing seasons) Water (water cycle, freezing/melting) Living Things (needs, animal groups) Human Impact on the Environment

Homework
Fast Start Reading Program One poem each week. Activities suggested for your childs reading level. Rereading the poem helps to develop fluency Increases sight word vocabulary Math homeworkworksheet Special homework/Take-home books- on occasion Homework will be sent home every Monday and is due back every Friday so teachers can prepare new work.

Field Trips
October--- Pumpkin patch/farm

March--- Howard Co. Library May--- The Maryland Zoo

Book It Program
Sponsored by Pizza Hut Students earn a free personal pizza from Pizza Hut when they reach their goal for the month Reading goal forms will be sent home each month Return forms at the end of the month to receive coupons Coupons do have an expiration date (May 1, 2013) Program begins October 1st and runs through March

E-mail
Candace_beasley@hcpss.org aholter@hcpss.org krainier@hcpss.org

Additional Information
Whenever there is a change in your childs transportation please send a note or call the school. Your child will follow their normal routine unless we have a note or phone call. Need to know the name of a person picking up your child. We WILL check ID so make sure they bring it. Also, put the names of all people who may be picking up your child on their Emergency forms and KEEP THESE FORMS UPDATED WITH CURRENT PHONE NUMBERS.

Questions?????
We are looking forward to working with you this year and value your input as your childs first teacher. Please dont hesitate to contact us for any questions or concerns that you may have.