Welcome to Kindergarten!With The Kindergarten Team…

Mrs. Jeanne Cano

Ms. Stephanie Casper

Ms. Nancy Randolph

Mrs. Satya Kennedy

August 2016

A new adventure begins!

Principal/Parent/

Teacher/Student Contracts:

All parents must have a signed

contract on file in the office.

Parents/guardians may choose to sign

the form and turn them right back to

the teacher TONIGHT!

[Third Graders will also receive a letter about MOWR for folks at home. ]

3 B’s of Good Behavior

Be safe.

Be respectful.

Be responsible.

Behavior & K “Token system” Students have one

green, yellow, red

token on their desks.

Daily goal is to keep

all tokens.

We don’t expect

perfection, but look

for efforts to maintain

& to comply to

reasonable requests.

Behavior is marked

each day on

Homework Report.

SPARC room…(See handbook for more information.)

Rewards…

Verbal praise

Stickers and stamps

3 B coupons

Special privileges

Extra explore time

Extra computer time

Fun Friday Activities

On school mornings…

Get up early enough to not

be rushed.

Make sure you have needed

items (KTA folder, library book,

homework, snack) in your backpack.

Eat a healthy breakfast.

Turn your brain on high!

Morning Class Responsibilities

Empty backpacks at table independently.

Student puts water bottles & snacks in

proper place.

Student gets out lunchbox for lunch count &

place lunchboxes in basket/bin.

Put library books in basket/bin.

Take out daily blue KTA folder to be

reviewed (with completed homework).

Zip backpacks & put away backpacks in

cubbies.

Arizona College and Career

Readiness Standards Increased academic rigor

Goal setting & tracking progress

Helps to identify learning styles &

strengths

Promotes independence & responsibility

as well as cooperation & collaboration

skills

Promotes communication skills

Preparation for Standardized Testing

Spalding

Daily Oral Phonogram Practice (OPR) Students will receive phonogram practice cards to

use for homework at home (keep in your “kit.”)

Daily Written Phonogram Practice (WPR)

Grammar and Language Use

Text Structure and Literary Appreciation

Quizzes on Friday on phonograms and

dictation words (beginning around Nov.)

In class spelling notebooks will be used

Reading Notes

High Frequency ,“Sight” Words plus frequently used wordsFlash cards will be provided & daily Spalding notebooks are important! Identify in print, read & use in personal writing

Phonemic Awareness - playing with and recognizing patterns in language.

Phonics - understanding how oral language is represented in written form.

Decoding - applying phonetic knowledge to decipher text -- sound, sound, blend.

Comprehension understanding, and interpreting read text.

Scholastic Book Clubs:Flyers may come home with homework.Option to order online with a credit card.This is not a fundraiser, only an easy way to get cheap books.Couldn’t be easier & is an optional choice.

Library books may be kept for a full week but are due on the assigned library day. Your child may return his/her

book early if desired.

Helpful Hints for Reading at Home

Listen to your child

read the text 3 times.

Help with tricky

words: many can be

sounded out.

Keep the paper books

& revisit them to help

with fluency.

Celebrate growth (e.g.

HFW acquisition,

fluency, &

comprehension)

Review front cover, title

page, the jobs of author &

illustrator.

Have your child retell the

story in his/her own words.

Let your child see

you reading for

enjoyment & a

purpose.

Writing Notes

Please do not spell

words for your child.

For free writing tasks,

accept phonetic

approximations.

Praise efforts.

Kindergarten writing

looks different from grown-

up writing & that’s okay.

TOOLS:

letter chart

spacers

Word Wall

brain power!!!

End of year goals for

students:

• Writing in complete

sentences

• Writing with

supporting detail

Math Notes Numbers as representing

quantity

Emphasis on the process

Comparing and contrasting

length, value

Sorting and identifying by

attribute

Predicting outcomes and

analyzing data

Analyzing and solving math

problems in more than one

way

Number sense –

deep understanding of

our number system

and how it works

Being fluent;

“seeing it”

Math Curriculum Saxon

Specific, explicit lessons

Emphasis on rote, drill, &

practice for basic skill

mastery

Spiral curriculum: Content

repetition with new

learning introduced

Use of manipulatives to

go from concrete to abstract

Performance based

assessment + pencil &

paper

Investigations

Spiral curriculum: Content

repetition allowing

application/deepening of

concepts over time

Process oriented –

variety of methods to get

to right answer

Use of manipulatives to

go from concrete to abstract

Mastery achieved by

doing – applying, using

basic skills in higher order

problem-solving

Fluency Expectations Grades K-6 Kindergarten

1st Grade

2nd Grade

3rd Grade

4th Grade

5th Grade

6th Grade

K.OA.A.5: Fluently add & subtract within 5 1.OA.C.6: Add & subtract within 20, demonstrating fluency for

addition & subtraction within 10

2.OA.B.2: Fluently add & subtract within 20 using mental

strategies. By end of grade 2, know from memory all sums of

two one-digit numbers. 2.NBT.B.5: Fluently add & subtract

within 100 using strategies based on place value, properties of

operations, &/or the relationship between addition &

subtraction.

3.OA.C.7.: Fluently add & subtract within 100, using strategies

such as the relationship between multiplication & division or

properties of operations. By end of grade 3, know from

memory all products of two one-digit numbers.. 3.NBT.A.2.:

Fluently add & subtract within 1000 using strategies &

algorithms based on place value, properties of operations, &/or

the relationship between addition & subtraction.

4.NBT.B.4: Fluently add & subtract multi-digit whole numbers

using the standard algorithm.

5.NBT.B.5: Fluently multiply multi-digit numbers using the

standard algorithm.

6.NS.B.2: Fluently divide multi-digit numbers using the

standard algorithm. 6.NS.B.3: Fluently add, subtract, multiply,

& divide multi-digit decimals using the standard algorithm for

each operation.

CGI – Cognitive Guided

Instruction

Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI) is guided instruction that promotes problem solving skills as well as the understanding that there is more than one way to come to an answer to a problem. This also include being able to articulate one’s thinking and sharing “how” the problem was solved with others.

Instructional Resources & Approaches:

Science, Social

Studies, & Health

use current Kyrene

resources

Writing is a focus

to support Spalding

reading program &

across all content

areas

Handwriting is

manuscript,

aligned with

Spalding.

Recitations are

required by quarter

for ALL grade

levels.

Technology

Smartboard interactive presentation tool

5 laptops in classroom + stand alone

Computer lab time each week

+ Your child will login using a username & password, access approved websites, practice skills, word process, create a

slide show presentation, & more.

HOMEWORK

Please, contact us if you have any questions.

(Confusion is a curable condition.)

Read to, or with, your child for 10-15 minutes, every night.

Check the weekly newsletter, e-mails and homework folder for additional assignments and practice opportunities.

Homework Kit is a kindergarten resource for you to keep & use at home. Please save all games & other learning tools from school together in the folder.

Homework comes home M-Th & is due the next day.

Homework is

Identified in

KTA folder:

Teachers are looking for:

Parent signature daily on Homework Report.

Work completed to best of ability – including a quality effort AND all colored.

Student writes name on

ALL work to receive

credit.

“Kit” work completion.(Let’s check it out!)

o Content

areas/subjects are

designated by days

of the week…

o Parents are asked to

check completed

work for accuracy

o Parent signature is

required daily for

acknowledgement of

homework & student

behavior

“Word of the Week” samples…

Type on computer:

they they they

they they they

HFW:

“Number of the Week” samples…

Homework Tips Set aside homework or skill practice

time daily.

Work in a quiet place withoutdistractions (if possible).

TURN OFF THE TELEVISION!

Keep homework & library book in your backpack or in another safe place.

Parents should assist but not do the work. (Parents sign the daily “Homework Report.”)

Always closely supervise handwriting practice.

Divide work time into several sessions if frustration ensues.

On School Nights

Kids Should… Do their daily reading

and homework.

Eat a healthy dinner.

Tell grown-ups about 2

or more things he/she

learned or did.

Go to bed in time to get

at least 9 to 10 hours of

sleep.

PLEASE,WRITE YOUR CHILD’S NAME

ON ALL THINGS THAT COME

TO SCHOOL!

(Snacks, lunchboxes, water bottles,

backpacks, homework,

jackets, etc…)

Absences… Call the absence line.

Keep sick kids at home.

Schedule vacations & doctor

appointments around school hours as

much as possible.

Missed Kindergarten Spalding practice

& review needs to be “made up” when

returning to school.

Parents may need to assist with support

of missed work needing to be completed

by the student.

Back Pack TipsThese things should be in your back pack:

Blue daily KTA homework folder

with completed homework, &/or

library book

Lunch box or lunch money

Snack (tightly closed & with name

on it)

Water bottle (with name on it)

Notes going to & from school

Jacket or sweater, if needed

These things should not be

in your backpack:

X Old papers

X Toys

X School supplies

X Non-school folders

X Personal money

X Electronic games (e.g.

Gameboys, etc.)

Please empty back

packs daily!

Personal Skills to Practice

Independent

bathroom use

Blowing nose

effectively

Opening/closing

snack & lunch

containers

Tying or fastening

shoes

Zipping, buttoning,

snapping, buckling

Putting on jackets,

sweatshirts, coats,

& sweaters

Covering mouths

when sneezing or

coughing

Healthy SnacksSnacks are optional & should be separate as well as

marked with student’s name. (Some children are

fine waiting until lunch.)

Remember that our breaks are short &

snacks should not be a meal, but just a

little something to hold the child over until

lunch, If needed.

Please choose nutritious items.

(NO cookies, chips, candies, etc.)

Choose snacks that your child can eat

without much adult assistance.

Label the snack with your child’s name.

We will collect snacks first thing in the

morning & keep in the snack bin for our

break/snack/AM recess time.

NO NUTS in class or at AM recess!!

We have students with severe food allergies!!

Healthy Snacks(Snack for morning break is optional.)

Cheese sticks

Fruits or vegetables (cut up)

Pretzels

Wholegrain crackers

Dry cereal

Granola bars

Etc.

•Please NO tree nuts, candy, chips,

or cake.

•P.S. We do not have refrigeration.

Snacks are kept in the classroom.

Lunch Reality

• Kids choose their entrees when buying

lunch.

• Children sit, eat, & clean up their own

messes.

• It can be loud. There are approximately

100 children eating in there & not all

speak quietly.

• The assistants do their best to organize

lunches, assist children, in an orderly

fashion.** If you have any questions about pricing, please see the school website

Lunch… Bring lunch from

home.

Milk may be

purchased for $0.50.

Buy student lunch from

cafeteria for $2.50.

Send in lunch money

in the morning OR…

Pay online at

mylunchmoney.com.

Practice opening containers at home.

Allow children to help with lunchbox prep.

Talk about doing a good job at lunch.

Limit treats to one.

Classroom Wish List

Elmer’s disappearing purple glue

sticks (always needed! )

BOXTOPS for EDUCATION stamps

Ticonderoga brand pencils

Crayola crayons (16 or 24 count)

Small gift cards to Wal-Mart, Lakeshore,

Target, or office supply stores---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Check the newsletters or class website for the

updated lists or needs throughout the year.

Kindergarten MottoI am here to do something

important – Learn.

I am safe.

I am kind.

I am a helper.

I’m a GREAT Kid

& let’s have a GREAT DAY!!

Special Areas Schedule

* Children need to wear athletic shoes in order to participate safely in P.E.

Teacher: Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Mrs. Cano

Library Computer

lab

Art Music P.E.

Ms. Casper

Art Library Computer

lab

P.E Music

Ms. Randolph

Computer

lab

Music P.E. Library Art

Mrs. Kennedy

Music P.E. Computer

lab

Art Library

Drinks and Bathrooms

Before school

Exploration time

Quiet work time

Playground time

If you have an “emergency”

There is a bathroom in each

Kindergarten classroom

(Student water bottles remain

accessible to students.)

TALK! TALK! TALK!

Talk with child about: school friends stories songs & poems class work homework numbers patterns family interests goals

Be patient, help & encourage your little one to express complete thoughts & ideas by speaking & responding in full sentences.

With Oral language development, parents are the best teachers of language skills.

We LOVE Volunteers!

Kindergarten in class volunteers will start in

October.

The PALS program (Parents Aiding

Learning in School) is happening NOW!

Feel free to sign up TONIGHT!

P.T.O. Events sign up is in the hallway near

the MPR. First meeting Thurs., Aug. 20th.

Per the Handbook, each family is expected

to complete a minimum of 5 volunteer hours.

Follow KTA On Social Media:

Facebook:

facebook.com/ktasureno

Twitter: @KTASureno

Pull out your phones & follow us!

More Information

COLLECT BOXTOPS for EDUCATION stamps

Kyrene School District: www.kyrene.org

KTA Main Office 541-5400

Our Kindergarten class webpages:

www.kyrene.org/staff/jcano

www.kyrene.org/staff/scasper

www.kyrene.org/staff/nrandolph

www.kyrene.org/staff/lsine

Phone (room 7) 541-5507 (Mrs. Cano voice mail)

Phone (room 8) 541-5508 (Ms. Casper voice mail)

Phone (room 9) 541-5509 (Mrs. Kennedy voice mail)

Phone (room 11) 541-5511 (Ms. Randolph voice mail)

E-mail (Mrs. Cano) - jcano@kyrene.org

E-mail (Ms. Casper) - scasper@kyrene.org

E-mail (Ms. Randolph) - nrandolph@kyrene.org

E-mail (Mrs. Kennedy) - skennedy@kyrene.org