J.C. Thompson Elementary The Best School in the Universe Curriculum Night September 9, 2014 WHATEVER IT TAKES A Character Counts! School.

J.C. Thompson ElementaryThe Best School in the Universe

Curriculum Night

September 9, 2014

WHATEVER IT TAKES

A Character Counts! School

The Kindergarten Team

Mrs. Thompson

[email protected]

(817) 698-3831

Mrs. Tobler

[email protected]

(817) 698-3834

Mrs. Brandon

[email protected]

(817) 698-3835

Ms. Wise

[email protected]

(817) 698-3830

Mrs. Yowell

[email protected]

(817) 698-3834

Blazing Trails of Success

Tonight, we will…

experience a snapshot of a day in the life of a Trailblazer

learn ways that you can support your child’s education

Develop understanding of the expectations of Kindergartener at J.C. Thompson

JCT Vision

Empowered to learn, motivated to lead!

JCT Mission

J.C. Thompson, together with families and community, will engage all students in a premier education, preparing them for success in an ever-changing world.

J.C. Thompson is a Northwest ISD Title 1 Campus:

More than 35% of our students are considered low income

We receive federal funds to assist all students

Title 1 funds are flexible and are used for additional personnel, professional development, improve curriculum, enhance parental involvement, extend learning time for students, and provide other activities that are tied to student achievement.

AT JCT, we will…

Take care of ourselves,

Take care of each other,

Take care of this place!

Kindergarten Expectations

Trail Guide Calendar and Building Your

Rainbow

Our Kindergarten Trail Guide Calendar provides a quick and easy communication to our parents that follow our Trail Guide expectations. Along with your child’s Trail Guide Calendar there will be a rainbow chart.

The rainbow chart will be used on an individual basis. When a child follows JCT expectations a color will be filled in. After filling a rainbow with 6 colors your child will be rewarded within his/hers classroom reward system. Teachers make sure to allow many opportunities throughout each day for a child to fill in a color of their rainbow.

Attendance • We want your child to have every

opportunity to learn. Doors open at 7:20 and school starts promptly at 7:45. We encourage and recognize perfect attendance each six weeks.

• Whenever your child must be absent, please call the front office at 817-698-3800 to report the absence. When your child returns, please send a note or doctor’s excuse to explain your child’s absence.

• Attendance is taken each day at 9:30. Our goal is to have 98% of our students present every day.

Communication • T.R.A.I.L. Guide Folders• Tuesday Newsday communication • Call blasts• Online gradebooks grades 1-5. Please check

with the front office if you need directions.• Progress reports are available online the 3rd

Monday of each six weeks. If your child is failing in a content area, a progress report will be printed and sent home to be signed and returned.

• Report Cards sent out electronically and on paper the Thursday following the end of each six weeks.

Volunteers• Volunteers are welcome at Thompson

Elementary!

• You may volunteer services, time or supplies.

• You may volunteer here at school or in the comfort of your own home.

• Watch D.O.G.S.- Kick-Off will be coming soon!

• Moms on a Mission – new opportunity to be involved in learning at JCT. More info coming soon!

• Background check must be complete

Student Birthdays Birthday celebrations may take place the last part

of the day on the playground or in the classroom only. Please provide individual servings for the celebrations (cupcakes, cookies, napkins, etc.

The treat should be dropped off in the office and office staff will deliver at the end of the day.

The district specifies that birthday invitations may not be passed out during the day; however, the child can pass them out as students leave for the day outside the classroom door.

Treats must be store bought.

Clothes and ShoesPlease be sure your child is prepared: 1. Be sure they have tennis shoes to

wear during P.E. and at recess.

2. Be sure to leave a change of clothes in your child’s backpack for unforeseen incidents (accidents, mud, who knows?)

P.S: Students should be bringing their backpacks every day!

Daily ScheduleKindergarten Schedule

7:45- 7:55 Morning Meeting

7:55 – 8:45 Writers

8:45 – 9:40 Readers/Social Studies

9:40 – 10:35 AMP

10:35 – snack

10:45 – 12:15 Math

12:15 – 12:45 Lunch

12:45 – 1:15 Recess/Restroom

1:15 – 1:45 Lit/Skills

1:45 – 2:40 Science

2:45 Dismissal

Getting to Know the Curriculum

Please check out the Elementary Education Brochure on our website. Some brochures are

available in the office.

Speeding to Read

Reading Log

What do we want your children to know?

Writing Workshop

Kindergarteners will write independently EVERYDAY!

Personal Experiences and Genre Studies

Respond to learning in Math, Science and Social Studies

Write with a Purpose

Proofread

Use Correct Conventions (Punctuation, Grammar and Spelling)

Increase their letter to sound correlation

What do we want your children to know?

Reader’s Workshop

Kindergarten will read both independently and in small groups EVERYDAY!

More Text and Fewer Pictures

Independent Reading Stamina (20 minutes or longer)

Determine Fiction vs. Non-fiction and characteristics such as:

Setting,

Characters, Theme.

Variety of Genres

Comprehension

Integration of Social Studies

How will we know what your children know?

Read Aloud Guided Reading Reader’s Workshop Writing Workshop Readers and Writers Notebooks Genre Studies Author Studies Conferencing Goal Setting Small Group Instruction Assessments Before/After School Tutoring

What do we want your children to know?

Math• Understand the underlying concepts of math. • Think like mathematicians.• Focus on computational fluency• Exploring multiple strategies to solve a wide

range of problems• Finding efficient ways to solve problems• Emphasizing reasonableness of solutions

What do we want your children to know?

Science

Asking scientific questions Relating science to their world Using science tools in scientific investigations Lab safety

Physical Science Forms of energy Force is a push or a pull Matter has physical properties

Earth Science Nature can cause change Patterns of change in weather, metamorphosis and objects in sky Cycles and simple systems

Life Science Habitats of animals Needs of living creatures Environmental changes How living creatures adapt and change environment

Parent Conferences

Our parent conferences will in October. Dates include October 7, 9, and 15th

Sign up tonight or look for more information in the next couple of weeks

Contact your child’s teacher if you have concerns throughout the year

How Can I Help My Child?Here are a few things you can do to help your child be successful in Kindergarten:

Read with them every night. (be sure to write it down for speeding to read)

Write with them as much as possible.

-Magna Doodles-iPads

Count anything and everything.

Make sure they get a good night’s rest.

Fill ‘em up right at mealtimes.

Questions

What questions do you have for us?

Thank you for coming to Curriculum Night!