Welcome to Countryside School Kindergarten Kindergarten Registration Night Barrington School District 220 2015-2016
Welcome to Countryside School Kindergarten
Kindergarten Registration NightBarrington School District 220
2015-2016
Welcome - Mrs. Thomas (School Principal) Administration - Mrs. Holmes (School
Secretary) Medical - Mrs. Wesoloski (School Nurse) Welcome to Kindergarten - Mrs. Gorges
(Kindergarten Teacher)
Kindergarten RegistrationAgenda
To nurture the love of learning Create life long learners Spark curiosity Foster social/emotional development Develop problem solvers and critical thinkers Create readers, writers, scientists, explorers, and
mathematicians Build independence Academic learning Prepare for 1st grade
Our Goal:
Able to write his/her name, using a capital letter for first letter only
Knows the alphabet Recognizes both upper case and lower case letters of
the alphabet Knows some letter sounds Can count and write numbers to 1-10 Can recognize numbers 1-10 Knows basic shapes Knows basic colors
Is your child Kindergarten Ready?Academics
Can separate easily from adults Knows phone number and address Can follow one and two-step directions Can sit and listen for 10 minutes Can get along well with others Zip and unzip backpack (pack backpack) Take care of bathroom matters independently Open his/her own snacks/lunch items Tie his or her own shoes (if not Velcro) Dress him or herself (coats, shoes, pants, gloves) Ask for help when needed Advocate for self
Kindergarten Readiness continued
Reading Math Writing Science/Social Studies/Health Social Emotional Learning-Second Step Library Recess or Kindergym Snack break Other school-wide activities, assemblies, or
celebrations
Standard ½ Day Kindergarten Program
Curriculum-Based
Not curriculum-based Thematic units Student-directed centers Inquiry based learning Author study Specials- Art, Music, and PE Lunch/Recess
Enrichment Program (afternoon only)
Math in Focus (aligned with CCSS) Whole group and small group instruction Hands-on learning activities through use of
math manipulatives Math centers Numeracy Concept Development, 1-20 Calendar math, Every Day Counts
Math
Taught through whole group instruction Differentiated through small group instruction Students will learn the 42 letter sounds for our
language For each letter sound, students will learn a
song and action Very interactive through use of our Smartboard
Jolly Phonics
Whole Group- interactive read-alouds of mentor texts & mini-lessons on reading strategies
Small Guided Reading Groups (differentiated) Literacy centers (differentiated) One-on-one reading conferences (goal setting) Independent reading Genre Studies: Nursery Rhymes, Folktales,
Pattern Tales, and Poetry
Reading
Handwriting Without Tears Numbers 1-10 Upper case and lower case letters
Writer’s Workshop (whole group, small group, writing conferences) Weekend News Free Write during literacy centers Writing Units-personal narratives, Informational how-to books,
opinion writing Writing process: brainstorm, rough draft, revise and edit,
publish, authors celebration
Writing
Integrated throughout reading and math Taught through thematic units Science Units: Properties, Animals, Pebbles and
Sand Social Studies: Communities and Citizenship Health Units: Basic Hygiene Care and Stranger
Awareness Social Skills: Second Step (social emotional
learning); PBIS; Recess or Kindergym, Free Choice
Science/Social Studies/Health
Classroom projects Reader’s theater Jolly Phonics songs and actions Songs for calendar, clean-up, transitions
Art/Drama/Music
Parent-teacher partnerships are important Daily Folders- please check daily Friday Folders Weekly Newsletters Email Webpage Phone
Communication is the key to success!
Letters and letter sounds, sight words, Number identification, oral counting Continuously assessing informally throughout the year in
math, reading, and writing Formal benchmark assessments- 3x’s per year (fall,
winter, spring) Use data to drive instruction and differentiate my
instruction to meet the needs of all learners, in all subject areas
Goal: To have all readers reading at a Level D with comprehension, by the end of the year.
Kindergarten Assessments
Halloween party and parade, Winter party, Valentine’s Day party, end of the year Field Day
100th day celebration Super Reader of the Week Weekly Guest Readers Author Celebrations
Classroom Parties, Celebrations, and other fun things
Assemblies School-wide Reading Incentive Programs Opportunities to sign up for Chess Club or Lego Robotics Club Fundraising and giving back for local charities Student council sponsored events Back to School Ice Cream Social Dances Visiting Authors Spirit Days Monthly Paw Boosters End of the year Field Day Countryside Cares 5K
Countryside School Events/Activities
If your child is a bus rider:Coming to school: Ed. Assistants will be outside to guide your child to the playground to play or inside the gym until the bell rings.Going home: Your child will be assigned a 5th grade bus buddy who will come get your child each day and take him/her to their bus
Bus Rider
Dropped off: Your child will wait in between the double doors corridor until the bell rings at 8:50. Then he/she will walk down to the classroom.
Going home: Your child will walk to the office to be picked up or if a car rider, he or she will go to the car line and wait for their car number to be called.
Car Rider
I will meet your child outside by the buses holding a sign with my name on it. I will show them how to walk down to our classroom.
Bus buddies will start on Day 1 and will take them to their buses at the end of the day.
I will walk the car riders and office pick ups to their spots so they know what to do and how to get there independently.
First few days…
Spend the summer talking about kindergarten/school Buy a regular size backpack (not the small kind) Have your child work on how to ask for help and advocate for self Practice using the bathroom independently Working on tying shoes and zipping coats/pants Practice having your child open up containers and bags they might have in
their lunch or for snack Read, read, and read with and to your child Read a variety of genres Teach your child how to open and close their backpack and put things in
and take things out How to be organized and responsible with their personal items Visit the school in August for our meet and greet, playdate, and open house
How can I prepare my child?
August (prior to the start of school) Kindergarten meet and greet with the teacher Kindergarten playdate Open House: meet the teacher and see the
classroom September
Back to School Curriculum Night
Thank you for coming!
Mrs. Nicole Gorges [email protected] 847-756-2841 Communication-weekly newsletters, webpage,
Facebook classroom page, email, and phone
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.