Welcome, Families!

Curriculum Night 2012Kindergarten

Samuel Beck Elementary School

Our Kindergarten Team

Jennine Doughney 817.215.0487 jdoughney@nisdtx.org

Diane Koestler 817.215.0461 dkoestler@nisdtx.orgShelly Moses 817.215.0475 smoses@nisdtx.org

Julieanne Orr 817.215.0455 jorr@nisdtx.orgNancy Shuster 817.215.0467 nshuster@nisdtx.org

Kristin Zimmerer 817.215.0468 kzimmerer@nisdtx.org

Kindergarten Schedule7:25-8:00 Arrival/Word Work

8:00-8:15 Calendar8:15-8:40 Skills Block

8:45-9:40 Specials/Conference Period9:45-10:45 Writer’s Workshop

10:50-11:20 Lunch11:20-11:50 Recess

11:50-1:00 Reader’s Workshop1:00-2:00 Math Workshop

2:00-2:30 Science2:30-2:45 Clean-Up/Pack-Up/Dismissal

Language ArtsBook and Print AwarenessLetters and Letter Sounds

SyllablesBeginning, Middle and Ending Sounds

Blends and DigraphsRhyming Words

Blending to Read Words Basic High Frequency Words

Writing Capital and Lowercase Letters Penmanship and Fine Motor Skills

Write First and Last NameRead a Level 4-6 Book

Comprehension

Language ArtsReading Test: DRA2-- What is it?• DRA2 is a reading assessment that

determines your child’s reading level.

• Most Kindergarteners are able to read a level A or 1 at the beginning of the year.

• By the end of Kindergarten, your child should be able to read a level 4-6.

Level 4

Level 6

MathematicsCount by Ones to 100Write Numbers 1-20

Skip Counting by 2’s, 5’s & 10’sPatterns

Shapes and SolidsPositional Language

Comparing and SequencingIdentify Half and Whole

Identify Coins Read a Calendar

Tell Time to the HourAddition and Subtraction

Problem Solving

ScienceOur Five Senses

Observing and Gathering InformationSimple Investigations

Communicate and Record FindingsRocks, Soil, Water

Weather and SeasonsLight and Optics

Living vs. Nonliving ThingsAnimals

Life CyclesPlants

Social StudiesUS and Texas Flags

Customs and Cultures

Celebrations and Holidays

Landforms and Bodies of Water

Jobs and Community Workers

Location Terms

Chronological Order

TechnologyComputer

Basic Keyboard Skills

Using a Mouse

Technology Safety

Start and Exit Programs

Basic Technology Vocabulary

Kindergarten GradesReport Cards: • Will go home each 6 Weeks

• However, a Parent-Teacher Conference will be held for each child in October in lieu of the 1st Report Card.

Progress Reports: • Will be sent home after the 3rd week of the

last five 6 weeks. These are marked for each subject area as follows:• P= progressing• I= inconsistent progress

Kindergarten GradesGrade Explanation: • Kindergarten uses a letter system on

Report Cards based on academic and developmental growth

D: “developed”: child meets that academic goal with 100% satisfaction every time. SD: “skill still developing”: child understands the skill, and can perform it most of the time, but may need more practice to achieve mastery level. X:“experiencing difficulty”: the child needs a lot of help with the skill. They may not know what to do, or very little of the skill at all. These are areas which need extra practice at home as well.

Nuts and Bolts…

Family Communication• Student Handbook and Code of Conduct atwww.nisdtx.org/studenthandbook

• Class Websites at www.nisdtx.orgSelect Beck Elementary Staff Teacher Name

• Daily Communication Folders

• Pay Lunch Account Online: Parents Menus/Food Services

• Transportation Changes Must Be e-mailed to the front office at beckelem@nisdtx.org by 2:00pm

Communication Folders• Students will take these

to and from school every day!

• Be sure to initial calendar every night! Even on the good days!

• Zipper Pouch is used for sending money and important notes to and from school.

• Be sure to check for important information, homework, etc.

Communication Folders

Love and LogicWhat is Love and Logic?Love allows children to grow through their mistakes.Logic allows children to live with the consequences of their choices.The Love and Logic program is as follows:1. Shared Control: Gain control by giving away the

control you don’t need2. Shared Thinking and Decision-Making: Provide

opportunities for the child to do the greatest amount of thinking and decision-making

3. Equal Shares of Consequences with Empathy: An absence of anger causes a child to think and learn from his/her mistakes

4. Maintain the Child’s Self-Concept: Increased self-concept leads to improved behavior and achievement

www.loveandlogic.com

Attendance & AbsencesAttendance in Kindergarten is very important. This is because we do many hands-on and interactive activities that simply can’t be made up.

• When your child needs to stay home, please notify the front office and/or your child’s teacher via email

beckelem@nisdtx.org

Make-Up Work• Can be requested if your child is absent more

than two days• Work will not be sent home with siblings,

neighbors, or friends

Birthday CelebrationsWe love to recognize your child on their special day!

• If you would like to provide a treat for your child’s class in honor of their birthday, you may send them to school with your child or bring them to the front office. The teacher will determine the appropriate time in the afternoon for sharing the treat.

• The birthday treat MUST be single-servings. (cupcakes, cookies, etc)

• Please also provide napkins for the treat.

• No party favors, balloons, drinks, or decorations are allowed.

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

wear during P.E. and 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!

IndependenceKindergarteners are encouraged to be independent. They should be able to:

• Take care of own bathroom needs

• Do their morning jobs (put away

folder, select lunch choice, put away backpack, etc.)

• Button, zip and snap own clothing and tie/velcro their shoes

LibraryWe had our first trip to the library last week!Here are some good things to remember:1. Help your child remember their library

day. (A note on the fridge or by the front door always helps! )

2. Please reinforce how we take care of our books. (We don’t eat or drink around them, we carry it carefully, etc.)

3. Always read your child’s books with them. Talk with them about the book they chose. Was it a good choice? Why/Why not?

PTA and VolunteeringWe love our parent volunteers!

• If you would like to volunteer, fill out the PTA volunteer form if you haven’t already.

• Parents/Guardians must have completed and NISD background check to volunteer (These must be completed each year)

• See the Beck Website for more details

A Little Housekeeping…To help your child be successful:1. Be sure to leave all toys, jewelry, key

chains at home. These can be distracting and risk getting lost if brought to school. Teachers are not responsible for lost student toys.

2. Please write your child’s first and last name on things you send to school: lunchboxes, jackets, backpacks, snacks, water bottles, etc. This will help us return lost items ASAP

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. 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?