Orientation Letter
Fall Trimester 2018
Dear New Kindergarten Parents,
Welcome to our classroom. Here is some very important school information. You may want to keep this letter to refer to throughout the year.
Kindergarten team in Room 106: We have a dedicated team of highly qualified teachers working in our classroom. Here is a list of our regular classroom staff:
Kate Brennick: Classroom Teacher
TBA: Classroom Para Professional
Leah Fitzgerald: Speech and Language Teacher
Sara Buchanan: Occupational Therapist
Katie Gove: Guidance
Maggie Olson: Guidance
Sara Picard and Drew Steadman: Gym and Health classes
Kayla Tompkins: Art
Grace Fuller: Computer Instructional Aide
Jean Scanlon: Media Specialist
Brea Walters: Music Education
Jeanne Sorensen: Special Education Teacher
Robin Austin: Special Education Aide
Curriculum Information :
Our Readers’ Workshop takes place between 11:10-11:40. This is an uninterrupted period when students engage in large group mini lessons that focus on comprehension and decoding strategies and build reading stamina and appropriate literacy behaviors. After the children attend a short 10 to 15 minute lesson, they will be sent off to practice independent, self-selected reading. During this independent reading time, I will be conferring with individual students and conducting targeted guided reading or strategy lessons in small groups. In the final phase of Workshop, children return to our large group to share ideas, evidence, and responses to the mini lesson theme. The beauty of this program is reflected in a multitude of activities that include large group, small group, and individual instruction and feedback in the form of a conference.
Important Literacy Themes coming up for Fall:
September: Launching Readers’ Workshop
Sample Lessons:
What is Readers’ Workshop
Building Stamina
Learning about “Just Right Books”
Sharing : Partner Work
Respecting Yourself and Others as a Reader
Emergent Reading
Retelling a story
Intro to Nonfiction
Intro to Fiction
November/December: Using Super Power Unit/ Focus on decoding, word identification, and comprehension
Sample Lessons:
Point and match the words
Learning snap words
Beginning decoding strategies
Does this word make sense?
Beginning Fluency: Bringing books to life!
Writers’ Workshop: We will start our day with a Writers’ Workshop at 10:25 every day. In late September, I will launch a new Writers’ Workshop based on A Curricular Plan for the Writing Workshop by Lucy Calkins. This Writers’ Workshop model will have a similar format to Readers’ Workshop:
The Mini Lesson
Independent writing and conferring
Sharing published work with the group (monthly starting by the end of October)
This writing curriculum is designed to align with The Common Core Standards for writing.
Sample Lessons for the Fall Trimester include:
The Launch
Learning our letters and sounds
Handwriting: grip, orientation, forming letters
What is Writers’ Workshop?
Expectations
Materials
Partner Work
The Process
We Can All Be Authors
Writers’ Always Think Before They Write
Writers Always Start with an Idea
Writers Imagine Pictures in Their Minds that Tell a Story
Writers Know Drawing Can Help Your Writing
Writers Have Special Tools that They Keep Organized and at the Ready
Writer’s Know Stories Must Have a Beginning Middle and End
Coming up with Writing Topics:
Passion Posters: Writers Write About the Things They Love To Do…
Writing from the Heart: Writers Write About the People and Things They Love
Writing Conventions
Writers Never Give Up When They Have to Spell Tricky Words
Writers Stretch Out the Words Like A Rubber Band
Writers Know How to Use Correct Punctuation
Writers Make Complete Sentences
Math:
Number I.D. to 10 and one to one counting with objects to ten
Subitizing numbered objects: recognizing dice formations…
Counting up (rote counting)
One more, one less
Exploring the ten frame
Science and Social Studies: We will devote a block of time (9:30 -10:50) to science and social studies inquiry every day. These disciplines are also integrated into the reading and writing blocks in the form of writing projects and hands on activities. Many of our fieldtrips are organized around a science and/or social studies theme. In Science, to start the month off, we will be studying life cycles with our focus on apple trees. In Social Studies, we will be learning how to be a community and discussing our three simple classroom rules: Be Safe. Be Responsible. Be Respectful. I also conduct grace and courtesy lessons and teach the many safety rules of the playground, café, and hallways. Our Classroom focus will center around the word “respect” and “trust”.
Math: We have an exciting math program from Georgia Standards of Excellence. Children learn about mathematics through daily activities and routines. Many activities integrate science and literacy elements into the learning and projects. The children will be enjoying this program at 12:30- 1:15. The last 30 minutes of this block is dedicated to child centered, cooperative learning. This is a time when children will be getting targeted mathematics assistance in the core strands where assessment shows weakness. Later this year, we will be focusing on memorizing math facts up to five. This is known as math fact automaticity or fluency. Children who are meeting or exceeding core standards will be engaged in enrichment activities.
Literacy and Math RTI: This is a 30 minute block of time which takes place at 9:50 am for literacy and 2:30 for math every afternoon. Children will be getting extra support in literacy or enrichment depending on their needs as shown by specific assessment and progress monitoring data.
Kagan Cooperative Learning: This learning model emphasizes students working together to learn academic, critical thinking, and social/emotion skills in structured activities embedded in our curricula. Most of our staff has been extensively trained in this model.
The Smartboard: Students will be enjoying Smartboard lessons and games.
The Smart Board is an interactive white board that is specifically designed to engage students in lessons through art, games, and video.
Homework: Children will be receiving homework packets. This work is optional and does not have to be passed in. During the year, I may assign a fun project that aligns with some aspect of our curriculum. These projects will be explained in special newsletters as the year goes on. These projects are easy, hands on, and can be completed with minimal adult support.
Specials Schedule: All specials take place at 1:20 pm. At Idlehurst, we follow a numbered schedule. Therefore, no special is assigned a specific weekday. Instead, Gym might be assigned the number “1”. Your child will have Gym every six days, as we have six different specials.
Your child will be enjoying Music, Gym, Health, Art, Library and Computer Lab.
Gym: Sneakers are required. Because Gym is on a floating schedule, we would like to ask that students have a pair of sneakers everyday. They may keep them in their cubby, or bring them back and forth.
Important! Backpack and Homework Folders: Your child should bring in a backpack and blue school homework folder every day. Backpacks need to be full size to fit communication folders.
Lunch: Café lunch is $2.50(milk included) and snack milk is 50 cents. If your child is buying anything from the cafeteria, please put the money in a sealed envelope and label what your child is paying for. Please be specific: snack milk, hot lunch and lunch milk, if your child brings lunch from home. Breakfast is $1.35. If you are buying breakfast, you need to make sure your child knows this. Kindergarten breakfast is delivered to the classroom. There is free and reduced lunch for families that qualify.
Super important: Please put all money envelopes in their homework folder in the front clear plastic sheet. We cannot search backpacks and lunch boxes everyday. Also, it is helpful to remind your child what type of lunch he/she is having everyday – cafeteria lunch or lunch from home. All money needs to be explained. Is it for lunch? Breakfast? Snack milk? Milk at lunch for a home lunch?
Envelopes: Please write your child’s name on the envelope and what the money is to be used for: Hot lunch, Lunch milk, Snack milk—Café Services handles all accounts so it is important to designate what the money is used for or you could be mischarged. Teachers do not handle money. We only deliver money to the café. The students name must be on the envelope or café services will return the money. If you would like to pay online, please call Cheryl Clark in the office and she will give you a student i.d. number.
Donations: A special thank-you to all parents who have already graciously donated some necessities to the classroom. Here is a wish list of items needed and please feel free to choose only one item or so:
Kleenex and paper towels
Extra snacks for children who forget: boxes of crackers, animal cookies, raisons, granola bars, pretzels, popcorn, fresh fruit, etc.
Please try to keep these donated snacks healthy and low in sugar
Germ-X and wet hand wipes
Extra plastic sheet protectors for portfolios.
Any items donated will be greatly appreciated, but this is optional.
We now have enough binders for every child to receive a special portfolio but we still need more sheet protectors.
Contact me: Most parents will be using the Remind App. But it is okay to call me on my cell. My Cell: 603- 841-0007. Please call anytime in the evening after 6:30. You may have to leave a voicemail. You may text me anytime. My school email is [email protected]. I love having conversations about my students. Do not hesitate to contact me. Idlehurst phone: 692-2435: There is voicemail, but occasionally it gets deleted or misdirected. If you do not hear right back from me within 24 hours, please contact me through my personal phone.
Thanks to all of you. I know we’ll have a great year.
Sincerely,
Kate Brennick, Classroom Teacher
Dear New Kindergarten Parents,
Welcome to our classroom. Here is some very important school information. You may want to keep this letter to refer to throughout the year.
Kindergarten team in Room 106: We have a dedicated team of highly qualified teachers working in our classroom. Here is a list of our regular classroom staff:
Kate Brennick: Classroom Teacher
TBA: Classroom Para Professional
Leah Fitzgerald: Speech and Language Teacher
Sara Buchanan: Occupational Therapist
Katie Gove: Guidance
Maggie Olson: Guidance
Sara Picard and Drew Steadman: Gym and Health classes
Kayla Tompkins: Art
Grace Fuller: Computer Instructional Aide
Jean Scanlon: Media Specialist
Brea Walters: Music Education
Jeanne Sorensen: Special Education Teacher
Robin Austin: Special Education Aide
Curriculum Information :
Our Readers’ Workshop takes place between 11:10-11:40. This is an uninterrupted period when students engage in large group mini lessons that focus on comprehension and decoding strategies and build reading stamina and appropriate literacy behaviors. After the children attend a short 10 to 15 minute lesson, they will be sent off to practice independent, self-selected reading. During this independent reading time, I will be conferring with individual students and conducting targeted guided reading or strategy lessons in small groups. In the final phase of Workshop, children return to our large group to share ideas, evidence, and responses to the mini lesson theme. The beauty of this program is reflected in a multitude of activities that include large group, small group, and individual instruction and feedback in the form of a conference.
Important Literacy Themes coming up for Fall:
September: Launching Readers’ Workshop
Sample Lessons:
What is Readers’ Workshop
Building Stamina
Learning about “Just Right Books”
Sharing : Partner Work
Respecting Yourself and Others as a Reader
Emergent Reading
Retelling a story
Intro to Nonfiction
Intro to Fiction
November/December: Using Super Power Unit/ Focus on decoding, word identification, and comprehension
Sample Lessons:
Point and match the words
Learning snap words
Beginning decoding strategies
Does this word make sense?
Beginning Fluency: Bringing books to life!
Writers’ Workshop: We will start our day with a Writers’ Workshop at 10:25 every day. In late September, I will launch a new Writers’ Workshop based on A Curricular Plan for the Writing Workshop by Lucy Calkins. This Writers’ Workshop model will have a similar format to Readers’ Workshop:
The Mini Lesson
Independent writing and conferring
Sharing published work with the group (monthly starting by the end of October)
This writing curriculum is designed to align with The Common Core Standards for writing.
Sample Lessons for the Fall Trimester include:
The Launch
Learning our letters and sounds
Handwriting: grip, orientation, forming letters
What is Writers’ Workshop?
Expectations
Materials
Partner Work
The Process
We Can All Be Authors
Writers’ Always Think Before They Write
Writers Always Start with an Idea
Writers Imagine Pictures in Their Minds that Tell a Story
Writers Know Drawing Can Help Your Writing
Writers Have Special Tools that They Keep Organized and at the Ready
Writer’s Know Stories Must Have a Beginning Middle and End
Coming up with Writing Topics:
Passion Posters: Writers Write About the Things They Love To Do…
Writing from the Heart: Writers Write About the People and Things They Love
Writing Conventions
Writers Never Give Up When They Have to Spell Tricky Words
Writers Stretch Out the Words Like A Rubber Band
Writers Know How to Use Correct Punctuation
Writers Make Complete Sentences
Math:
Number I.D. to 10 and one to one counting with objects to ten
Subitizing numbered objects: recognizing dice formations…
Counting up (rote counting)
One more, one less
Exploring the ten frame
Science and Social Studies: We will devote a block of time (9:30 -10:50) to science and social studies inquiry every day. These disciplines are also integrated into the reading and writing blocks in the form of writing projects and hands on activities. Many of our fieldtrips are organized around a science and/or social studies theme. In Science, to start the month off, we will be studying life cycles with our focus on apple trees. In Social Studies, we will be learning how to be a community and discussing our three simple classroom rules: Be Safe. Be Responsible. Be Respectful. I also conduct grace and courtesy lessons and teach the many safety rules of the playground, café, and hallways. Our Classroom focus will center around the word “respect” and “trust”.
Math: We have an exciting math program from Georgia Standards of Excellence. Children learn about mathematics through daily activities and routines. Many activities integrate science and literacy elements into the learning and projects. The children will be enjoying this program at 12:30- 1:15. The last 30 minutes of this block is dedicated to child centered, cooperative learning. This is a time when children will be getting targeted mathematics assistance in the core strands where assessment shows weakness. Later this year, we will be focusing on memorizing math facts up to five. This is known as math fact automaticity or fluency. Children who are meeting or exceeding core standards will be engaged in enrichment activities.
Literacy and Math RTI: This is a 30 minute block of time which takes place at 9:50 am for literacy and 2:30 for math every afternoon. Children will be getting extra support in literacy or enrichment depending on their needs as shown by specific assessment and progress monitoring data.
Kagan Cooperative Learning: This learning model emphasizes students working together to learn academic, critical thinking, and social/emotion skills in structured activities embedded in our curricula. Most of our staff has been extensively trained in this model.
The Smartboard: Students will be enjoying Smartboard lessons and games.
The Smart Board is an interactive white board that is specifically designed to engage students in lessons through art, games, and video.
Homework: Children will be receiving homework packets. This work is optional and does not have to be passed in. During the year, I may assign a fun project that aligns with some aspect of our curriculum. These projects will be explained in special newsletters as the year goes on. These projects are easy, hands on, and can be completed with minimal adult support.
Specials Schedule: All specials take place at 1:20 pm. At Idlehurst, we follow a numbered schedule. Therefore, no special is assigned a specific weekday. Instead, Gym might be assigned the number “1”. Your child will have Gym every six days, as we have six different specials.
Your child will be enjoying Music, Gym, Health, Art, Library and Computer Lab.
Gym: Sneakers are required. Because Gym is on a floating schedule, we would like to ask that students have a pair of sneakers everyday. They may keep them in their cubby, or bring them back and forth.
Important! Backpack and Homework Folders: Your child should bring in a backpack and blue school homework folder every day. Backpacks need to be full size to fit communication folders.
Lunch: Café lunch is $2.50(milk included) and snack milk is 50 cents. If your child is buying anything from the cafeteria, please put the money in a sealed envelope and label what your child is paying for. Please be specific: snack milk, hot lunch and lunch milk, if your child brings lunch from home. Breakfast is $1.35. If you are buying breakfast, you need to make sure your child knows this. Kindergarten breakfast is delivered to the classroom. There is free and reduced lunch for families that qualify.
Super important: Please put all money envelopes in their homework folder in the front clear plastic sheet. We cannot search backpacks and lunch boxes everyday. Also, it is helpful to remind your child what type of lunch he/she is having everyday – cafeteria lunch or lunch from home. All money needs to be explained. Is it for lunch? Breakfast? Snack milk? Milk at lunch for a home lunch?
Envelopes: Please write your child’s name on the envelope and what the money is to be used for: Hot lunch, Lunch milk, Snack milk—Café Services handles all accounts so it is important to designate what the money is used for or you could be mischarged. Teachers do not handle money. We only deliver money to the café. The students name must be on the envelope or café services will return the money. If you would like to pay online, please call Cheryl Clark in the office and she will give you a student i.d. number.
Donations: A special thank-you to all parents who have already graciously donated some necessities to the classroom. Here is a wish list of items needed and please feel free to choose only one item or so:
Kleenex and paper towels
Extra snacks for children who forget: boxes of crackers, animal cookies, raisons, granola bars, pretzels, popcorn, fresh fruit, etc.
Please try to keep these donated snacks healthy and low in sugar
Germ-X and wet hand wipes
Extra plastic sheet protectors for portfolios.
Any items donated will be greatly appreciated, but this is optional.
We now have enough binders for every child to receive a special portfolio but we still need more sheet protectors.
Contact me: Most parents will be using the Remind App. But it is okay to call me on my cell. My Cell: 603- 841-0007. Please call anytime in the evening after 6:30. You may have to leave a voicemail. You may text me anytime. My school email is [email protected]. I love having conversations about my students. Do not hesitate to contact me. Idlehurst phone: 692-2435: There is voicemail, but occasionally it gets deleted or misdirected. If you do not hear right back from me within 24 hours, please contact me through my personal phone.
Thanks to all of you. I know we’ll have a great year.
Sincerely,
Kate Brennick, Classroom Teacher