Class Disclosure and Information

    Mrs. Hill’s Kindergarten Class Disclosure         

                                                 2016-2017

Welcome to Kindergarten!  We are the Kinder OPA Eagles.  Our little eaglets are going to grow and learn so much so that they will soar into 1^st Grade!

If you need to communicate with me:

                   *E-mail me at: lhill@ogdenprep.org

                   *BLOG: laurettahill@blogsopt.com

                   *School phone number: 801-627-2066

  *Please call/visit after school.  The time before school is filled with preparations for a successful day.

I will be sending the majority of my messages to parents through REMIND or email.  We also have a classroom BLOG! Look for new blog posts each month. If you do not have access to a computer or email, please notify me and I will make sure you receive these messages in your child’s Home Learn Folder.  Also, at the back of the folder is a communication log that I check once per week as another option for communication.  Please update me if your email changes throughout the year. You can list multiple emails on the contact information sheet.

OUR SCHOOL & CLASS RULES      

Our school has adopted the Leader In Me program  by Stephen R. Covey.  This program equips students with the self-confidence and skills they need to be successful in their lives.  It teaches them how to be a leader at all times and in all situations by following these 7 Habits:

1.    BE PROACTIVE – I’m in charge of me

2.    BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND – Have a plan

3.    PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST – Work first, then play

4.    THINK WIN-WIN – Everyone can win

5.    SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND THEN TO BE UNDERSTOOD – Listen before you talk

6.    SYNERGIE – Together is better

7.    SHARPEN THE SAW – Balance feels better

We will teach these 7 Habits and incorporate them into everything we do throughout the day. 

Rewards/Consequences:

Procedures will be taught extensively to the point of routine.  My goal is for each student to feel successful, happy, have friends and gain a positive self esteem. To accomplish this I use a “Ready to Learn” chart.

Each student has a clothespin with their name on it that will be placed on a colored chart. Each child starts on green (ready to learn) every day and can move up to light blue (good job), then dark blue (great job), and then to purple (outstanding). At the end of the day rewards are given accordingly to the level earned.

·         Good Job (light blue)-We give these children a shout out cheer!

·         Great Job (dark blue)-They earn a class point to go towards the class goal.

·         Outstanding (purple)-They get to pick a prize from our classroom prize box.

A child can also choose to move down from green to yellow (Think About It), then orange (Fix It), and then to red (Parent Contact) by phone, email, or in person.  Moving up and down the chart is not based on intelligence, but on hard work and effort. We will learn about giving a Level 4 effort in all we do throughout the year. 

Homework: Your child will have the following schedule of homework throughout the year. 

          HOME LEARN FOLDER    

•             Each student will have a red folder, which will be used for all notes and weekly home assignments.  (Replacement fee is $1.00)
•           These will go home each MONDAY.
•            Please return the folder, completed each THURSDAY. I need your help for it to become a routine. Please check off each assignment before returning the Home Learn Bookmark by initialing by each completed activity.
•           Blue T.P.S. page – This is a blue page in the folder.  If you have any comments or questions, write them on this page.  I will read them and respond.

  RAZ Kids – is a leveled reading program on the computer that will begin in October.  

  Words Their Way – is a spelling program based on spelling patterns and given at each child’s individual level.  This program will also begin in October. 

Homework Tips…

   Have a specific time and place your child will work on their homework each day. 

  Help guide your child through their homework each night. Sit with them while they learn.

  Have your child do ALL of the handwriting on their assignments (unless specified).  Please do not do it for them.  I know it is tempting.  If you have concerns or questions please contact me.  I am always willing to modify any assignment to fit a child’s needs.

READING Minutes   

      The Kindergarten policy is that each student read a minimum of 20 minutes, daily.  You will find your child’s reading log in the Home Learn bookmark each week.  Please record the minutes read each day on the sheet for Mon. – Wed.  Th –Sunday should be added to the Monday total each week.  Students that turn in their reading logs on time will be rewarded monthly.

Birthdays:  Reminder – our school policy does not allow food/snacks/candy to be brought on birthdays.  We will have your child be the STAR Student for the week and this will replace a birthday celebration.

Tardies: Teach your child that going to school on time is very important.  Tardy means that your child entered my classroom after 8:10. 

Attendance: A successful school experience is the responsibility of the child, parent, and school.  Your child’s progress, both academically and socially, is influenced to a great extent by daily attendance and participation.  Regular attendance without tardiness is the key.  Our class will be able to earn FREE DRESS days for having perfect attendance.

Uniforms: Please be sure to read over the school uniform policy carefully (in parent handbook or online).  A few reminders:  please be sure all under shirts must be either white, navy blue, or baby blue.  Your child must wear only navy blue or white socks/leggings (no jeggings).   Be sure to teach your child how to tuck in their own uniform shirts. 

CURRICULUM

Your child will be learning all core subjects plus basic Spanish.  Feel free to look over the Common Core Kindergarten Curriculum at http://www.corestandards.org/the-standards/english-language-arts-standards

and http://www.corestandards.org/the-standards/mathematics  This curriculum was adopted by Utah in 2011. 

Language Arts

We will begin the year learning & reviewing the alphabet and letter sounds (phonemes).  Then we will put these phonemes together to create words and sentences.

I will be using a program called the Daily 5 and Literacy Stations, as well as, other resources to ensure that each student experiences a variety of opportunities to master literacy skills at his/her own learning level.  All students will participate in a computer based learning program called Waterford.

Once students have become fluent in the alphabet they will begin a reading program called, Raz Kids. 

Our spelling program is Words Their Way.  This is an individualized program that will begin in October. 

Math

We use Singapore Math and Engage New York Curriculum.  Students first encounter math concepts through the use of manipulatives.  Then move on to the pictorial stage in which pictures are used to model problems.  When students are familiar with the ideas taught, they progress to a more advanced abstract stage in which only numbers and symbols are used. 

Spanish

In kindergarten the students will be introduced to colors, numbers, and many other basic Spanish words and phrases.  We will also learn songs in Spanish.  These will all be incorporated throughout the curriculum. We will have a native Spanish speaker come to teach Spanish lesson throughout the week as well.

Science and Social Studies

These will be integrated into our Language Arts curriculum.  We will be doing a lot of discovery, hands-on activities and writing about what we are learning. 

Music, Art, Computer Literacy and Physical Education

These classes are taught weekly by specialists.  We will also integrate art, music and PE into our daily curriculum. 

*Please see school calendar for the majority of scheduling needs*

Breakfast: 7:30-8:00a.m. 

Lunch: 11:30-12:00 p.m. You are very welcome to come eat with your student any day.

 Drop-off and Pick-up:

Students may enter the building as early as 7:30 a.m. if they are eating breakfast, otherwise 7:50 AM is the perfect time to drop off at school. They may hang their coat and backpack on their hook in front of the class and put on their name tag.  Then choose to do one of the following 3 activities:

·         Read books or play board games in the library

·         Go outside and play on the playground

·         Eat breakfast in the cafeteria

At 8:05 a bell will ring and they will line up outside our Kindergarten classroom and wait quietly. 

Pick-up: 3 p.m.    Please be on time to pick up your student.

Students will be outside the front doors of the Elementary school at 3pm in my line. Look for the big K! Study the map provided to understand how pick-up circle works.  If you are picking up only a Kindergartener the easiest thing to do would be to park on Lincoln in front of the apartments or on 14^th street and walk across the crosswalk and pick up your student from me. Students will need to have written permission if anyone besides their legal guardian is to pick them up.  Please send a note also if an older sibling is going to be picking them up.  Please be patient during drop off and pick up until all the parents have learned the routine and are in their groove.