Memorial Elementary SchoolMemorial Elementary SchoolKindergarten OrientationKindergarten Orientation

Memorial Elementary SchoolMemorial Elementary SchoolKindergarten OrientationKindergarten Orientation

Presented by: Giovanni Giancaspro, PrincipalPresented by: Giovanni Giancaspro, PrincipalJune 6, 2013June 6, 2013

North Haledon School District’sNorth Haledon School District’sPTO PresidentPTO President

Mrs. Michele Manning Mrs. Michele Manning

North Haledon School District’sNorth Haledon School District’sPTO PresidentPTO President

Mrs. Michele Manning Mrs. Michele Manning

Kindergarten Screening

Letter/Results

Screening Categories• Speech & Language

– Expressive– Receptive

– Voice

• Kindergarten Screening Skills– Letters

– Parts of the Body– Gross & Fine Motor Skills– Person Identification Skills

– Following Directions

1. Kindergarten Handbook2. Kindergarten Readiness

3. Early Communication Development4. North Haledon Special Service

Parental PacketsMemorial Elementary School

Summer 2013

Kindergarten is the start of an exciting learning journey. The kindergarten classroom

offers a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment

for all children.

Kindergarten Philosophy

Children are active learners. They learn best when allowed to:

• play• create • investigate• explore • predict• learn from one another and their

environment.

Kindergarten teachers promote discovery and self-awareness in all areas of development to

meet the needs of each student.

•Social•Emotional•Physical•Creative and Cognitive

The Kindergarten curriculum provides children with a variety of opportunities to try out new ideas

and be challenged by new experiences that engage emerging

readers, writers, scientists, mathematicians, and artists.

We want our students to be confident,

love learning, and be successful in a classroom community.

We begin your child’s journey

together with one vision.

Student Success!

Partnership:Home & SchoolThe Important

Parent

Parents are the first teachers in a child’s

education. The partnership between families and

school is critical to a child’s success. We share in your excitement as we embark on this learning journey

together.

What to do and expect

from now until fall…

Preparing for Learning• Read to your child for 10 – 20 minutes

daily.• Ask questions about the story.• Help your child use the illustrations to

predict story events.• Practice counting objects to 30.• Use mathematical language – more than,

less than, fewer, greater, above, below.• Use positional words – over, under, above,

below, behind, in back of, beside, next to.

Read and discuss books that talk about starting school – The Kissing Hand

By: Audrey Penn

– Tom Goes to KindergartenBy: Margaret Wild

– Look Out KindergartenBy: Nancy Carlson

– I’ll Always Come BackBy: Steve Metzger

Develop your child’s background knowledge

• Experiences in the real world give background knowledge that enhances reading, writing, and speaking.

• Use rich language to develop your child’s vocabulary. Explain words that may be new to your child.

Develop School Readiness

• Practice good hygiene habits• Help build strong listening skills – teach

your child to follow multi-step directions.• Develop self-help skills:

Putting on and zipping up jacketsPacking and unpacking backpacks and

foldersParticipating in preparing and packing

snack and lunch

Kindergarten, Here I Come!

• Letters and Words• Language Skills• Motor Skills• Reading Books• Numbers, Shapes and Patterns• Growing Up

Literacy is so important!We strongly encourage you

towork on the following skills

withyour child over the next few

months…

Letters and Words• Recognizes and names at least 15 of

the capital letters• Recognizes his/her own first name in

print• Writes his/her own first name• Recognizes words/signs seen often (ie.

McDonalds, Walmart, STOP, EXIT, etc.)

Family Literacy Activities– Can detect rhyming words (ie. I want you to tell me if two words rhyme. Words that rhyme sound like each other at the

end. Listen carefully to the words: hat, cat. Do these words rhyme?)•Sorts groups of objects(size, shape, color, etc.)•Tells things that go together (ie. Spoon and fork are for eating, fish and boat are in the water, cow and pig are farm animals)•Recognizes & names at least 8 colors•Uses words to express feelings

(I’m happy. I’m sad.)

Language Skills• Speaks in complete sentences• Follows directions with at least 2 steps• Asks “what if” and “how” questions about how

things work• Says and/or sings familiar songs and nursery

rhymes• Answers simple questions (who, what, where,

when) in complete sentences• Tells his/her first and last name and how old

he/she is

Motor Skills• Puts puzzles together• Can draw a circle and square• Draws pictures to express ideas• Runs, jumps, hops, throws/kicks/

bounces a ball• Cuts with scissors

Reading Books

• Shows interest in reading and being read to

• Holds the books appropriately and understands that you read a book from front to back and left to right

• Retells a simple story such as Three Little Pigs or other familiar books

• After listening to a story, tells what might happen next

What You Can Do…“Reading aloud to your little ones helps their

minds to grow strong. Reading to children on a regular basis helps them to develop the skills

necessary to learn to read on their own … paving the way for success in school and

throughout life!”

Reach Out and Read, St. Alphonsus Medical

Group

Numbers, Shapes and Patterns

• Counts from 1-20• Recognizes numbers from 1-10 • Counts at least 5 objects

Growing Up• Takes care of his/her own needs

– Toileting, washing hands, dressing• Adjusts to new situations without

family members being there• Plays cooperatively with peers

– Takes turns, resolves problems

• Respects the feelings, rights and belongings of others

The time you and your child spend together doing these activities will help your child say with confidence…

“Kindergarten, Here I Come!”

Implementation of the

Common Core Standards

Kindergarten Math Standards

Counting & Cardinality

Operations & Algebraic Thinking

Number & Operations in Base Ten

Measurement & Data

Geometry

Kindergarten Language Arts Literacy

Standards

Reading Literature

Reading Informational Text

Reading Using Foundational Skills

Writing

Speaking & Listening

Language

Kindergarten Curriculum

Mathematics: Envision Math Series

Language Arts: Balance Literacy Program

What does a full day kindergarten

program look like?

Sample Full Day ScheduleMorning Routines: Unpacking

Morning Meeting: Greeting, Share, Activity, Morning Message

Literacy Instruction (Reading: Phonics, Word Study, Reader’s Workshop,Mini-Lesson, Read- Aloud, Shared Reading, Guided Reading, Independent Reading, Whole-Small-Whole Learning, Conferencing) Making Text to Text, Self, and World Connections

Literacy Instruction (Vocabulary, Writer’s Workshop, Mini-Lesson, Modeled Writing, Guided Writing, Independent Writing, Conferencing)

Snack

Lunch/Recess: Kindergarten Classes Only

Learning Centers: (Literacy, Math, Social Studies, Science, Fine Motor, Social Skills)

Mathematics: Envision Math (Interactive Math Mats, SmartBoard Technology, Center Activities, Differentiated Skills)

Specials (Art, Music, Library, Computer Lab, PE, Whole Class Enrichment)

Themed Activities: (Science, Social Studies, Holiday, Character Education)

Choice Centers Free Play: Developmental Play

Pack Up/Dismissal

School Supplies

• Large, sturdy backpack (no long straps)

• List mailed in August• Sturdy shoes everyday! (Playground)• Sneakers for gym (no flip-flops)• Clothing for art class• Easy to open containers for

snack/lunch

Snacks and Lunch

•Two healthy snacks•Bring or buy lunch •Maschio’s Food Service/

Café Prepay

Volunteering• In the classroom:

Centers Mystery Readers Classroom Projects Room Parents

• Join the PTO!!

Drop-Off/Pick-Up Procedures

• Drop-Off: 8:15am - Upon arrival, students in Kindergarten will proceed through the front doors of Memorial School and proceed directly to their classrooms were they will sit outside of their classrooms where a Kindergarten teacher will be on duty.

• Pick-Up: 2:59pm - Car pick-up via car line, 2:49pm - Bus students will be brought to black top dismissal area, and 2:59pm - walkers line up in front of the school with car pick-up students to be delivered to parent/guardian.

• Little Steps To Learning: 2:49pm Students will be dismissed to Little Steps Personnel inside Memorial School and brought to aftercare location.

Safety on the Bus

• All Kindergarteners are met upon arrival at school

• Kindergarteners sit in first two or three rows

• Students will receive bus safety rules• Bus Aide on buses in the afternoon• Parents can help by:

Discussing and reinforcing rules

Kindergarten Safety Town• 5 sessions:

9:30 – 12:30

• August 13th – August 17th • Sign up now!!!• Learn about school safety• Children will see the school and a

Kindergarten classroom• Wonderful way for students to meet their

Kindergarten peers and start friendships.• Confidence builder

During the Spring/Summer• Sign up for Safety Town• Turn all registration paper work into the

office.• Complete health paper work return to Mrs.

Linde our school nurse. (Children need to have a physical completed by a doctor, prior to the first day of school.)

Late summer families will receive…

• Class Placement Letter (Mailed In August)• Details About The Beginning of School• Bus Information • PTO Information• School Directory • Pick-up/Drop-off Procedures• Student/Parent Handbook

Important Dates• Safety Town: Monday,

August 12th-16th, 2013, 9:30 a.m.

• First day of school: Wednesday, September 4, 2013 (Students)

• Back-To-School Night: Wednesday, September 24, 2013 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

• Parent-Teacher Conferences: November 18th-22nd, 2013, (Single Session Days)

• School hours: 8:35a.m. – 2:59p.m.

Thank you for coming to our Thank you for coming to our Kindergarten Orientation.Kindergarten Orientation.

Thank you for coming to our Thank you for coming to our Kindergarten Orientation.Kindergarten Orientation.

We look forward to having you We look forward to having you at Memorial Elementary School.at Memorial Elementary School.We look forward to having you We look forward to having you

at Memorial Elementary School.at Memorial Elementary School.