Welcome to Parent Information Night

Kindergarten2015-2016

Introductions

Mrs. Kari Resch• 14th Year teaching full day kindergarten

at St. James• 19 years experience• BS in Education with emphasis in Early

Childhood for USD. Endorsement in Special Education from Morningside.

“If you can dream it, you can do it.”

-Walt Disney

Introductions

Miss Leane Snyder• 5th year as a full-day kindergarten

teacher at St. James• Also worked in Glencoe #35, Schiller Park

#81, and Roselle #12• Studied elementary education at

Carthage College and Language and Literacy with Library Information Specialist at National-Louis University

“ I love teaching kindergarten because the children grow so much from the beginning to the

end of the school year. Helping them learn to read and write is very special.”

Introductions

Miss Jessica Good

2nd year teaching at St. James SchoolPrevious experience in Western Springs

#101Bachelors in Elementary Education from

Drake University with Reading Endorsement

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”

Benjamin Franklin

Classroom Expectations

• Follow Classroom and School Rules– Individual Behavior Plan/Behavior Calendar

• Green, Yellow, and Red– Varies by teacher– Parents will be contacted when student ends the day on red

– Whole Class Behavior Plan• Each class is working on an incentive program to

recognize excellent individual and whole group behavior

Important Information

• Mystery Bag– Circulates throughout class

• Birthdays– Celebrate with a snack from the SJS

approved list– ½ birthdays will be celebrated– Birthday reader is welcome to share a story

• Scholastic Reading Club– Book order forms and code

• Family Heritage Project– February– 15 minute presentations

Important Information

• Community Helpers– Parents visit and share about their jobs

• Field Trips– Goebbert’s Pumpkin Farm in October

• Lottery for parent volunteers

– End-of-the-year Picnic• Second Step

– Teaches social/emotional skills for school and life

• Artist Awareness– Parent volunteers introduce children to varied

artists

Homework

• Read for 15-20 minutes every night• Practice Jolly Phonics sounds• Practice high frequency words• Word Box Homework

– Starts in October

• Spelling Homework– Starts in January

Morning Schedule

• Calendar and Morning Meeting• Jolly Phonics/Heggerty (phonemic

awareness)• Centers-all subjects• Prayer/Snack• Read Aloud• Centers (continued)• Daily Review• Prayer

Snack

• Healthy snacks are encouraged– Fruits and vegetables– Cheese– Yogurt

• The SJS Snack List must be adhered to– allergies

Afternoon Schedule

• Lunch/Recess• Brain Break• Centers• Free Play• Recess/P.E.• Prayer/Snack• Pack Up• Daily Review• Prayer

Specials

• Music • P.E.

– ½ day once a week, full-day twice

• Technology– Integrated into curriculum

• Library– Starting week of 8/31– ½ day twice a month, full-day once a week

Kindergarten Curriculum• Reading:

(MacMillan/McGraw-Hill Series)– Small Group Instruction– Heggerty Phonemic

Awareness (Blue Book)– Jolly Phonics– Comprehension– High Frequency Words

Kindergarten Curriculum

• Language:– Six Traits Writing

• Ideas• Conventions• Organization• Voice• Word Choice• Sentence FluencyWe will start Six Traits in

November.

Math Curriculum

• Aligned with Common Core Standards– Daily Practice and instruction towards mastery of concepts

• Number recognition• Counting/One-to-one correspondence• Addition and Subtraction• Reading a Calendar• Geometry• Measurement

– Use of manipulatives• Cubes, dice, counters, pom-poms

– Introduction of common terms

Science and Social Studies Curriculum

• Science:– Presented through informational

nonfiction texts– Hands-on experiments

• Science Lab

• Social Studies:– Community helpers– Presented through informational

nonfiction texts

Religion

– Introduction to prayers– Creation– Noah’s Ark– Giving Thanks– Advent/Christmas– Angels– Family– Lent/Easter– Mary– Bible Stories

Grading Policy

Grade Description

O Outstanding

S Satisfactory

I Improving

N Needs Improvement

H Having difficulty

What can you do to help?

• Encourage your child to read daily or read to you• Check e-mail frequently for communication• Read through the weekly newsletter on our website• Check your child’s M.O.O.S.E. daily!• Do not hesitate to contact us with concerns or

questions

Contact Information

• Mrs. Kari Resch– kresch@stjamesschoolah.org

• Miss Leane Snyder– lsnyder@stjamesschoolah.org

• Miss Jessica Good– jgood@stjamesschoolah.org