**"Kindergarten Journey: Embracing Diversity & Learning Adventures"**

1. Welcome to Kindergarten! • Gray’s Woods Elementary • Room 24 1

2. SCASD Kindergarten Program • Recognizes different backgrounds, experiences, and developmental levels • Focuses on the social, emotional, intellectual and physical needs of all children • Child-centered themes that are engaging for both large and small instructional groups

3. CHECK IT OUT:) • District Wide Kindergarten Info. • SCASD Home Page • Select Kindergarten • Room 24 Kindergarten Classroom Info. • SCASD Home Page • Under “Select A School” choose Gray’s Woods Elementary • Select “Staff” • Select Dillon, Shari

4. - Daily Schedule - • Opening • Calendar • Writer’s Workshop • Snack/Recess • L.A. Centers • Lunch • Brain Break • Read Aloud • Math • Recess • Science/Social Studies

5. Stations-Flexible Grouping • Guided Reading • Familiar Reading- reread favorites for confidence and fluency • Respond- talk/write about books we have read • Word Work- play games that reinforce the letters/words from the books that we are reading * please refer to the Develop Readiness Skills for Reading handout for “at home” ideas

6. Writer’s Workshop Kidwriting: a systematic and guided approach • Drawing phase: “great writing evolves from great illustrating” • Guided spelling: “stretch out” the words like a rubber band • Underwriting: individual mini-lesson • Focused mini-lessons revolve around shared student work • Please refer to the Journal Writing handout for helpful suggestions when writing with your child

7. Brain Break • Every day after lunch • Children may rest, look at a book, or draw/write • You may send a blanket, pillow and one stuffed animal with your child • Blankets may stay in cubbies

8. Snack • You may send a small nutritional snack to school with your child (i.e. a handful of grapes, some crackers, etc.) • Birthday treats...please note that there are 19 students in our classroom 8

9. Math • Math Expressions - Combines activities, games, skills, and practice to help students develop a solid grasp of mathematical concepts • IXL - Program offers extended math opportunities and practice via the computer

10. Science/Social Studies • Fall, Winter, Spring Kindergarten Units • Field Trips • Integrated activities throughout daily curriculum • Informational letter sent home with each new unit

11. Kindergarten Units • Community • Seasons • Body Growth and Hygiene • Light and Sound • Animals • Plants • Transportation

12. PATHS • Promoting Alternative THinking Strategies • Parent letters and activities will be sent home • Topics include • friendship • recognizing and understanding feelings • different ways to solve problems • following rules

13. The Kindergarten Snapshot • A “Picture” of observed behaviors-socially and academically • Completed 3 times a year • 1/25, 3/11 and 6/7 • You will be notified regarding how and when to view your child’s Snapshot

14. Parent Volunteers • All parents/guardians who want to volunteer in the schools must complete the Volunteer Policy Review at the following link http://www.scasd.org/Page/18801 • Scheduling Coordinator Organizes classroom volunteer schedules • Party Coordinator Organizes Fall Harvest celebration • Book Order Coordinator Tallies and sorts orders

15. Thank you for sharing your children with us this year! 15