Mrs. Owen’s Kindergarten

Mrs. Owen’s Kindergarten 2011-2012 Boston Elementary Woodstock, GA

Welcome to Kindergarten! • I will introduce you to Kindergarten and to our classroom. • If you have any questions during my presentation, please be sure to speak up

Meet me • I have been teaching 10 years. • I have been married for 12 years. • I have two children, Dawson who is 5 who attends kindergarten at Boston and Sydnee who is 2. • I have my undergraduate degree from Kennesaw State College and my Masters Degree from Piedmont College. • I also have my ESOL teaching certification. • I have taught kindergarten, first, EIP, and ESOL.

My family

My Goals • To give your child the academic and social skills needed to progress to first grade. • To provide a supportive and fun classroom environment. • To help your child make new friends and discover new interests.

Behavior Management: • Mrs. Owen’s Classroom Rules: • I will respect my classmates and my teacher. • I will listen carefully. • I will follow all directions. • I will raise my hand before I walk, talk, or touch. • I will work quietly and not disturb others who are working.

Best in the west behavior: • Each child will start the day with 4 in their pocket. This is a visual reminder to follow the class rules that have been thoroughly reviewed. Cards will be pulled for infractions. Please look in your child’s folder each day. If your child has had a good day and did not pull a card he or she will receive a green dot in agenda. All children pull a card at some point and time during the school year. We do give gentle reminders before pulling a card. If your child has a green dot, I consider this a good day. In the event your child is consistently getting a note home we will need to meet to discuss the situation. There is a reward directly correlated to the amount of greens earned with the behavior system (candy box, treasure box etc.).

Consequences • *Warning • *Loss of 1 card 0min. off of recess • *Loss of 2 cards 5min. off of recess (possible note home) • Loss of 3 cards 10 min. lost • Loss of 4 cards, lose recess, note/call home • *If behavior continues to be a problem, a phone call or note will ensue. • *In special instances, your child may be sent to the principal depending on the severity or frequency of the behavior. • There will be many rewards for great behavior throughout the year. • All behaviors will be noted in the agenda

Frozen Friday: • Your child has the opportunity to earn cowboy bucks throughout the day. CB’s are handed out for quiet lines, restroom behavior, and good classroom behavior. Each child has an equal opportunity to earn these. • Rewards: • Candy Box :5 Bucks • Popsicles:10 bucks • Treasure Box 20 Bucks

Snack • Please be sure to send a snack daily. We eat lunch very late and your child is hungry!

Kindergarten Round up schedule • 8:30-9:00 Unpack and skill review • 9:00 Monday Extra computer time • Tues-Fri Saxon Phonics • 9:40-10:20 Specials Monday PE, Tues. Computer, Wed. Music, Thursday Art and Fri. PE • 10:20-10:40 Snack (please make sure to send one daily) • 10:40-12:19 Calendar and Math Groups • 12:19-12:49 Lunch • 12:50-1:50 Reading • 1:50-2:20 Sci/SS/ Health • 2:20-2:40 Recess • 2:40 Pack up • 3:00 Begin dismissal

Class Subjects • The subjects we cover during Kindergarten are: • Reading, Writing, & Saxon Phonics • Math • Science & Health • Social Studies • Music, P.E., and Art

Reading: • Scott Foresman Trophies Reading program. • Saxon Phonics. • Zaner-Bloser Handwriting. • Check out this link: www.starfall.com

Reading • Groups: • 1. Read with me: will work on the weekly reading story, skill and sight words. • 2. Computer: Waterford • 3. Ms. McMichen: handwriting or re-enforce math skill. • 4. Ms. Williams :Art Activity to help with letter of the week.

Writing: • We will begin writing in our journals this week. If you haven’t done so already, please send in a primary journal for your child. • We will begin with simple sentences and as the year progresses we will be writing stories. Please have your children work on writing at home.

Math • Addition & Subtraction. • Measurement. • Money & Time. • Shapes. • Patterns.

Science and Social Studies • Senses. • Seasons. • Water. • Landforms & Oceans. • Weather. • Food Pyramid. • Dental Health

Phonics • We use the Saxon phonics program. We will work on consonant and vowel sounds, blends, and digraphs. • We will also begin blending our sounds to make words. • Rhyming words • Word families

Homework: • Homework • It is the policy of Cherokee County that all Kindergarten students have 15 minutes of homework per night, Monday through Thursday. I will assign homework on a weekly basis. The weekly homework packet goes home on Monday. We please ask that you review the skills with your child, sign the cover, and return the packet on Friday. It is also county policy that we have signed documentation from the parents to verify homework assignments. All assigned homework correlates with the skills being taught within the classroom. Thank you for your continued reinforcement at home!

Sight Words: • Your child will be coming home with sight words soon. They are on colored paper and will have 10 words on them for your child to learn. When your child can read the words send me a note so I can check the words. • When they have read the words they will get a new set of words. They will have a total of 10 sets of 10 words When they read all the words they will get a special treat!

Assessment: • Assessment • The Cherokee County Kindergarten Program is very academic. Your student will be tested several times throughout the year, including the GKIDS (Georgia Kindergarten Inventory of Skills) and the AIMSWEB. He will be required to master certain skills to prepare for First Grade. I will keep you abreast of these skills throughout the year. As previously mentioned, homework assignments will definitely include these skills. • Report cards are issued every 9 weeks. Report card skills are tested individually. Each report card folder is to be signed by the parent and returned the next day. You may keep the printout. When report cards are issued, I will schedule any needed parent conferences.

Folders and Agendas • Please check and empty child's pink folder daily. You may keep all materials on the keep at home side and return materials on the return to school. • Also, please check agendas for daily behavior and important notes from the teacher. Please initial nightly.

Top cowpoke: Star Student I will be choosing one student each week to spotlight as our Top Cowpoke. When it is your child’s week, I will send home a poster for you to fill out. He/ She needs to bring this back, along with items and pictures to share with the class. This week is also a good time for you to come in and eat lunch with your child, or perhaps read a book to the class. Some students like to bring in a treat this week also.

Weekly Readers/ Mystery Readers • We need volunteers to read to the class on Wednesday’s after lunch. This would be a 15 minute block! Please sign up if interested!

PTA • Please remember to join PTA. The cost is 6.00. We will be having our fall festival in October!!!

Room Parent : • Thanks to Ms. Smith and Ms. Martin for signing up to help

Transportation Please make sure to send a note letting us know of any transportation changes!

Conferences: • I am available before school from 8:15-8:30 and after school from 3:30-4:00. • I can also do a phone or e-mail conference.

I am so excited to be your childs teacher! I am looking forward to a great year! Thank you for sharing your child with me!

Questions: • Now is the time you can ask questions of me!

Email: • Tammy.owen@cherokee.k12.ga.us • 770-924-5260 • Check my website also for important information

Mrs. Owen’s Kindergarten