KINDERGARTEN ORIENTATION: Intro Self Personal: Married 39 years, 4 children (3 boys, 1 girl) (ages 35, 34, 31, and

soon to be 28). All four are college graduates. My three sons work in technology field, making computer games (Harry Potter, Star Wars, etc.) or game engines, daughter is a Research Analyst at University of Washington. I love to garden, swim, read, look at antiques, Mariners fan, pottery, collect childrens books/dolls----especially storybook characters. Professional: This is my 10th year at Maplewood. Previously taught cooperative preschool (West-Edmonds Preschool) and at Brighton (private preschool thru 8th grade). Have worked in 4th grade and 2nd grade as well. Have extensive early childhood background/degrees (CDA, ECE, Early Childhood endorsement), BA in Human Development/minor in English. Strong interest in Science and Math---previously taught math to kindergarten and first graders here at Maplewood. In 2006, I earned National Board Certification as an Early Childhood Generalist. I love working here and the community feel to our school. I love running into my students at the grocery store, mall, etc., great staff at Maplewood-love working with them all, youll find were a pretty close-knit group. Philosophy: My philosophy is to try to meet each child where he/she is at and take them as far as I can. I want them to think that school is a most fun place to be.even if there are a few rules to follow and work to be done. My greatest strength (on my good days!) is motivating students to work and think its their own idea. Social skills are at the very heart of all that we do and we will learn to

appreciate each and every one in our class while learning to use our manners and show respect for everyone. Academics---I have district standards that must be met and each lesson/activity is designed to meet some part of those standards. I do not teach Letter of the Week which is a too slow, outdated style quickly being replaced with authentic, real-world activities that are more meaningful to children, many of which are literature-based. In some activities there will be a focus letter/letters to work on. We will begin with many activities based on their names as nothing is more personal to a child than his/her name and that of their friends. In essence, I will talk about all the letters, all the time..and I think you will be amazed at how the childrens names will allow me to teach about letters/letter-sounds, and words/grammar. Whenever I can, our academics will be presented in the form of games and other hands-on activities. This may appear to be play but this is how children learn best, by playing with all kinds of materials..make no mistake though, this is play with a purpose. Do not expect to see many worksheets come home. I do more recording type sheets where they record the information they are working on and generally keep these until they finish a set. It is my opinion that worksheets actually teach very littleshow me a worksheet that you think teaches something and I can show you a way to teach the activity better in a hands-on way. Our curriculum will be reviewed at our October teacher time. Our district has adopted a new literacy curriculum which is new to me too and this will be our third year with a new math adoption called, Math Expressions. It will be a learning experience for all of us. For science, we use Foss Science Kits or Inquiry-based science units I've developed myself. Social Studies will revolve around learning about important historical figures, holiday celebrations, and our community.

Expectations: Child expectations Expectations children can have---feel safe, comfortable, respected by all Attitudefun to learn, must try, no whining (I dont speak whinese) Rulesgood attitude, choices, Choice Box Parent expectations Open and honest communication How to communicate-email, phone, notes Punctuality and reliability- Morning rotations are from 9:15 a.m. until 12:40 p.m., Afternoon rotations are from 1:40 p.m. until 3:50 p.m. until quiet time ends, then if possible, come at 1:10-3:50 p.m. (yes, afternoons are shorter periods, but you will be dealing with children who are tired and irritable and fewer {you may be the only parent here} adult hands for helping). ENTHUSIASM!!!!!!!!!! Be enthusiastic but be careful about revving students up, recognize that what may seem harmless for one child, can have a different effect on a whole group of children. Parents are models for all childrenbe enthusiastic, talk positively about school and others in front of children and whenever they are in ear-shot. Keep in mind that there are NO secrets in kindergarten.they tell all, so make sure that they dont have gossip to repeat as this causes hard feelings all around. Try not to respond to parking lot gossip, nor pass along information that may not be totally accurate. Be consistent and follow through. Eliminate Dont from your vocabulary and replace with directives such as, I need you to or Please write/draw/ .

 Always be respectful, ask permission, treat children as you would want to be treated and do not give your child any special consideration in the classroom---i.e., if the group is sitting on the rug, your child may not sit in your lap, must be on the rug with the group, doing the same. NEVER, NEVER ask questions like, Do you want to.? When you want them to do something, tell them what it is that you want, i.e., Please write your name at the top of the paper. Kindergartners: Expect them to be tired the first couple of weeks. Remember they are trying very hard to be on their best behavior for a very long time---this translates into them falling apart for you at home. It will get better! Discovering their world Excited to learn Developing their personality Interested in making friends Learning to communicate Developing fine and gross motor skills May have difficulty separating from home/parents Routines: 9:15 a.m. door opens (before 9:15, they go to commons to wait), school begins promptly at 9:20 a.m. Working parents are expected to arrive right at 9:15 a.m. to help with students arrival, (one works with sign-in, one parent can read to children in the library, one can help with notes, unpacking, etc.). Come in, put backpack/folder away/Working parents remove papers from folders, put in my box or Parent Coordinators box. Sign in for attendance Quietly read a book in class library

Schedule (written on whiteboard) Math-I will do a whole group lesson and parents will help to monitor children, keeping them on task, helping clarify directions, pass out materials, remedy shortages, etc. Reader's Workshop (a parent will man each section) Recess (morning, lunch, afternoon) Snack (1 item plus drink, no more please)-1 afternoon snack per day *Lunch-No Hot Lunch First Month (they have enough to adjust to) Microwave availability There is a one-minute rule for the microwave, nothing will be microwaved longer than one-minute (if all 22 children need to microwave, thats 22 minutes right there.we have a total of 30 minutes to eat). 3rd grade buddies, Friday mornings Choice time unstructured time for self-directed discovery-a time to practice skills learned previously, social skills. End of day- bus tags, pack up Bus/Carpool/Playdates I will make up a master list that tells me how your child goes home each day. For your childs sanity and yours and mine, this should be the same every day. It is too confusing to expect a 5-6 yr. old to remember to take the bus one day, be picked up by carpool the next. When you have a time that the schedule must be different (playdate, appointments, etc.), YOU MUST LEAVE ME A NOTE (dated) in my teacher box. Without a written note, I will have the child do what they normally do. Please remember that in kindergarten, I may not always be able to check my email or telephone calls during school hours and may very well miss your change information that way, especially if it is last minute/same day.

Communication Backpack to and from school each day Folder with mail to be checked by parents each day Classroom newsletter weekly via email (hard copy if requested) What do kindergarteners learn? Reading Readiness (letters/sounds)/Most will be reading by years end Sight Words Writing Math Social Studies and Science Art Recess/Social Skills/Choice time P.E., Music, Library (technology) What do Kindergarten Parents Do? Parent Training/Meet with me for tips. Arrival- Punctual, if working come early, read over the Workshop activities (literacy) directions so you will know what you are to do. Math-usually whole group, then math groups (parents man a group) when time allows. Recess-Parents go with to help with injuries/bathroom trips End of the day if picking up child or if working Committees coffee (recognize the danger/spill hazard please set aside while working) no cell phone use while in your rotation. Model appropriate behavior, i.e., interact with kids, introduce yourself, get down to their level (sit or crouch down), be enthusiastic, ask questions, dont give the answers, respect each childs individuality, listen to teachers directions, keep the kids involved, give tons of

positive reinforcement (minimum 10 positives for every 1 negative is good rule of thumb), if unsure how to discipline a child, ask megive a warning about the choice box, then follow through. They will walk all over you if you allow it. Be kind, but firm, and remember that when someone else disciplines YOUR childits because were a village, helping children to be the best they can be. Any discipline measures taken should be kept discreetly confidential. Anecdotal episodes are okay to report to a parent, but no parent likes to hear from another parent about the misbehavior of their child. Recognize that how you view a situation may not be how a teacher views it. All Day Kindergarten There will be a rest time Bring a large towel w/name clearly visible, provide a plastic bag with childs name clearly visible for transporting/storageName marked on outside of bag. Make adjustments the first 2-4 weeks if necessary, but be consistentby end of October everyone should be coming everyday, all day. Very important to remember that a teacher/school cannot help children to progress if they are not here. Every day in kindergarten is important! Arrival/Departure: School begins at 9:20 a.m. Kindergarten door opens at 9:15 a.m. Early arrivals must remain in the gym until 9:15 a.m. School ends at 3:50 p.m.except for the first week-- we do slow start and school will end at 12:20 p.m. Sept. 7th-10th. Please make every effort to consistently be on time for

pick-upchildren will be taken to the office to wait if you are late. Know that they get very upset when they are the last to be picked up. When students arrive, they will sign-in by writing their name(or tracetheir choice) on their name plate, show to an adult and place in the bin. Adults will encourage students to write their name as per the example, gently having them try again if they use all capitals/have incorrect letters. Do not make a big deal of this the first few weeks, then we will try to catch them and have them re-do their name correctly. Please let me or our PC know right away if your child will ride the bus and which bus number. I do bus duty and take students to the buses after class while the working parent takes the carpool line out to carpools. Attendance: Attendance at school is very important, as is being on time. Your attention to planning your time so that you arrive on time sends an important message to your child about the importance of school. Call the office in the morning if your child will not attend school that day. Your child should be fever-free/symptom-free (no vomiting, diarrhea) for a FULL 24 hours before he/she returns to school after an illness. We must be especially stringent in this due to the Swine Flu. It is very difficult to concentrate on learning when you dont feel well, and not fair to the others to be exposed to illness unnecessarily. Try to plan appointments (dentist, doctor, etc.) for non-school days or after school. Try to plan vacations and trips around school holidays. Backpacks: Backpack/FOLDER must be brought to school daily.

 Please check backpack daily and remove important papers. Have a set spot for keeping backpack. Students will bring a pee-chee type folder for transporting important papers and projects to and from school. Be sure their name is on the top right hand corner in large, readable letters (First letter capital, rest lowercase/First and Last name). Bring appropriate outer gear for the weatherwe go outside everyday no matter what the weather is. Computers: Students use classroom computer programs that reinforce literacy/math/problem solving skills. In the spring, they may have the opportunity to go to the computer lab as part of their library time. You will need to sign a permission form for your child to be able to take part in any online programs. These are strictly monitored and no surfing the Internet is allowed. Home-School Reading Connection Plan to read to your child many times during the day its a great transition for coming home from school, reconnecting and discussing the days happenings and is a great way to unwind before going to bed. Children can check out books from the school library on a weekly basis. They may check out a new book when the previous book is returned. Classroom books may be borrowed as well with a simple check-out/check-in system, best done on the parents designated work day. Handedness: Right or left handedness is not always well-established upon entering kindergarten.

 It is usually established by the age of 7/8. Offering items to the right hand may encourage righthand dominance, but in the end, handedness is fairly genetic and trying too hard to switch a child may cause difficulties in learning. Left to Right Progression: Left to right progression teaches a systematic way of doing things. Parents can encourage left to right by: 1. Having child touch count objects starting on left. 2. Pointing to words as you read to your child. Newsletters: Newsletters (The Flash) will be sent via e-mail unless you tell me you need a hard copy. Newsletters (The Flash) will relate important information on school activities and events. Classroom newsletters, relating specifics to our classroom and written by me, will be sent home weekly via email, unless you notify me that you need a hard-copy. Generally I do these on Wednesdays, but sometimes you may not receive it until Friday. Outerwear: Please make sure any jacket, coat, sweater, sweatshirt, etc. is clearly labeled with your childs name. Many, many items are identical and end up unclaimed in lost and found. Send your child dressed for appropriate weather each day. Plan on us going outside for recess every day whatever the weather. Encourage your child to tie, zip or fasten by him/herself. Keep this in mind when you purchase new coats, etc., make sure your child can be independent.

Report Cards: Kindergarten students receive report cards twice during the school year. Once in early February and again at the end of the year. There will be parent conferences scheduled in October. Kindergartners will attend half-days during conference week. There will be a sign-up sheet about two weeks before. Additional parent conferences may be scheduled throughout the year at parent or teacher request.

Reversals: Five and six year olds many times write numbers and letters backwards. It is a developmental function of the brain. It usually disappears by second grade and is not a concern at the kindergarten level. Snack/Lunch: Your child will bring his own snacks every day and may buy or bring lunch. Lunch tickets can be purchased ahead and allow your child to buy lunch without needing daily money. Remember snack is a short interval, send only one item for snack plus a drink/water. Make snack something that you know your child can eat in a relatively short time (10 minutes) and something that provides nutritious fuel (no junk food) for these busy workers. Due to allergy concerns, food is never shared. If your child forgets to bring a snack, he/she will be offered something from my emergency supply which generally consists of pretzels or goldfish crackers. If your child is a frequent user of this privilege, I would appreciate donations to the supply. If they forget lunch, they can buy lunch and have it charged to you, you must reimburse.

 SharingChildren will share their writing from journals, they will share in groups/individually items they have worked on throughout the year, the new math requires multiple ways of students sharing and I occasionally have them share items made during Choice Time. These types of sharing will give them the necessary practice of speaking in front of a group, but without the pressure to bring something from home. Shoe Tying: Encourage your child to tie his/her own shoes. Check with the teacher if you need help in this area. We do not spend time in class learning this skill as fewer children seem to wear tie shoes. Homework: Most important---READ, READ, READ to your child EVERYDAY!!! A minimum of 30 minutes each day! Each month a homework calendar will be sent home. To start the year, choose 2 items each week that your child would like to complete and return the calendar portion marking what you did. When there are activities that require separate paperwork, attach those for me to see (many of the activities do not require a paper and it is an honor systemif you mark that you and your child did something, I will believe you). In January, I will require 4 activities per week. You are free to do more than the number required and most children do. I will also send home Fast Start For Readers poetry to be done two nights, preferably in a row for no more than 10 minutes each night the directions will be with the poems. I will send math homework workbook pages home periodically. If it seems too easy/too hard for your child, let me know. Do not let homework become a battle between you and your child. If they are resistant one night, let them choose which night to

do it and then stick to that plan. Be very matter-of-fact that this is part of being in kindergarten, plan a regular time, have a set place for doing homework and materials available that may be needed. Most of these activities are designed for you to do with your child and if you are enthusiastic, they will be too. Let your child choose which calendar activities he/she wishes to do. The routine of doing homework, just like the routines you have established for dinner, bath, bedtime will be comforting to your child and make your life easier and more sane.

Birthdays: We will recognize birthdays in kindergarten by pretending to blow out candles on our classroom cake (non-edible) and singing Happy Birthday. We will do a literacy activity for each birthday that is a Birthday Interview and results in a book the birthday child will bring home. The birthday child may bring a treat for each child on the day we celebrate his/her birthday (I prefer an individually wrapped item, but I fully understand how they can have their own ideas on what to bring and I can live with whatever they decide-keep allergy considerations in mind here). The childs birthday will be celebrated on the day which is closest to his/her birthday AND/OR a workday for his/her parentplease let me know your preference. Summer Birthdays will be celebrated in May. I do not celebrate half birthdaysthough we have some great discussions about when everyone is at their half mark.

All these activities will take place during our snack/lunch time sometimes they get to choose (depends on our schedule for that day). Quiet Time: Each child will be expected to lie quietly on their towel from 1:101:40 p.m. I will rotate activities such as playing childrens music cds, story-tapes, reading a story, etc. Each child is allowed to choose two books from our classroom library to look at while resting. I do not require them to sleep. In January (possibly sooner, depending on the group), I will phase out our Quiet Time and replace it with Bear Time (Be Excited About Reading), on average, I am able to replace 1-2 days per week until we have Bear Time all week instead of Quiet Time. CHOICE BOX-DISCIPLINE METHOD Note the square on the back whiteboard. It is labeled Choice Box and this is one method of discipline in the classroom. I give one warning for behaviors that are not good choices. If they do not heed the warning, they will have to write their own name in the choice box. They are the only ones who can write their name in there and they are the only ones who can erase their name from there. When they write their name in the choice box, it means they lose 5 minutes of their recess or choice time, whichever comes first. If something happens at the end of the day, it carries over to our morning recess the next day. If they do something else, they may lose another 5 minutes of their recess. Occasionally, children can lose their whole recess. If they hit, kick, bite, pushthere is no warning, it is an instant in the choice box..these instances are totally at my discretion and how I see what is happening. I do operate on a very positive discipline approach, lavishing positives on each child frequently throughout the day.

 I do not yell or get angry, instead, I am simply very matter-offact. The students brainstorm rules with me the very first day. I simplify those to 4 rules.1. Be Safe, 2. Be Kind, 3. Be Honest, 4. Keep Your Dear Teachers Happy.and then we all sign them and they are hung on the wall to remind us to make good choices all day. These rules cover just about any situation that can arise. Make no mistake, the power of the choice box lies in the fact that your child must shoulder responsibility for his/her actions when they write their own name in the box. But, when they have served their time and erased their name, the slate is clean and they have a fresh start.I hold no grudges. For the most part, my philosophy is that kindergarten is like Las Vegas, whatever happens in kindergarten, stays in kindergarten. I will not necessarily tell you about your child getting in the choice box, unless he/she is a frequent user. Even when I do tell you, it may be just to inform you that this has happened. Unless I tell you that there is an ongoing behavior that we need to work on together, I do not expect you to do anything more. Please trust that your child and I have a plan and are working on it. An important part of growing up is your child learning to deal with difficulties on their own. I also try not to overuse the Choice BoxI will use other methods, especially logical consequences---I may have someone sit out from an activity if they are being too goofy and cant be in control. When this happens, they go to the library because I know they are done for today. There is no make-up for the activity missed. I treat everything we do as if it is a privilege to be allowed to do it. I try to use natural, logical consequences whenever possible.forget your coat-you will get cold, disrespectful to a parentremoved from the group, etc.

The choice box will get used quite often at first as children test the boundaries and how consistent I am. As we become a close-knit community, its use will diminish. My goal is for them to realize that I will do my best to keep them from getting their name in the Choice Box, but I will enforce it when necessary. Each time a child gets in the Choice Box, I spend time afterwards asking them what they did to get their name in there and what they can do to keep that from happening again. I talk at length about what they could have done and what that might look like. I do not ask children to apologize because apologies should come from the heart.having children apologize when they dont really feel sorry creates people who think they can make anything right by just saying Im sorry and turn around and repeat the action. I will encourage and suggest that someone else may need to hear an apology, that, if you accidently hurt someone, the right thing to do is to say, Oh, Im sorry that happened, Ill try not to do that again, or Wow, I didnt mean for that to happen, sorryI never have a child promise he wont do something again because chances are, it will happen again, but trying is doable and does not set them up for failure. I do require children to say, Ill try not to do that again. Trying is doable for everyone. Field Trips Generally we average about one every 6 weeks. We will make a trip to a pumpkin farm in October, two plays, swimming, and a trip to the beach in June. We have some other exciting events that will come to us rather than us have to drive to them. Well talk in-depth about field trips at our Teacher Time in October. Please give some thought to what you want children to call you by your first name, using Mr. or Mrs., etc. Please think longterm and how you will want these children to address you as they approach middle school.