WELCOME TO OUR Incoming Falcons WORKSHOP

1. WELCOME TO OUR Incoming Falcons WORKSHOP Frederick County Public Schools North Frederick Elementary School

2. Your Questions?? • Please write down any questions that you may have on the sticky note and we will address these at the end of the presentation.

3. FCPS Vision Statement All children will meet or exceed the standards established by the Essential Curriculum as well as develop their unique potential and the dispositions necessary for a successful learner: confidence, curiosity, creativity and self-direction.

4. North Frederick Elementary School Believe! Achieve! Succeed !

5. The 4 “R’s Be Ready Be Respectful Be Responsible Embrace Rigor

6. Children are at the “Heart” of Every Decision!!!!!!

7. Example Kindergarten Schedule 8:20-8:50- Morning Message/ Calendar 8:50-10:50- Language Arts 10:50-11:20- Lunch 11:20-11:40- Word Study 11:40-1:15-Math 1:15-1:55- Specials 1:55-2:15-Recess 2:15-2:50- Science/Social Studies 2:50-3:20- Dismissal

8. Attendance is very important • Please have your child here at school on time- instruction begins at 8:20 • If your child is out, please send a note explaining the absence upon his/her return • If a child is out more than 10 days, a doctor note is required for each absence after that

9. Language Arts • Children will receive reading instruction in a whole group and small group setting, and practice skills independently. • When not working in small group with the teacher, students will be engaged in “literacy centers” around the room.

10. Writer’s Workshop • Children write daily about their lives and personal experiences • Teachers conference with students about writing individually and in small groups

11. Specials • P.E. • Music • Art • Media (Library) • Computer Lab

12. Math • Students will receive math instruction in whole group and small group. • Students will practice skills independently or with partners as well as participate in numeracy centers.

13. Fostering independence and problem solving skills are an important aspect to our kindergarten program!!!

14. Ways to help foster independence in your child: • Putting on a coat and zipping it • Independent toileting skills • Opening a straw and milk carton • Following directions • Sitting quietly for short intervals

15. Getting Ready for Kindergarten… What are some skills that my child should know when entering kindergarten? *Recognize some letters in random order (especially the ones in his/her name!)*Write his/her name*Recognize numbers 0 – 10 and count a group of objects to match the number*Rote count to 20 *Color and shape naming

16. Getting Ready for Kindergarten… • To find out more about the Kindergarten curriculum, check out this website: www.fcpsteach.org • Go to the menu and click on “Early Childhood” to view the entire curriculum

17. Frederick County Essential Curriculum Standard: Students will master the ability to hear and identify words, rhymes, syllables, and onsets and rimes in order to demonstrate phonological awareness skills by the end of grade one. Pre-Kindergarten Kindergarten First Grade PK00.10 Students will developknowledgeof phonological awareness of words 01Develop: by recognizing words and sounds that are the same and words and sounds that are different. 02Develop: by recognizing word boundaries and segmenting sentences into words. 03Develop: by discriminating and generating rhyming words. 04Develop: by orally segmenting and blending syllables. 05Develop: by orally segmenting and blending onsets and rimes. K00.10 Students will developand/ordemonstratephonological awareness of words 01Develop and demonstrate: by recognizing words and sounds that are the same and words and sounds that are different. 02Develop and demonstrate: by recognizing word boundaries and segmenting sentences into words. 03Develop and demonstrate: by discriminating and generating rhyming words. 04Develop and demonstrate: by orally segmenting and blending syllables. 05Develop and demonstrate: by orally segmenting and blending onsets and rimes. 100.10Students will independently apply knowledgeof phonological awareness of words 01Independently apply: by recognizing words and sounds that are the same and words and sounds that are different. 02Independently apply: by recognizing word boundaries and segmenting sentences into words. 03Independently apply: by discriminating and generating rhyming words. 04Independently apply: by orally segmenting and blending syllables. 05Independently apply: by orally segmenting and blending onsets and rimes. SAMPLE WEBSITE PAGE

18. Not all children will have these skills, so we will provide … Individual and small group differentiated instruction-Trained parent volunteers-Reading intervention

19. If your child enters kindergarten with advanced skills in language arts he/she will have … -Opportunities to write at ability level with individual conferencing-Individual and small group differentiated instruction-Appropriately leveled reading materials

20. Help Your Child Get Ready For K K indle excitement about K. Visit the school and meet the teacher. I nvite new school friends home to play and build strong friendships. N ever forget safety. Talk to your child about bus and walking safety. D iscuss what your child will be learning – colors/ numbers/ shapes/ letters E xplore the neighborhood together. Talk about the world you live in. R eview the good behavior expected such as turn taking and following rules G et involved in your child’s school and PTA. A nswer your child’s questions about school. R ead to your child daily. Visit the library. T urn every day into a learning experience. Encourage your child to eat well and to get on a regular sleeping schedule N otice the new things your child is learning and praise him/her

21. Common Questions • Will there be naps? • No naps. Students are developmentally ready for a full day of age appropriate instruction. • Are there bathrooms in the classrooms • We have group bathrooms in close proximity to the classrooms • When will school start for students? • The doors are open at 8:00 and instruction begins at 8:20. Dismissal begins at 2:50.

22. Does my child attend school on half-days and 2-hour early dismissal days? • Yes, students will attend the same times as other students? • When will I find out about what bus my child will ride? • This information will be posted on our website and the front of the school in August • When will I find out my child’s teacher? • You will receive a letter with this information in August.

23. How many students are enrolled at North Frederick? • About 600 • Is it ok to walk my child in on the first day of school? • Yes. If your student may have separation anxiety it may be best to allow us to walk them to class for the first week. We will have lots of staff available to help with the transitions. • What is the student/teacher ratio? • Kindergarten has an approximate student/teacher ratio of 22:1. • When does volunteering start? • For the first three weeks of school, other volunteers help out in the K rooms to give students time to get adjusted before their parents come in. After that, a regular volunteer schedule will start.

24. What is staggered start? • Staggered start is when half of the class attends so that teachers can transition children in a smaller group. On Monday, K teachers will hold conferences with each parent. Student will either come Tuesday or Wednesday. On the fourth day of school, all children will attend. You will receive a letter letting you know which day your child will start school. Your child will come either Tuesday, or Wednesday, and then everyone will come starting Thursday.

25. Remember … Prepare for Your Child’s Future Starting Today! • Packet of activities to practice over the summer (you will get the activities at each station)