Early Learning Village
Mrs. Chance’s
Kindergarten Classroom Handbook
2011-2012
Chance’s Chimps
Our Team
We have a wonderful classroom team as well as an amazing Village Team! Ms. Heins is our classroom assistant and this is her first year working at the Village! We are so excited to have her.
Around the School
Ms. Kelly Sampson – Principal
Ms. Michelle Schlafer – School Coordinator
Ms. Grace – Guidance Counselor
Ms. Brittany Gray—School Pyschologist
Ms. Amber Bruner –School Pyschologist
Contact Information
School-(859) 887-5358
Website: www.Jessamine.kyschools.us
My contact information:
If you need to contact me, you may call the school at (859) 887-5358. I am unable to take calls during classroom instruction, but if you leave a message, I will return the call as soon as possible. If it is an emergency, please let the front office know immediately when you call.
You may also reach me by email. My email address is Christy.chance@jessamine.kyschools.us. I check my email several times a day and also at night when I get home.
Instruction In Our Classroom
We are looking forward to an exciting year of learning. We incorporate many different teaching styles in order that all students learn in a way that is best for him or her. Here is a list of some of the terms you will hear and this will help you better understand what your child is talking about at home.
Morning Meeting
We begin each day with Morning meeting. It is our time to share with our classmates, focus on our learning goals for the day, and build our classroom community. It is not a show and tell time as we think of it, but it is a time to teach the students the great skills of speaking, listening, and socialization skills essential to a success life. This is where we will work together to solve problems and help ourselves and each other. I will ask the students to bring in items throughout the year with specific guidelines. I will send home a note in the folder so please make sure to check the folder each night for important information.
Reading Workshop/Smartstacks
We have begun a new program at the Village. Last year was our initial year using the reading workshop model. We begin the year working in small groups and then eventually the students will self select books on their level and learn to read independently and we will work with the students individually and conference and work on ways and strategies to improve their reading.
Literacy Workshops
We will work in 4 small groups to help the students with their literacy skills including letters, sounds, cvc words, popcorn words, and beginning, middle and ending sounds. Their will be two teacher led groups and two independent groups. The workshops will change each week and we will plan according to the needs of the students and work with the students on their individual level to ensure their success. It is a fun time where we use games, and technology to help with literacy and learning.
Math Whole Group/Workshops
Math is taught several different ways. There will be times when we learn as a whole group, but we will also work in small groups in order to focus on developing skills and to practice what we learn. Skills that we will be working on include recognizing and writing numbers up to 20, counting and writing the corresponding numbers up to 20, addition, subtraction, calendar elements (months of the year, days of the week, today, yesterday, and tomorrow), and shapes. These are taught using workshops very similar to literacy workshops and the games and activities change each week based on the needs of my students.
Writing Workshop
Kindergarten is children’s first writing experience. It is great to see the development of their writing skills over the year. We will write throughout the day. Each child will have their own writing journal to use each day. We will write as a group through a process called interactive writing. I keep many of the students writing pieces and I will show them to you as we meet throughout the year. I will also send some pieces home. We use a program called “Kid Writing”. The process involves the students writing sentences using sight words, phonetic spelling (sounding it out), and word wall words (copying). After the student finishes, the teacher or parent (if they have writing for homework) will use their “adult writing” and write the sentence correctly underneath their “kid writing”. We provide praise for their effort and we encourage all students to try their best, and we hope that you do the same at home. You will be so amazed at their progress and writing skills at the end of the year.
Ready, Set, Learn (RSL)
At the end of the day, we have 40 minutes dedicated to small group and individual intervention time. We will work with students to help in any skills that may require additional instructional time. The students work on individual centers and we will work with students on skills specific to their needs. It is a free choice time, and it is really fun for the students to be able to work on activities of their choosing.
Classroom Management Plan
We have a simple behavior plan. The students will flip their card. Everyone starts out on green. At the beginning of the year, each student will be given 3 chances before they need to flip their card. It is called 1, 2, 3 Magic. I will begin by saying that is a 1, and then that is a 2, and on the third redirection the student will have to flip their card. The next color is yellow, and then to blue, and finally red.
The students have to stay on green or yellow for 4 out of 5 days in order to get in the treasure box on Friday. We have a weekly behavior chart that goes home each night for you to see and sign. It needs to stay in the folder. If the chart is not in their folder on Friday, they cannot get into the treasure box.
If the student moves past red, the parent will be contacted and a note will be sent home. The parent needs to sign and return the note to school the following day. Students that are having difficulty consistently following the rules will require a parent/teacher conference to determine alternative methods for improving the behavior.
The consequences are as follows if they move flip their color cards:
Green – Warning
Yellow – 2nd Warning – 1 walking lap around playground
Blue– 3rd and final warning- 2 walking laps around playground
Red –Trip to office and note home to parents
**We require students to have movement time during our outdoor motor time. We will have students walk around the playground before playing if they change the color card. We will not have any students sit out unless they are endangering themselves or others. They will walk their lap and then be allowed to play.
**Depending on the individual needs of our students, we will work with families and students to set up individual behavior plans. We will work with all parties involved and work collaboratively to create a plan that will fit individual students if necessary. We will contact you as soon as possible, if we see any needs or changes that your child my have. Otherwise, this will be the basic plan for the class as a whole group especially at the beginning of school. We will fade out the 1,2,3 Magic over the school year and as they learn the rules and procedures in order to get them ready for first grade transition.
Attendance
It is very important that your child attend school each day. It is also important that they arrive on time. School begins at 7:45 and ends at 2:35.
If your child is absent, you are required to send a parent or doctor’s note on the day following the absence in order for you child to be excused. Please state the day of the absence and the reason for the absence. It is very important that we receive a note from you or a doctor explaining the reason for the missed day(s). If you do not send a parent or doctor’s note, the student will be marked UNEXCUSED. Parents are allowed to send in a total of 8 parent notes.
Excessive tardies and absences will be sent to our attendance committee and parents will be contacted by the Family Resource Center. Attendance is very important. We understand that children will be sick, but please try to send in notes for ANY absences that students have.
Transportation Changes
It is important to notify the school immediately for any changes in your child’s transportation. All changes need to be sent through the office. You may send a note in your child’s folder to alert us of the change, but you HAVE TO CALL the office and let them know even if you have sent a note. They will notify us in the afternoon of all changes. Please remember if someone different will be picking your child up or getting them off the bus, the person will be required to show an ID, and they have to be listed on the blue card. This is for the safety of your child, so please make sure that they know that when coming in to pick up the child. Bus drivers will also ask for IDs when dropping the students off to someone different.
Parent Involvement and Communication
We will work as a team to ensure the success of each and every child in this classroom, and you are a key player on this team. Communication is essential for teamwork. You can call me at the school at 887-5358, and I will return your call as soon as possible. You can contact me by email at Christy.Chance@jessamine.kyschools.us. I check my email several times a day and I will get back with you as quickly as I can. I am also working on my blog and it is www.chanceschimps.blogspot.com. I also like to make home visits and meet with you and your family. I know that everyone is busy and it is hard to arrange a schedule, but I am flexible. We can arrange a home visit, school meeting, or at another place like McDonald’s, if necessary.
***Please send any letters, parent/doctor notes, and money in your child’s folder.
***Make sure that any money you send in is in an envelope with your child’s name, what the money is to be used for, and the amount is written on the outside. Children loose money and we need to know to whom it belongs to if it is found in the hall.
I send home a newsletter at the end of each week to keep you up to date on important dates, new sight words, and important reminders. We will also have Family Fun Nights each month. We have a definite theme each time, and it is a great way to be involved with your child and the school and you can learn a lot, too.
Volunteering is another way to take part in your child’s education. We would love to have you help in our classroom. It is required that you fill out the necessary forms before you can join us. I will have forms in the room, and if you would like to volunteer, please send a note in the folder and I will send the papers home with your child. This is also required for anyone planning to attend our field trips. The forms have to be filled out in advance, and cannot be done on the day of the trip. I will send home reminders of this before our trips.
Report Cards and Testing Information
Report cards are sent home four times a year at the end of each 9 week period. You will need to sign and return these to school the next day. Remember that the students are not expected to be proficient in all things at the beginning of the school year. Progress works over time, and I will contact you if I see any problems or concerns.
We also have testing 3 times a year. The students will be tested at the beginning of school, a second time in January, and the final time will be at the end of the school year.
We will have a math assessment and reading and literacy skills will be assessed using the ELA (Early Literacy Assessment) and the DRA (Direct Reading Assessment). More information will be provided later in the school year on expectations for the year.
Homework
Your child will have homework each week. I will send home a packet on Monday, and it needs to be completed and turned in on Thursday. It is meant to be a fun and enjoyable experience for you and your child to spend some time together.
As your child becomes proficient in reading, we will start sending home “take home” books. The students will bring home books to read with you at home, and each book will have an activity to go along with the book. I ask that you read with your child and help them complete the activity.
We are looking forward to a wonderful year here at the Village. Please feel free to contact me at any time, and we will work together to ensure the best possible year for your child.
I am excited to have your child in my classroom. This packet contains important information for you and your child. Please read carefully and contact me if you have any questions or concerns. The student’s success is dependent upon parent involvement, school attendance, homework, and schoolwork. We will all be successful if we work together and help the child in all ways possible.
Items Needed: Please send these items with your child each day.
Ø Backpack- Each day and please send a change of clothes with your child in his/her backpack the first day of school. We will keep these in their cubby for the year. Accidents sometimes happen and we need clothes to change your child if necessary.
Ø Jacket or coat- When the seasons change, we will continue to go outside during the day. Please make sure that your child has a coat or jacket on days that are cool or cold.
Ø Daily Folder – Each student will bring home a folder each night. Please check the folder daily. I will send home important papers in this folder. Please send any money or notes back to me in this folder. Money needs to be in an envelope with the child’s name, amount, and what it is for written on the outside.
