Transition to Kindergarten

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Transition to Kindergarten

• Talk, Listen, Read, Play
• Learning takes place in everyday moments.

Developed By Andrea Grucela
Ashley Paesch
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What is Kindergarten?

• Kindergarten forms the basis for the development
  of the critical academic, intellectual, social
  and emotional experiences and learning
  foundations that will guide and inform students
  throughout the duration of their school careers.
  
• The experiences are planned using the Maryland
  State Curriculum for Kindergarten and include
  reading, writing, mathematics, social studies,
  science and health.
• www.pgcps.org/kindergarten

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Where will I go to Kindergarten?

• Schools are identified based on boundaries
• You MUST enroll at your boundary school or
  designated IEP Program
• Applications are accepted for Kindergarten
  children to attend specialty programs and charter
  schools (may be outside of your boundary school)
• Application deadline for the 2011-2012 school
  year is March 18, 2011
• A lottery system is used to select applicants
• Placement notifications will be mailed to parents
• Early entrance applications are not accepted for
• specialty programs

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A typical child entering Kindergarten

• is aware that written words and symbols mean
  something
• recognizes a few letters and/or words
• pretends to read and/or write
• loves to have stories read to them
• is becoming independent but still needs limits
  set
• follows two to three step directions
• can open their own food and juice containers
• is physically strong and coordinated
• communicates with adults and others
• uses the bathroom independently
• can get on and off the school bus independently

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Whos in a Kindergarten class?

• Students who are 5 years old by September 1, 2011
• 1 teacher (no additional paraprofessional)
• Children in the classroom from
• PreK
• Head Start
• Early Childhood Centers (ECC)
• Community Daycare Centers
• Home

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A Day In The Life

• Arrival
• Reading/English Language Arts
• Lunch/Recess
• Math
• Specials (such as PE, Music, Technology,
  Media/Library and Art)
• Health
• Social Studies
• Science
• Dismissal

IEP implementation of services will be provided
throughout the day with support from special
education teacher
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Arrival

• Child will learn to INDEPENDENTLY
• remove backpack/coat (button, zip, etc)
• follow morning unpacking routine (materials to
  teacher, personal materials in cubby/locker,
  lunch/lunch to designated location)
• complete morning work (journal writing, read a
  book, worksheet/handout)
• attend to school morning announcements

Attendance is mandatory. Students are expected to
arrive on time, daily.
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Reading/English Language Arts

• 135 Minute time block
• Whole Group Instruction
• Opening routines
• Comprehension mini-lesson
• Phonemic awareness/phonics
• Word work
• Writing and Language mini-lesson
• Read aloud
• Small Group Instruction/Guided Independent
  Practice
• (20 min each)
• Teacher guided reading group
• Literacy activity (independent work)
• Centers (such as library, listening, art, write
  the room, read the room, science, writing,
  blocks, math, computers)

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A Balanced Reading Program is the core reading
program for Prince Georges County Public
Schools. It combines the development of
phonological awareness skills with literature
rich activities. This consists of

• Phonemic Awareness the ability to hear,
  identify and utilize individual sounds in spoken
  words
• Phonics- the relationship between the letters of
  written language and the sounds of spoken
  language
• Fluency- the capacity to read text accurately and
  quickly
• Vocabulary- the words students must know to
  communicate effectively
• Comprehension- the ability to understand and gain
  meaning from what had been read

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Lunch/Recess

• Help your child practice and learn their PIN
  for their lunch account
• Remind your child to give their money to their
  classroom teacher for their lunch account.
• Children should be able to open all containers
  independently, if bringing a lunch to school
• If bringing a lunch to school please remember
  refrigerators, freezers, microwaves and ovens are
  not available. Use a cold pack for items needing
  refrigeration.
• Please have labels on lunch box and food items
  (in additional to all other personal items)
• Adults are available in the cafeteria during
  lunch. Please teach and encourage your child to
  raise their hand if they need assistance.
• Paperwork for Free and Reduced Lunches must be
  submitted and approved before it will be
  reflected on the students lunch account.
  (Remember to submit your forms)

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Specials

• Children may participate in one or more of the
  following
• Music
• Physical Education/ Adaptive Physical Education
  (APE)
• Art
• Media Center/Library
• Computer Lab/Technology
• In some cases, children will be taught by a
  teacher (other than their classroom teacher),
  outside of the classroom.

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Math

• 75 Minute block
• Whole Group Instruction
• Problem of the day
• Manipulatives/Hands-on materials
• Literature experience
• Defining and developing vocabulary
• Small Group Instruction
• Teacher guided math group
• Independent activity (journal, math workbook
  pages, games, etc)
• Centers

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Health

• 25 Minute Block (once a week)
• Teacher directed and independent activities

• Maryland State Curriculum Standards
• Mental and Emotional Health
• Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs
• Personal and Consumer Health
• Family Law and Human Sexuality (Family Members,
  etc.)

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Social Studies

• 45 Minutes (every other day)
• Teacher directed and independent activities
• Maryland State Curriculum
  Standards
• Political Science
• Peoples of the Nations and World
• Geography
• Economics
• History
• Social Studies Skills and Processes

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Science

• 45 min block
• Whole Class, Small Groups and Lab
• Open-ended multi level Lab activities
• Science Journals

• Maryland State Curriculum Standards
• Earth and Space
• Life Science
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Environmental Science

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Dismissal

• Children will independently pack up their
  backpack and gather materials to go home.
• Any changes in dismissal routine must be given to
  the teacher, in writing (ie- Marcus will not be
  riding the bus today, etc.)
• ANY adult picking up the student MUST be listed
  on their Emergency Card in the Main Office.
  Proper ID will be required
• Check with your school for specific pick up and
  drop off procedures.

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Kindergarten Curriculum Materials

• Maryland Model for School Readiness (MMSR)
• Maryland State Curriculum
• Houghton Mifflin Reading A Legacy of Literacy
• Scott Foresman Addison Wesley Mathematics
• Scott Foresman Social Studies Here We Go
• Scott Foresman Science
• Harcourt Health and Fitness

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Kindergarten Assessments

• Alphabet Identification
• Concepts of Print
• Writing Spree
• Dictation
• Directed Reading Assessment (DRA)
• Maryland Model for School Readiness (MMSR)
• Math Chapter Tests

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What is MMSR?

• An assessment and instructional system
• Identifies for parents and teachers, what
  children know and are able to do when they begin
  school
• Composed of seven domains

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Seven Domains of MMSR

• Personal and Social Development
• How a child gets along with others and handles
  emotions
• Language and Literacy
• Learning to talk, listen, read and write
• Expressing himself and learning to understand
  others
• Mathematical Thinking
• Using patterns, counting, noticing relationships
  and figuring out how to solve problems
• Scientific Thinking
• Wondering, asking questions, finding answers and
  collecting information

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Seven Domains of MMSR cont.

• Social Studies
• How people live, work, get along together and
  solve problems
• The Arts
• Appreciating and participating in dance, drama,
  music and art
• Physical Development
• Muscle control and coordination
• Meeting basic needs of food, clothing, shelter
  and regular health care

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Grading and Report Cards

• Report cards are sent home quarterly (every 9
  weeks)
• Interim progress reports are sent home for each
  child in the middle of each quarter
• IEP progress reports on IEP goals are sent home
  four times during the school year
• Students receive a minimum of 2 grades per week,
  per subject in classes meeting 4-5 times a week
• Students receive a minimum of 1 grade a week for
  classes meeting less than 4 time a week

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Grading Process

• Grading Scale
• PR Proficient 90-100
• IP In Process 80-89
• EM Emerging 70-79
• ND Needs Development 50-69
• Final Grades are comprised of
• Class work
• Homework
• Assessments

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Family Portal

• PGCPS uses an online student information system,
  called SchoolMAX, which tracks nearly all student
  data, including
• Contact information
• Attendance
• Grades
• Discipline
• Directions for use and how to access are located
  on the PGCPS website at
• http//www1.pgcps.org/schoolmax/family/index.h
  tml

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Getting Involved at School

• Remember to check the Parent Portal on a regular
  basis
• Volunteering
• Check with teacher about opportunities and/or
  needs for volunteers in the classroom and school
• ALL volunteers/chaperones who interact with
  children MUST
• Have a commercial background check completed by
  Prince Georges County Public Schools
• Cost 7

• Fingerprinting may be required in special
  situations
• Please contact the Fingerprinting office for
  details
• 14201 School Lane Room
  131
• Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
• 301-952-6775
• Office Hours M-F
  8am-345pm

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• Children with Special Needs
• Placed in a Kindergarten program based on their
  IEP
• Implementation of special education services and
  related services occurs in the programs based on
• current progress
• present levels of performance
• goals and objectives
• amount of accommodations and modifications

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Child Find for Parentally Placed Students in
Private and Religious Schools(PARD)

• IEP students attending a private school MUST
  contact the PARD office
• Current services are provided through a service
  plan to qualified students
• Contact
• LaRon Martin, Child Find Specialist
• John Carroll Elementary School
• 1400 Nalley Terrace
• Landover, MD 20785
• 301-618-8342

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How to prepare your child for their transition to
Kindergarten

• Talk about school in a positive way
• Visit the school (please make an appointment)
• Visit the schools playground
• Share your childs IEP with the school principal,
  special education teacher and classroom teacher.
• Find books at the library about starting school
• Get organized (plan for bedtime, morning
  routines, get supplies)
• Create a plan with your child for the first day
  of school (dropping off, saying goodbye, etc)
• Review bus safety, if applicable
• Attend the systemic kindergarten orientation day
  with your child
• Practice Lunch PIN number during the first month
  of school
• Discuss your/child's feelings about starting
  school address their concerns
• Inform teacher and school of any special
  needs/concerns your child may have (health,
  allergies, IEP, 504 plan, etc.)

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Suggested Books to Read to Your Child to Prepare
for Kindergarten

• When Sophie Gets Angry Really, Really Angry by
  Molly Bang
• Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come! by Nancy L.
  Carlson
• Lillys Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
• I Love School! by Philemon Sturges
• My Kindergarten by Rosemary Wells
• Lots of Feelings by Shelley Rotner
• The Neighborhood Mother Goose by Nina Crews
• ABC for You and Me by Margaret Girnis
• Countdown to Kindergarten by Alison McGhee
• available at your public library

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Resource Websites
Parent and Family

• http//www1.pgcps.org/judycenter - parent
  information center
• http//www.familynetworks.com Childrens Home
  Society Family Services
• http//www.naeyc.org/families - Nation
  Association for the Education of Young
  Children
• http//www.readyatfive.org/resources/tips.aspx -
  Ready at Five parent tips

Support Information
http//www.ncpad.org National Center on
Physical Activity and Disability http//www.nichcy
.org National Dissemination Center for Children
with Disabilities http//www.ppmd.org Center
for Parents of Special Needs
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Websites cont.

• Educational Information
• http//www.readyatfive.org/facts/mmsr.aspx -
  facts about MMSR
• http//www.mdk12.org/instruction/ensure/MMSR/index
  .html - MMSR
• http//www.getreadytoread.org literary
  activities and online games
• http//www.countdowntokindergarten.org supports
  transition to Kindergarten
• http//www.gettingreadytoread.org/matriarch -
  school readiness indicators
• http//www.thearcofpgc.org support for people
  with disabilities and their families

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PGCPS Offices

• Board of Education 301-952-6115
• Compliance Due Process 301-952-6337
• Early Childhood Office 301-808-2707
• Even Start 301-431-6220
• Family Community Outreach 301-952-2531
• Fingerprinting 301-952-6775
• Head Start 301-408-7100
• Home Schooling 301-333-1001
• Judy Hoyer Family Learning Center 301-408-6860

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PGCPS Offices Cont.

• Nonpublic Office - 301-985-1775
• Partners for Success Parent Center 301-952-2811
• Safety Office 301-952-6527
• Special Education 301-618-8300
• Student Services 301-952-6384
• Talented Gifted (TAG) 301-808-3709
• Transportation Central Garage 301-952-6570
• Parent Complaint Line 301-780-5800
• Walk-In Student Counseling Family Support
  Centers
• 301-749-4567