Welcome to Kindergarten!
We welcome you to Kindergarten at Park Meadows! We are so excited to be a part of your child's learning experience. Kindergarten is an important year for learning and growing. The first day of Kindergarten will mark one of the most important milestones in your child's life.
To ensure a wonderful year, please help your child practice skills at home through daily homework assignments and by reading at home every day. In our experience, students who are read to at home are the ones who make the most gains throughout the year.
Here are some of the things we will be learning this year...
- Recognize, count and write numbers to 20
- Count to 100 from any number by 1s, 5s, & 10s
- Identify shapes (2D and 3D)
- Classify & group objects according to size, shape, color, etc....
- Add & subtract fluently within 5
- Recognize & write uppercase and lowercase letters
- Match sounds to each alphabet letter
- Recognize and use rhyming words
- Begin reading words by using initial and ending consonant sounds (cat, hot, wig, ten)
- Recognize high frequency words
- Capitalize the first word in a sentence and use a punctuation mark at the end of a sentence
- Understand how people in communities work together
- Communicate by drawing, telling, or writing for a purpose
Kind regards,
Mrs. Rogers and
For more information visit:
Kindergarten
Important Information
Supply List
Classroom Expectations
We are P.A.R.K.
- We Prepared with supplies, and ready to learn.
- We are Accountable for our choices; academically and socially.
- We are Respectful to others, ourselves, and school property.
- We are Kind and considerate of others.
Everyone, show me S.N.A.P.
- Sit up with Straight.
- Nothing in your hands.
- Attention is on the speaker.
- Prepare to learn.
Lets all walk in a F.L.A.S.H. line.
- Face Forward.
- Lips are closed.
- Attention is to the
- Spine is straight,
- Hands are to your side or behind your back.
Curriculum
Language Arts
Our language arts program will be divided into and taught in four different areas using the Into Reading Curriculum; Guided Reading, Writing, Phonics and Whole Group Instruction. The combination of these four areas will provide a strong language foundation. Guided reading will be taught through a variety of fiction and nonfiction literature both in small and large group settings. Your child will write each day using our Into Reading Curriculum. Phonics will be taught through a hands-on approach that builds phonemic awareness, letter/sound recognition and improves decoding skills. Your child will have the opportunity to work each day independently at his/her own level! This is a great way to build self confidence and a life-long love for reading.
Please see the lesson plan page so you know what your child will be learning each week.
Language Arts - Writing
Your child will write each day. We will follow the writing curriculum incorporated in our Into Reading curriculum. We will use different methods for writing such as: journal writing, thinking maps and interactive journals. These will help each child develop their writing skills. Class journals will not come home until the end of the year.
Also, handwriting will be taught throughout the curriculum. We will focus on the correct formation of each letter. Please encourage your child to write each letter correctly. A handwriting sheet will come home within the first weeks of school so you can help your child at home.
Math
iReady is the adopted math curriculum of the Deer Valley Unified School District. The program provides a balance of concepts and skills. Traditional skills and procedures are covered through hands-on practice. Our concepts include:
- Writing numbers 0 to 20 (in and out of order)
- recognize numbers to 20
- Verbally counting to 100 from ANY given number
- Geometry (2D & 3D shapes)
- Measurement
- Number pairs & addition and subtraction to 10
- Composing and decomposing numbers
Reading Groups
Our class will be participating in both Small Reading Group and Whole Group instruction. These reading groups will help us provide a more individualized instruction to help meet the needs of all children. Small Reading Groups will meet each week in an independent learning format. Whole group instruction will be teacher directed. Students are grouped and regrouped according to their own instructional needs.
Social Studies and Science
We will use the My Science program adopted by our district. This program is a hands on approach to teaching science. The units include:
- Animals
- Trees & Weather
- Wood & Paper
For Social Studies, we will be use the district adopted Harcourt Series. The topics include:
- Being a Good Citizen
- My Country
- Workers
- Where We Live
- Stories from the Past
- Time Goes By
Technology
Technology will be incorporated into the curriculum and used to enhance student learning. Students will have the opportunity to explore different types of technology and use a variety of computer software. We are excited to have a smartboard and iPads in our room for each child to use. We currently use the following programs: iReady and Amplify. Parent letters will go home at the beginning of the year so that the students can log in at home.
Homework
Homework assigned in our class will consist of activities that reinforce what has been taught/learned in class and that actively involve learning. Homework activities that are sent home are for you to use and keep. If you need any additional work for your child, please let me know and I can send them home.
Assessment
A variety of assessment tools will be used in kindergarten. These include daily observations, Kindergarten benchmark tests, Rigby Reader leveled reader assessments, unit written assessments, writing portfolios, and DIBELS Reading Assessments. Report Cards will also be sent home quarterly (October, December, March and May).
E.L.A. Lesson Plans
Module 1
Week 1
Stories - Keisha Ann Can! School Day!
Big Idea Words - discover, dream, partners
Power Words - plan, polite, share
non-decodable words - the
Week 2
Stories - A Squiggly Story 
One Happy Classroom 
Big Idea Words - discover, dream, partners
Power words - idea, offer stuck
non-decodable words - a
Week 3
Stories - Kindergarten Kids 
School Bus 
Big Idea Words - discover, dream, partners
power words - clue, mistake, puzzled
non-decidable words - see
Week 4
Stories - Schools Around the World 
Annie, Bea and Chi Chi 
Big Idea Words - discover, dream, partners
Power Words - city, country, map
Words to Know - I
Module 2
Week 1
Stories - I Am Rene, the Boy 
Being Different Rocks!
Big Idea Words - celebrate, different, special
Power Words - participate, pronounce, research
Words to Know - to, by, my
Week 2
Stories - I Like Myself! 
ABC, I Like Me 
Big Idea Words - celebrate, different, special
Power Words - brother, change, same
Words to Know - am, at, go
Week 3
Stories - Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed 
Big Idea Words - celebrate, different, special
Power Words - exception, serious, wise
Words to Know - man, so, is
Week 4
Stories - Tiny Rabbit's Big Wish 
My Friend 
Big Idea Words - celebrate, different, special
Power Words - enormous, height, wish
Words to Know - can, and, you
Module 3
Week 1
Stories - Places in my Community 
Map my Neighborhood 
Big Idea Words - community, location, neighbor
Power Words - earn, safe, together
Words to Know - an, it, has
Week 2
Stories - Quinito's Neighborhood 
ABC: The Alphabet From the Sky 
Big Idea Words - Community, location, neighbor
Power Words - busy, help, neighborhood
Words to Know - ran, he, she
Week 3
Stories - A Bucket of Blessings 
Bo and Peter 
Big Idea Words - community, locations, neighbor
Power Words - hope, wonderful, worries
Words to Know - did, in, put
Week 4
Stories - A Piece of Home 
Welcome
Big Idea Words - community, locations, neighbor
Power Words - brave, expect, ordinary
Words to Know - sits, me, with
Module 4
Week 1
Stories - Being Fit 
Germs Are Not for Sharing 
Big Idea Words - energy, exercise, healthy
Power Words - active, stretch, weight
Words to Know - big, good, his, very
Week 2
Stories - Get Up and Go 
Stretch 
Big Idea Words - energy, exercise, healthy
Power Words - muscles, relaxing, take care
Words to Know - get, an, here, of
Week 3
Stories - Jack and the Hungry Giant 
Edible Colors 
Big Idea Words - energy, exercise, healthy
Power Words - half, serving, variety
Words to Know - lot, not, are, was
Week 4
Stories - Getting Rest 
Big Idea Words - energy, exercisr, healthy
Power Words - peaceful, relax, rest
Words to Know - had, be,do, ten
Module 5
Week 1
Stories - Jabari Jumps 
All By Myself 
Big Idea Words - practice, proud, success
Power Words - important, scared, surprise
Words to Know - but, up, look, want
Week 2
Stories - The Little Red Hen 
The Little Red Hen on Stage
Big Idea Words - practice, proud, success
Power Words - lovely, several, sky
Words to Know - him, us, for, her
Week 3
Stories - Ish 
Let's Make Music!
Big Idea Words - practice, proud, success
Power Words - allow, energize, inspire
Words to Know - yes, help, too, they
Week 4
Stories - Emmanuel's Dream 
Everyone Can Learn to Ride a Bicycle 
Big Idea Words - practice, proud, success
Power Words - disability, hero, respectful
Words to Know - six, have, some, we
Module 6
Week 1
Stories - America the Beautiful 
In Our Country 
Big Idea Words - belong, country, right
Power Words - America, plain, sea
Words to Know - get, hot, or, where
Week 2
Stories - Take Me Out to the Yakyu 
Take Me Out to the Ballgame
Big Idea Words - belong, country, right
Power Words - anthem, cheer, team
Words to Know - if, stop, come from
Week 3
Stories - Martin Luther King President's Day
Big Idea Words - belong, country, right
Power Words - believe, law, refuse
Words to Know - red, as, that, our
Week 4
Stories - Apple Pie 4th of July 
Happy Birthday to the U.S.!
Big Idea Words - belong, country, right
Power Words - American, crowd, customer
Words to Know - cut, must, said, when
Module 7
Week 1
Stories - Last Stop on Market Street 
Not a Box 
Big Idea Words - watch, wonder, world
Power Words - familiar, free, witness
Words to Know - off, will, down, so
Week 2
Stories - I Know the River Loves Me 
Look Alike Animals 
Big Idea Words - watch, wonder, world
Power Words - close, flow, visit
Words to Know - back, let, were, what
Week 3
Stories - Me....Jane 
Jane Goodall and the Chimpanzees 
Big Idea Words - watch, wonder, world
Power Words - curious, observe, study
Words to Know - then, this, could now
Week 4
Stories - Hey, Little Ant 
Ants 
Big Idea Words - watch, wonder, world
Power Words - care, describe, real
Words to Know - tell, well, your, who
Module 8
Week 1
Stories - Plants Feed Me 
Planting Seeds 
Big Idea Words - garden, harvest, plant
Power Words - bloom, root, seed
Words to Know - same, take, know, out
Week 2
Stories - Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt 
Earthworms 
Big Idea Words - garden, harvest, plant
Power Words - burrow, soil, vine
Words to Know - home, like, many, right
Week 3
Stories - PB & J Hooray 
Growing Vegetable Soup 
Big Idea Words - garden, harvest, plant
Power Words - crop, factory, ingredient
Words to Know - keep, made, why, would
Week 4
Stories - Rainbow Stew 
How Does Your Salad Grow? 
Big Idea Words - garden, harvest, plant
Power Words - peel, row, serve
Words to Know - make, time, all, into
Module 9
Week 1
Stories - Why Livings Things Need Homes 
What Am I? Where Am I? 
Big Words - habitat, protect, provide
Power Words - living, weather, young
Words to Know - came, gave, about, one
Week 2
Stories - Welcome Home Bear 
Black Bears 
Big Idea Words - habitat, protect, provide
Power Words - forest, steep, underground
Words to Know - just, pick, because, play
Week 3
Stories - A Day and Night in the Desert 
I n the Tall, Tall Grass 
Big Idea Words - habitat, protect, provide
Power Words - burrow, prey, search
Words to Know - ate, them, again, how
Week 4
Stories - Red Knit Cap Girl to the Rescue 
Polar Bears 
Big Idea Words - habitat, protest, provide
Power Words - encounter, journey, sturdy
Words to Know - review
High Frequency Words
High Frequency Words
These are the 120 DVUSD Kindergarten high frequency words your child should be able to read by the end of the year.
|
am |
at |
did |
got | it |
|
one |
two | three | an | and |
| can | get | had | him | hot |
| if | in | its | not | on |
| sit | ten | the | a | ask |
| big | but | cut | let | ran |
| red | run | six | up | us |
| yes | blue | yellow | look | as |
| best | fast | has | help | his |
| is | jump | just | must | stop |
| went | are | I | little | bring |
| long | much | sing | that | them |
| then | this | wish | with | down |
| of | out | black | off | pick |
| shall | tell | well | will | all |
| from | funny | was | here | no |
| once | said | so | there | to |
| were | what | when | where | which |
| why | word | says | ate | came |
| five | gave | green | keep | like |
| made | make | ride | sleep | see |
| take | those | use | three | be |
| buy | he | me | my | she |
| their | they | we | you | your |
Here are some suggestions to help your child learn these words:
-
Flash cards - make flash cards out of index cards.
-
Memory - make two sets of flash cards and play the memory game.
-
Have your child highlight these words when they find them in the newspaper, magazines, or junk mail.
-
make a word search puzzle - puzzlemaker.com is a great website to make word searches.