Curriculum
Ms. Linda Schachwary and Mrs. Donna Suptela

I. Reading – Series:  Harcourt

A. Concepts of Print

• Follow words from left to right, top to bottom on a printed page.
• Uppercase and lowercase letter recognition.
• Recognize that sentences in print are made up of separate words.
• Identify front and back covers and title page in a book.
• Understand that printed material provides information.
• Distinguish letters from words.

B. Phonemic Awareness (auditory)

• Identify and produce rhyming words.
• Syllable segmentation and blending in words.
• Syllable deletion (pancake – take away “pan”)
• Letter sound isolation.  Beginning, middle and end (give me something that begins with /b/).
• Blending sounds /h/ at, as well as /h/ /a/ /t/.
• Sound segmentation (at, /a/ /t/).
• Sound deletion (sun, take away /s/, and left with /un/).
• Beginning sound substitution (say cat, change /c/ to /s/ makes sat).
• Ending sound substitution (say cat, change /t/ to /n/ makes can).
• Word Segmentation (listening to “I like cake” and recognizing how many words are in the sentence).

C. Phonics and decoding

• Phonemic awareness skills with visual matching.

D. High frequency words:  a, my, the, I, like, go, we, on, to, you, 

have, do, what, no, see, look, come, for, me, one, little, are, here.

E. Comprehension

• Use pictures and context to make predictions about story content.
• Identify characters and setting and important events.
• Retell familiar stories.
• Identify important elements in sequence.
• Connect text to life experiences.
• Understand a story problem and solution.
• Understand main idea and details.
• Locate title, name of author and illustrator.
• Distinguish fantasy from realistic text.
• Make judgments about story characters.
• Recognizing different genre.
• Draw conclusions based on story elements.
• Make inferences.
• Recognize cause and effect.

F. Writing

• 6+1 Traits of Writing :  This is a K-8 writing program that incorporates the following traits:  ideas, conventions, sentence fluency, word choice, voice, organization and presentation.  Kindergarten will focus on the traits of ideas and conventions during 2^nd semesters.
• Shared writing
• Interactive writing
• Independent writing
• Write uppercase and lowercase letters using proper form.
• Write from left to right, top to bottom.
• Use developmental spelling to sound out words.
• Using letters and phonetically spelled words to write about experiences, stories, people, objects or events.
• Write consonant – vowel – consonant words.
• Write sentences with appropriate ending marks.

II. Waterford Early Reading Program

• Supplemental software curriculum – 3 computers in each kindergarten classroom.
• Helps students master reading readiness concepts.
• Adapts to each child’s learning pace.
• Variety of levels that can be adjusted by the teacher as well as running evaluations in the management system (90% or higher to advance skills).
• See attached sheet for skills taught.

III. Star Reader Club

• Each week Ziploc bag comes home with a book, a related activity, supplies and instructions to engage families in reading experiences.
• Library books and Star Reader Club homework should come back the following week on library day (Tuesday).
• It will begin 9-16-08.

IV. Math – Scott Foresman Addison Wesley in conjunction with Math Their Way.

• Sorting and classifying
• Geometry
• Patterning
• Comparing and Ordering
• Graphing
• Counting to 100 by 1’s and 10’s
• Number recognition 0-31
• Estimation and measuring
• Time and money
• Simple addition and subtraction
• Calendar

V. Science – McGraw Hill

• Weather and the seasons
• Learn about plants
• Learn about animals
• A home called Earth

VI. Health – The Great Body Shop

• How to stay safe
• Five senses
• Adventure in food
• Family team
• My body is special
• Going to the doctor and dentist
• No drugs, no way

VII. Social Studies – MacMillian/McGraw-Hill

• Families
• Needs and wants
• Our country, our world
• Holidays

Things To Know

Report Cards and Conference:  First quarter report cards will be narratives only and will be distributed on Friday, October 31, 2008.  Each quarter after that will be the regular kindergarten report card as well as a narrative.  First quarter formal conferences will be held on the following three dates:  Wednesday, November 5^th from 4:30-8:30 p.m. and Thursday, November 20^th from 12:30-8:00 p.m. and on Monday, November 24^th from 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.  On Thursday, November 15^th there will still be an afternoon session.  There will be a substitute teacher in the classroom while we conference with parents.  On Monday, November 19^th there will be no school for the students.

Metropolitan Test:  The standardized test that is given in kindergarten is called the Metropolitan Readiness Test and will be given in mid-January.  Results will be shared with you during second quarter conferences which will be February 3 & 4 from 2-9:00 p.m. and February 5 from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Kindergarten Weekly:  This is a one page newsletter that goes home every Friday.  The purpose is to give parents an overview of what we will be doing the upcoming week.

Notes:  Any time your child is deviating from his/her normal routine please write a note.  For your protection, our protection and especially your child’s protection this is a practice the school is very firm on.  If there is a last minute emergency please call the school office.

Birthday treats/party invitations:  If you wish to send a treat you may do so.  It is optional.  We ask that you consider one of the following options:  1.  Send individually wrapped treats that can be eaten in school or taken home.  2.  Send in goodie bags to be passed out and taken home. 

3.  Send a trinket (i.e. pencil, eraser etc.) in lieu of and edible treat.  Due to time constraints, we ask that you do not send the following items:  cake, cupcakes, ice cream or drinks. In Mrs. Suptela’s AM and PM class there are children with peanut and chocolate allergies.  Please refrain from sending items in with those ingredients.  Party invitations may only be passed out to either all the boys, all the girls or the entire class.  We can’t pass out invitations if certain children are excluded because we don’t want anyone’s feelings to get hurt.

Food Allergies:  From time to time we do cook in class or enjoy a special treat.  Please let me know if your child is allergic to anything.

Contacting the teacher:  Please feel free to contact me regarding any questions or concerns you may have.  You may call Benson Primary School between 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. or write a note and I will contact you.  If you would like to leave a voice mail message dial 773-1232 (Miss Schaschwary’s ext. 3025 & Mrs. Suptela ext. 3003) or E-mail Miss Schaschwary at , Mrs. Suptela at .