Welcome to Adkins Elementary Direct Instruction Minilessons Five

Welcome to Adkins Elementary

Direct Instruction Minilessons Five Components of Literacy Success: – – – Alphabetic Principle Phonological Awareness Vocabulary Fluency Comprehension These components will be taught using: – – – Shared Reading and Interactive Writing Read Aloud Reading and Writing Workshop Guided Reading and Small Groups Reading Strategies Phonics/Word Study

Mini lesson ü Whole group ü Introduces writing strategies • Independent Writing ü “Inventive spelling” ü Working on individual goals ü Small groups and individual conferences • Share Time • Handwriting without Tears •

Reader’s Workshop Mini lesson ü Whole group ü Introduces reading strategies and behaviors • Independent Reading ü Guided reading books & books of choice. • Partner Reading ü Practice developing their fluency by reading with a partner • Share Time •

Guided Reading • Will begin when your child has an appropriate foundation of pre-reading skills. • Leveled fiction and nonfiction texts • Books will come home in book bags to be read at home to family • The books are property of Adkins and cost $7 each if lost or damaged

Comprehension I understand what I read Accuracy I can read the words Strategies ~Parts of a book Strategies ~Use the pictures ~Check for understanding ~Get your mouth ready ~Make predictions ~Think about what make ~Identify character sense emotions ~Cross Check (Does it ~Connect to a story look right, sound right and ~Back-up and reread make sense? ) Retell a story ~Slow check to the end Fluency I can read accurately, with expression, and understand what I read Strategies ~Voracious reader ~Recognize sight words Expand Vocabulary I know, find, and use interesting words Strategies ~Listen for interesting words ~Read punctuation ~Read like a storyteller ~Read "Just Right Books" ~Identify fiction and nonfiction ~Flip the sound ~Stretch and blend ~If I know ____then I know ______ Behaviors That Support Reading *Get started right away *Stay in one spot *Work quietly *Read the whole time *Increase stamina *Select and read good-fit books

Sight Words/“snap words” • Your child will learn new sight words each week. • Please practice reading and writing these words with your child frequently. • They will be assessed on these words throughout the year. • Sight Words are listed on the newsletter weekly.

Math • Problem Solving – justifying solution, determining a solution, reasonableness, selecting correct tools • Number and Operations – counting, composing & decomposing numbers, simple addition & subtraction, subitizing • Geometry – 2 D & 3 D shapes • Measurement – weight, capacity, length, height, more & less • Data Analysis – Collect, sort, & organize data into two or three categories • Personal Financial Literacy – Identifying names of coins & how to earn income

Math Workshop • Introduction • Pose the problem • Investigate possible solutions • Hands-on activities and games • Manipulatives • Small Groups • Practice previous concepts • Discussion • Correcting misconceptions • Discuss different solutions, strategies and methods • Justify thinking

• Government (Rules and Laws) • Celebrate Freedom Week (US Constitution, the Texas pledge, & US pledge) • Geography (Maps, Globes & Landforms) • Holidays • Customs and Traditions of people in the community • Jobs • Good Citizens (Stephen F. Austin & George Washington)

• Research • Properties of Objects • Weather and Seasons • Animal Parts • Force and Motion • Basic Needs of Animals and Plants • Parts of Plants • Healthy Behaviors & Dental Health • Rocks and Soil • Objects in the Sky

Recess & Lunch • Recess is from 10: 30 -11: 00 – Tennis shoes are the best footwear • Lunch is from 11: 00 -11: 30 – Must check at the office to eat with your child at the reserved parent table – You may eat with your child only – Please continue to work with your child on independent eating skills. – Forgotten lunches may be dropped off on the table outside the cafeteria.

Communication • All important information, such as school wide notices, PTA event flyers, etc. will come home on Friday. • Weekly newsletters will be emailed every Friday for the upcoming week. • Email is the best way to contact us. We will not answer the phone during instruction. • Check and empty the folder every day. • Sign up for your child’s See. Saw account!

Birthdays • You may send a birthday snack (cookies, brownies, cupcakes, donuts) to school with your child on their birthday. • We will eat the snack during our normal snack time. • No drinks, plates, napkins, or goodie bags should be sent. • Please do not send birthday party invitations to be distributed at school UNLESS ALL children (boys and girls) in the class receive an invitation

Field Trips • • Pumpkin Patch – October 20 th 9: 00 -12: 00 Stephen Fite Concert- February 16 th Frank Buck Zoo- May 4 th 9: 00 -2: 00 Background Check MUST be completed and approved to chaperone • Chaperone Responsibilities – No siblings if attending as a chaperone – Will be responsible for a small group of children • More information to come!

Procedures • Your child will need his/her backpack and folder every day. • If there is a change in TRANSPORTATION, a parent must send a note, email or call the office. • Students may come to class at 7: 30 and instruction begins at 7: 40. • Please send a healthy quick to eat snack (nothing that requires utensils) everyday. • Water, no juice, for snack. • Your child may bring a water bottle to keep in the classroom.

Questions About Procedures and Routines…? • Check ABCs of Kindergarten – Sent home in GO folder on first day of school • Teacher’s website • Email teacher

Kindergarten is so much fun! Check out our websites! www. dentonisd. org