WelcomePlease come in and start filling out the

paperwork at your child’s seat. Thanks!!!

Mrs. BrownMy teaching philosophy:

• I have very high expectations for my students.

• My goal is to help foster responsible & independent learners in kindergarten.

• I am very consistent with my classroom routines and procedures.

• I try to be very organized and keep parents informed about what is going on at school.

• I am pretty tough at first! / Firm, but fair!

• I strive to treat all my students the way that I would want my own children to be treated at school.

• Once they are mine, they are ALWAYS mine!

• I need parent support! (We are a 3 legged stool)

• If you have a problem, please don’t hesitate to talk to me about it.

Kindergarten Curriculum• Reading & Writing (daily 2.5 hours)

– Harcourt Story Town Series– Letters, sounds, blending and reading words– Phonemic awareness & phonics progression– Color, number, & sight words– Reading strategies– Comprehension & vocabulary– Writing Workshop

• Math (daily 1.5 hours)– Math Investigations Series– Hands- on / “real world” math – Calendar, daily data, story problems – Building number sense & fluency– Using pictures, manipulatives, & words to solve

problems and explain thinking.

• Science & Social Studies (daily 30 min.)• Lunch (daily 25 min.)• Snack (daily 15 min. while working on

reading)• P.E. (daily 30 min.)• Recess (daily 15 min. weather permitting)• Art, Music, & Computer (weekly 30 min.)• Library & Guidance (twice a month 30

min) • Rest Time (daily for the 1st 9 wks only–

30min.)

Orientation Folder• Complete and Return in the Gree n Folder

• Tell me about your child• “Wanted” volunteer information (room mother & copier)• Room mother contact sheet• E-mail information

• Take Home • Letter about me• Lunch number practice page•Meet the teacher, Wednesday for children•Kindergarten reminders page•Wish List•Text Reminder-SIGN UP

FISH BindersFISH is an acronym for Family Involvement Starts Here!

• The FISH Binder is a 3-ring binder that houses everything students and parents need to keep up-to-date with what is going on at school.

• Please take time to go through it each night with your child. Below is a list of items in the binder.

• FISH Binders will contain:Money and Important Notes Pouch• Please send all money, notes, etc, in this zipper pouch, so I can be sure to get it first

thing in the morning. • Please place all money (cash, change, or checks) in a sealed envelope or Ziploc

baggy.

Pease include your child’s name, teacher’s name and what the money is for. Conduct Chart - Please check & initial each day. • I use a behavior clip chart system. • We have seven rules. (Listen, show respect, use personal space, raise your hand, use the right voice, walk, do your best• All children are expected to follow these rules so that all children have the opportunity to learn. • Good behavior will be rewarded with “WARM Fuzzies” which are traded for coupons

to do special things/help, stickers, certificates, etc… • I believe in reinforcing good behavior!

Classroom Rules

1. Listen2. Show respect3. Use personal space4. Raise your hand5. Use the right voice6. Walk7. Do your best

“Building Warriors for Life”This year at Creek View we will be focusing on piloting a new

program called “Learning Earnings.” It is a positive behavior program that focuses on the following:

*Attendance*Behavior*Discipline*Academics

*Responsibility*Character dispositions

*Engagement with others

Traits of a WARRIOR

PersistenceK-Try and Try

Again1-Never Give Up

2-Stamina3-Perservence

Self- DisciplineK-Count to 10

1-Think before you act

2-Self Control3-Poise

RespectK-Caring

1-Considerate2-Value

3-Empathy

PrideK-Doing your BEST

work1-Heart2-Spirit

3-Self-Confidence

HonestyK-Telling the truth

1-Trustworthy2-Integrity

3-Reputable

ExcellenceK-On Target1-Accuracy2-Quality

3-Mastery

CourageK-Brave

1-Fearless2-Fortitude 3-Tenacious

TeamworkK-Working Together1-Unity

2-Collaborative3-Synergy

Discipline Behavior Clip Chart System: 

This year in kindergarten our class will be using the behavior clip chart (see chart on left). This behavior system will focus more on rewarding positive behaviors and less on negative behaviors. This behavior model will help your child understand that he/she is responsible for her/his own learning and that making mistakes can always be overcome with the decision to make a better choice.

Students will have their name on a clothespin and begin every morning at “Ready to Learn”. They will move their clips up or down throughout the day based on their choices. Rewards and consequences will be awarded at each level to encourage all students to follow classroom rules and be a good student and friend. 

Should a child's clip need to move down, I will talk with him/her each time to be sure he/she understands what happened and provide suggestions on how to correct the behavior.

Outstanding Choices – Happy face or sticker in FISH binderGreat Job – Happy face or sticker in FISH binderGood Day – Happy face or sticker in FISH binderReady to Learn – Happy face or sticker in FISH binderThink About It – yellow circle & verbal warningTeacher’s Choice – orange circle, conduct mark in F.I.S.H. binder, & timeoutParent Contact – red circle, conduct mark in F.I.S.H. binder, parent contact by

phone or note, & time out *Children earn "Warm Fuzzies" (craft pom poms) during the day for making good choices.

On Friday, these can be traded in for reward coupons to be helpers, choose fun things to do, etc. These coupons are changed out during the year, so the children will continue to be motivated to earn warm fuzzies. The more fuzzies that are earned, the more coupons the child can earn. Again, I'm trying to focus on shaping positive behavior and rewarding children for their behavior at school.

**Extreme behaviors, such as physical contact, may result in immediate parent contact and/or office referral.

FISH Binders Continued…

• FISH Binders will contain:

1. Homework pocket for children to place any written homework

2. Lunch number practice sheet3. Alphabet page4. Shapes & colors5. Counting to 100 page 6. CD to listen to for the letters, sounds, shapes, colors,

counting to 1007. Handwriting correct formation page8. Reading log9. Book pouch for later in the year

FISH Binders Continued…

FISH Binders will contain:Homework• Your child will have homework

each night.

• August Homework – practice writing name correctly,

bus or car number & lunch number, CD with letters/sounds/colors/shapes/counting to 100.

• Homework Section of FISH Binder will begin in September.

• This section will contain weekly Harcourt homework lessons, books to read at home, a monthly reading log, and a monthly math activities sheet

Homework

All homework will begin in September.Harcourt Homework- Each lesson is front and back review of the activities we are working on for the week in reading. We will review one homework lesson each week. The lesson your child should be working on at home will be marked with a sticky note. Each week, you and your child will be responsible for reviewing the activities from the weekly homework lesson at least 3 times. Please initial the top of the homework page each time you practice the activities. Please do not skip ahead in the homework lessons. Take Home Books- Every Friday, your child will receive 2 or 3 new “just right” books to read at home throughout the following week. Please return these books to the reading pocket of your child’s F.I.S.H Binder each day after reading them at home. Every month your child will have a goal on his or her reading log. Please have your child read daily and don’t forget to complete one line each day you read the books. Monthly Math Activities- The monthly math sheet will have a short activity for your child to do each night that will reinforce some of the math concepts that we are working on at school. Please initial and date on the chart when an activity has been completed.

Attendance• It is important to have your child at school each day and for them to

arrive on time.

• I believe that success in kindergarten is strongly related to attendance.

• Please try to plan vacations and appointments around school if possible.

• If your child is absent from school for any reason, please send a note the day he or she returns to school (no email). If a note (parent or doctor) is not received within 3 school days, the absence will be coded as unexcused.

• Administration will make contact after 3 unexcused absences and excessive tardies.

• Remember that the tardy bell rings at 7:45 and if a child comes in the classroom after that time he or she will be counted tardy.

• Buses usually arrive at school between 7:15-7:30.

• Car Rider drop off begins at 7:15.

Lunch• Our lunchtime is from 12:05-12:25 each day. - Limit Lunch visits to 1

time weekly to allow students time to socialize with others and get acclimated to routines fostering independence. Please wait on the benches outside of the lunchroom for our class to arrive.

• Your child will be issued a 5-digit lunch number. • Lunch is $2.50 per day and breakfast is $1.25 per day for students. • Lunch checks need to be labeled with your child’s 5-digit lunch

number so that it will be credited to your child’s account. Please do not include any other money with lunch checks. We cannot charge to lunch accounts, notes and phone calls are made to remind negative balances must be paid and will carry over until account is replenished.

• Lunch can also be paid online at MyLunchMoney.com. You will need to get your child’s ID Number from me before you can use this tool.

• You may send a simple birthday snack for the class to eat during lunchtime on your child’s birthday if you would like. (PLEASE NO CUPCAKES) • Please do not bring fast food items for your child to eat during lunch. (McDonald’s, Arby’s, etc…) • If anyone needs a free or reduced lunch form,

please let the office know as soon as possible.

Daily Snack• Please send a healthy snack and water bottle only from

home each day. No juice boxes or drink mix packs for snack.

• Snack needs to be brought in a zip bag or paper sack with your child’s name on it. No lunch boxes for snack.

• Please no candy or cokes or juice or sweets.

• Snacks should be simple finger foods. (cheese crackers, animal crackers, cheeze-its, cereal bar, cheese stick, half sandwich with lunch meat or cheese)

Medicine • Medicine – All medication must be brought to the

school office by an adult. The adult will be required to fill out a short medication form. Students are not allowed to keep medicine in their book bags. This includes cough drops.

• Allergies- Please alert me of any food or seasonal allergies that your child may have.

• Sickness- If your child has been sick please make sure they are fever, vomit and / or diarrhea free for 24 hrs. before they return to school.

Change of ClothesYour child will need a complete change of clothes for school.

• Label ALL articles of clothing with your child’s name.

• Keep clothes in a Ziploc bag inside your child’s book bag.

• Make sure clothes are appropriate for the current season.

• All children must wear tennis shoes to school for P.E. (Please double knot laces / No Crocs or Flip Flops)

• Girls should wear shorts under skirts & dresses.

• Please follow the ACS dress code.

Transportation ***** IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO BE CONSISTENT *****

• I will need to know before the first day of school how your child will be going home each afternoon.

• Your child will be given a transportation tag to wear on his or her book bag.

• If you plan to change your child’s transportation for any reason, I must have a parent note so that I can send it to the office to be approved. I cannot send a child home a different way without a note. This is for your child’s safety.

• Changes cannot be made after 2:00 (to eliminate confusion and allow time to adjust child's dismissal) and phone calls and faxes are not accepted due to student safety.

*You may walk your child in to our classroom on the 1st Day of school only.

Transportation continued…

Weather Occurrences - Bus Transportation remains in place, CVES After School Care Students become Car Riders, Other daycares should pickup but if not, students become car riders

unless notified otherwise.We understand emergencies arise.

Field Trips

• Fall: Pumpkin Patch (October 16th)• Spring: Birmingham Zoo (March 26th)

We LOVE to have parent chaperones on our Field Trips!– All students ride on buses– All parents drive in cars– No younger siblings may attend– No check-outs are allowed from the field trip site

• Miss Annie – (4 classroom enrichment lessons)

SuppliesAll supplies need to

be brought in on Meet the Teacher Day!

No Names or Labels (except scissors & rest towels & crayons)

Rest Towels (small / keep in book bag / 1st 9 wks)

Book Bags (good size / no wheels)

Handwriting Workbook & Classroom resources $22

Donation $50 (1/2 classroom & ½ general fund)

Each child will need a supply bag or box.

DonationsIf you would like to make a donation to our classroom you might want to consider:

• Choosing a sticky note with an item listed

• Purchasing a Gift Card for our classroom. (Wal-Mart, Staples, Parent-Teacher Store, I-tune card for our iPad mini/apps, etc…)

• Making a monetary donation to the school. (½ classroom teacher & ½ CVES General Fund)

• Lakeshore Learning .com smart board & computer games (see me for specific ones needed)

• Box tops for office- 10 cents each

How to Contact Me:• Email me at donna.brown@alabastercityschools.org

• Send a note in your child’s FISH Binder.

• Call the office and leave a message 205-685-6100.

Do you want to

know what is going on at CVES?

Sign up for NotifyMe!

Don’t Forget:• Complete green Orientation Folder paperwork.

• Add $ to your child’s Lunch account, pay for

Handwriting Workbook & additional Supplies - $22

• Sign Transportation sheet on the board.

• Sign up for Remind text.

• Visit the Creek View PTO website and create an account. cvespto.org

• Bring Supplies to Meet the Teacher Day on Wednesday. Come & go event!