• General Information

    The Bethany school doors open at 7:15 am each morning. Before 7:30 AM, students enter the gym and sit with other students from their grade level. At 7:30 the bell rings and students walk to their grade level. Upon arrival to the room, students will begin unpacking, putting away their lunchboxes, snacks, water bottle, and take home folders. Students will then begin Morning Work.

    Lunch

    Kindergarten lunchtime is from 10:45-11:15. Students may bring their lunch, buy a lunch from in the cafeteria, or do a combination of both. Each student will have a lunch code. This is a number that is entered if the child buys anything from in the lunch line. Parents are welcome to come and sit at the guest table with their child. 

    Recess

    During the school day, the kindergarten students will have a 25 minute block of time for recess. This will usually be outside play from 10:15-10:40.

    Snack

    Each afternoon the kindergarten students eat a snack.

    Your child snack should be:

    • a simple snack that is packaged separately from their lunch.
    • It should be one they can open easily and manage independently.
    • Your child may bring a bottle of water to class.
      • Their name should be marked clearly on the water bottle to prevent your child's water from getting mixed up with that of another child.

    Ideas for healthy snacks can be located on the Texas Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition website.

    Field Trips

    Kindergarten takes one field trip. In the spring we will go to the Outdoor Learning Center.

    Birthdays/"Star Student"

    If your child is celebrating their birthday, their teacher will take the time to recognize their special day. If you wish to bring a treat, they will be shared at the end of the day. Please arrange this celebration with your child’s teacher. We will also be recognizing one student a week as a “Star Student”. Different classes begin this activity at different times.

  • Kindergarten Expectations

    Through experience, we have found that children strive to meet our expectations. At Bethany Elementary, we have high expectations for your children both academically and behaviorally. Our goal is to teach the students to be: • Respectful • Responsible and • Ready to Learn In Kindergarten, we establish and model behavior expectations for the classroom, the restroom, the hallways, cafeteria, playground and even in the neighborhood. The children also earn Bear Bucks. The specifics of the behavior plan are explained at the curriculum meeting at the beginning of the year. An explanation is also in the child's take home folder where a smiley face or a note indicates how your child's school day went. A communication card is in each child's take home folder. The folder and card are to be returned to school each day and signed weekly.

  • Take Home Folders/Homework

    Each day your child will bring home a folder. Some days it will contain finished work. This is our way of transporting information from school to home and home to school, so please place any papers from home in this folder also. The students will bring their folder to an assigned place in the room and then at the end of the day place it back in their back pack. At home you may want to have an assigned place to keep this folder each night or after looking at it you may want your child to keep it in his/her backpack. This process will prepare them for their planner in first grade. After the children have settled into the routine of getting things back and forth between school and home, book bags will start being sent home. This is a folder containing a book(s) that is on your child's instructional reading level. Your child will have read this book several times in class and should be able to read it to you easily. After reading with your child, please return the book (in its bag) to school the next day. This Reading folder will come to school every day. Throughout the year we will have star word homework, integrated curriculum activities, and math activities to extend learning at home. ALL students are encouraged to complete the homework and return it to their teacher. If you have any questions about the homework, please contact your child's teacher. Each child is encouraged to read or be read to for 20 minutes daily.

  • Writing

    Writer's Workshop – Each day, students use pictures and words to express their thoughts. As we move through the year, students write more and draw less. Modeled Writing - The teacher writes in front of students demonstrating writing mini-lessons. This is also a time to show correct penmanship. Shared Writing - Students share personal experiences with the class. Some writing is done by the teacher and some by the student. Guided Writing - The teacher does mini lessons to teach new writing skills or reteaches skills that may need more work. This is done with the whole class, a small group, or with an individual. Handwriting - Our kindergarten uses the modern handwriting program that introduces correct letter formation and finger grip.

  • Reading

    Modeled Reading - The teacher selects good literature to read to students. Shared Reading - The teacher and the students read stories together to build reading skills. Independent Reading - Students reading books independently. We do a lot of work with words - putting words together, and taking words apart. Rhyming, Blending, Changing word beginnings and endings are also an important part of our program. Kindergarten has 31Star words. Our Kindergarten students need to know how to read them, write them, and locate them in sentences.

    Star Words fo Kindergarten

  • Math

    Calendar teaches days, weeks, months, and years - number order, counting, odd and even patterns, sequence, ordinal numbers, graphs, place value, weather, and position words. Whole group instruction - Daily block of time to teach grade level appropriate math skills and extend mathematical thinking. Small group instructions – Groups are formed based on skill level and the teacher models her lesson based on each group’s instructional level. CGI math (Cognitively Guided Instruction) - Time used to solve story problems and work out math concepts with individual counters. Math Workshop - Area in room where independent math activities take place. Students are also able to revisit other math games and manipulatives.

  • Classroom Stations

    Computer Station - This station has computer programs to develop math, reading, writing, science and social study skills. Literacy Stations - These stations have activities that develop and extend literacy skills learned in the classroom. Math Station - This station has manipulatives and math games that extend math concepts. Teacher Station/Guided Reading Table - Area of room where the teacher will work with small groups.

  • Learning Centers

    In Kindergarten we have a large area where students work on sharing and verbal communication skills. This area is made up of several small areas each set up to help foster social and academic growth. These areas include: • Manipulatives • Computers • Puppets • Library/Writing/Puzzles • Art • Home and Family Center • Sand Table • Math Blocks • Dramatic Play

kinder
Sabrina McElligott
Kindergarten
 
Sarah Norris
Kindergarten
 
  • Grade Level Volunteers

    All parents should fill out the PTA volunteer form found on the PTA website or through the grade level teachers. We need lunchroom helpers, classroom helpers, and material helpers. You can read in the classroom, take things home, or volunteer in other areas of the building. The grade level liaison or classroom aide will contact you once you have signed up. If you wish to volunteer, please be sure to complete the PISD online background check each year to insure the safety of our children. If you need help with this, please contact the office.