Mrs. Otura’sMrs. Otura’s GoalsGoals

Provide my students with the academic and social skills needed to succeed in Kindergarten and prepare them for first

grade. Create a supportive, safe and fun

classroom environment where learning is the most important rule.

Mission StatementThe mission of Dr. Rolando Espinosa K-

8 Center is to provide an enriching educational environment where students can excel in academics, be responsible citizens, and become successful future leaders in our global society. With the collaboration of the faculty, staff, parents, and community we encourage and guide each of our students to strive for excellence.

Common Core

The Kindergarten Curriculum is based on the Common Core State Standards.

Florida's State Board of Education voluntarily adopted the CCSS in 2010 followed by more than 40 states in 2011.

The CCSS provide clear educational standards, while allowing local districts and schools the flexibility needed to deliver quality instruction in the classroom.

They are designed to ensure all students, regardless of demography, graduate high school prepared to enter college or the workforce.

http://pta.org/files/K%20June20.pdf

Kindergarten Curriculum Reading, Writing and Language Arts Mathematics Science Social studies Music, Art, PE Spanish

• Letter Names/Letter Sounds• Comprehension Skills – beginning, middle,

end, prediction, author, etc.• Vocabulary – weekly vocabulary• Fluency- build reading fluency in English• Sight Words – over 100 sight words (Dolch-

from books)

Reading/Language Arts

First and Last nameDateABC’s Writing PromptsUse Punctuation = . - ? - !CapitalizationSentence Structure

Calendar/Time PatternsNumbers 0-100 SortingMeasurement ShapesAddition

SubtractionWord ProblemsCounting by 5’s and 10’s

Rules Community HelpersDrug Awareness Holidays/CelebrationsCommunication TransportationSeasons Directions/MapsWants vs. Needs Families

Five Senses MatterLiving vs. Non-living LifecyclesDental Hygiene Energy/sun

Continents PlanetsGrowth over time Movement/speed

Extended Foreign Language -EFL

EFL refers to a program delivery system offered within Miami-Dade County Public Schools. The program is offered in selected classes in Kindergarten through grade 6. The program is designed for a group of students at each grade level who, after successfully participating in the program for one year, are automatically enrolled in the subsequent grade level in order to move towards a continum of bilingual studies through grade 12.

Classroom CommunityOur classroom is a community. In our community, we

have rules to help us get along with each other. Our classroom rules are:

We listen and follow directions. We raise our hand to speak or ask a question. We stay in our seat and work quietly. We line up in a straight and quiet line. We respect each other. We always try our best. GOOD – BETTER – BEST!!!

Behavior PlanBehavior Plan

Students are rewarded when: Following DirectionsCompleting Work On timeHomeworkGood Behavior The student will be recognize in class and get the chance to take Lewis Robinson home.

Monitor Classroom BehaviorExcellent: Flying High Great: Outstanding EffortReady to Learn: In the Nest (all students start here) So-So: Head in the Clouds – 2nd WarningParent Contact -Not Good: 3rd

Warning Continuous behavior during the week will result in silent lunch or loss of recess.

Cafeteria Rules1. Students are to enter the cafeteria quietly.2. Once seated, students must remain seated. Should they need to leave their seat for any reason, they must ask permission from the cafeteria monitor who will determine the validity of the request and proceed accordingly.3. Food trading is not permissible.Students are responsible for all items on their trays. 4. Food is not to be thrown.5. Students are responsible for leaving their area, including the floor, free of trash and clean.

Lunch time is from 9:50-10:20 am. Lunch costs $2.25 Students must know their ID # to pay for their lunch. I recommend you pay your child’s lunch ahead of time

via PAYPAMS.com. It provides a great service for parents. Automate your Pre-Payment system and eliminate Return Checks. If you are sending the lunch payment in cash, please enclose the money in a sealed envelope with your child’s NAME, LUNCH # and Teacher’s name written on the outside of the envelope. Your child is responsible to pay during their lunch break.

Any student that does not have money in their account will be provided with an alternate meal.

Visitors are not allowed on school grounds unless they have a visitor’s pass from the main office.

In Kindergarten students are graded based on progress towards meeting grade level expectations.

E = Excellent Progress (90% - 100%~A)

G = Good Progress (80% - 89% ~ B)

S = Satisfactory Progress (70-79% ~ C)

M = Minimal Progress (60-69% ~ D)

U = Unsatisfactory Progress 59% & below ~F)

GRADES

Report Cards & Interim Progress Reports

Report Cards are distributed at the end of every 9 weeks. There are 4 grading periods per year - 36 weeks of school.

Interim Progress Reports go home every 4 weeks after the beginning of each grading period.

All children are assigned Home Learning 30 minutes a day/5 days a week. In addition, parents are to read

each day with their child for 30 minutes per MDCPS. Home learning is sent home on Monday and returned

the following week on Monday along with Math practice pages and writing paper for the writing assignments.

All papers must be kept inside the

binder.

State Tests

SESAT 2 (Kindergarten) – administered in April 2015. Math and reading are the subjects tested.

CELLA Test – administered in the Spring and it is to test your child’s English level for the following school year. Test involves: reading, writing, listening comprehension.

F.A.I.R. Test – administered 3 times during school year.

AttendanceAbsences

If a child is absent, he or she will need to bring a note the following day to excuse the absence. Excused absences are due to: Student illness Medical Appointment (with doctor note)

Children with more than 10 absences will be contacted by

the office.

A doctor’s note is required after the 5th absence in order

for it to be “excused”.

Excessive absences may affect your child’s grades.

Attendance Page 2

1.Grades may be affected because of excessive absences and tardies.

2.Students will be required to make up assignments missed on the day that they return to class.

3.Students who are in attendance every school day of a grading period with no tardy will be awarded a Perfect Attendance Certificate and treats.

DismissalDismissal is at 1:50pm. Thank you for picking up your child before2:20 pm. Car Riders: Please display the green sign on your car’s dash board. Rainy Day – Students will be dismissed from the classroom.

We normally plan 2-3 fun/educational field trips in a school year.

Only approved volunteer parents may accompany in our field trips. A raffle will be done to fairly choose the volunteer that will be going on field trips as chaperones.

Please see Ms. Cisco in the Main Office to become a volunteer. Don’t forget to give me your number.

Please join the PTA to help our school. The cost to join is $6.00 for the school year. Thank You!

Parent Portal www.dadeschools.net

Please visit for book offers:

www.scholastic.com/boolclubs

Create an account and include the activation code: J46BJ

Scholastic’s will give our class points for every book purchased. The teacher can purchase books or items for the class using the points earned.

Other Key PointsOther Key Points

Birthday Parties are not permitted in our school. However, birthdays are recognized in my classroom.

• Medication: If your child requires medication during the school day, please ensure that the doctor prescribing the medication fills out the proper form and submit it to the office. Teachers are not allowed to administer medication. A designated office staff will administer the medication.

Wish List/Donations

If you would like to donate any items for our classroom, please see the Wish List below of items needed. Thank you in advance for your kindness and generosity.

*LEXMARK- CARTRIDGE- photoconductor kit (INK FOR THE PRINTER) = E352dn*Electric 3-Hole Puncher – Big Hole *Floor Mat (for classroom main door)*SCOTCH LAMINATING POUCHES for Items Up To 8.5"x11“ – 3 boxes *Paper Trimmer - Any brand or Swingline SmartCut Pro Rotary Trimmer

*PAPER PRO ONE FINGER 20 SHEET POWER - stapler *AIR WICK SCENTED OIL REFILL- LAVENDER & CHAMOMILE, Hawaiian  *Chillout Mini Tower Fan – Soooo Cool! – At Target or Wal-Mart *20 INCH BOX FAN 

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!!!

Let’s Have a Great Year!

Please call the Main Office at 305-889-5757 to contact me or me at: mtotura@dadeschools.net. http://teacherweb.com/FL/DrRolandoEspinosaK-Center/MsOtura/t.aspx