Hello! My name is Ms. Brunswick and I am the kindergarten teacher in room 141. This is my ninth year of teaching kindergarten and my fourth year at Four Seasons. I am passionate about teaching and excited to share the "happenings" of our classroom with you. On this site you will find our kindergarten schedule, specifics about our kindergarten day, and very soon, a list of recommended web sites that will help reinforce classroom learning at home. If you're researching schools, I recommend that you stop in for a visit! I look forward to meeting you!
Class Schedule 7:45-8:05 Morning Centers 8:05-8:10 Attendance/Milk Count 8:10-8:30 Morning Meeting 8:30-8:45 Shared Reading 8:45-9:25 Literacy Centers/Mondo Small Groups 9:25-10:20 Writing 10:20-10:45 Specialist Class 10:45-11:15 Lunch 11:15-11:40 Specialist Class 11:40-11:50 Read Aloud 11:50-12:15 Quiet Time 12:15-1:00 Math 1:00-1:15 Snack 1:15-1:35 Skills Block (Phonics) 1:35-2:00 Choice Time 2:00-2:05 Closing Circle/Backpacks 2:05-2:25 Recess/Dismissal
MORE ABOUT OUR CLASSROOM
ATTENDANCE
Please ensure that
your child attends school each day, even during the summer months and arrives
to school by 8:05am.Each day will begin with a Morning Meeting; a
time where the classroom gathers to set a positive tone for the day.During the Morning Meeting, students greet
one another, share interesting news from home, participate in a group activity,
and read a message board that lets the children know important information
about the school day.The children benefit
greatly from this positive start to the day, which is why it’s so important
your child arrives to school by 8:05am.
RESPONSIVE CLASSROOM APPROACH
We use
the Responsive Classroom philosophy in our classroom.One of the underlying beliefs of this approach
is that academic learning happens best within a positive social context.Therefore, much attention is paid to helping
children develop positive social skills.Positive social interaction is taught and practiced through a daily
Morning Meeting, Collaborative Rule Making and Problem-Solving and continual
modeling and practicing of daily rituals and routines.
CREATING RULES
The teachers and
the children will work together to create the rules for our classroom.The children will understand that our rules
are in place so that each student has the opportunity to learn and have fun.Positive behaviors are continually modeled
and practiced throughout the school year.
LOGICAL CONSEQUENCES
If a rule is broken,
the consequence for the behavior will always be respectful and related to the behavior.Logical consequences are not meant to be a
form of punishment, but are an opportunity for learning. Part of this learning process is giving the
child an opportunity to fix his/her mistake and avoiding the same mistake in
the future.
CLASS BREAKS
There are times
when a child may be asked to “take a break”.When children take a break in the classroom, they remove themselves from
the group and spend a few quiet moments in the class break chair.Our break chair is located in an area of the
room that allows for students to be aware of what is happening in class even
though they are not participating in the group activities at the time of the
break.Breaks are used for little
disturbances that prevent others from learning (i.e., talking during lessons,
bothering classmates with hands and feet, etc.).Classroom breaks are a useful way to teach
children to refocus and return to the group as quickly as possible.If a break in the classroom is ineffective, a
student may be asked to take a break in a “buddy room” (classroom next door).
CURRICULUM
Reading: One hour of daily instruction
including large and small group lessons that emphasize vocabulary,
comprehension and fluency.
Skills Block: Thirty minutes of daily
instruction emphasizing letter recognition, letter sounds and word recognition.
Writing: One hour of daily instruction
that emphasizes correct letter formation, sound spelling, spacing between
words, punctuation and the variety of purposes for writing.Sound spelling is encouraged as the ultimate
goal is to get the children to feel comfortable with writing and putting their
ideas on paper.
Math: One hour of daily
instruction.Some key concepts include:
counting, patterns, number writing, graphing, coin identification, measuring,
symmetry, tally making, telling time the hour and half hour, adding and
subtracting.
QUIET TIME
If you think your
child would like to nap during Quiet Time, please send a large beach towel to
school.Those who do not wish to nap
will have the opportunity to look at books.
SNACK
We ask that each
family provide snack (no drinks please) at least once a month.Please send
enough snacks for 25 children.Examples:
goldfish crackers, graham crackers, raisins.
V.I.K. DAY
Your child will
have multiple opportunities to be the V.I.K. (helper) for the day.You will receive a V.I.K. schedule to help
you determine your child’s special day.
TOYSPlease
ensure that your child does not bring toys to school.Thank you!
FRIDAY FOLDER
This folder will
be sent home weekly and contains important information for you to review.Please make it a habit to check this folder
every Friday and have your child return it to school the following Monday.
HOMEWORK
A Small homework
packet will be sent home every Friday, beginning with the first full week of
school.Please assist your child with
reading the directions and have him/her return the packet by Wednesday of each week.
COMMUNICATION
E-mail: michelle.brunswick@spps.org.If your child is to ride a different bus home
or is not to ride the bus on a specific day, please send a note to school.
The Saint Paul Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, sex, marital status, national origin, age, color, religion,
ancestry, status with respect to public assistance, sexual or affectional orientation, or disability. Click here for more information.