This document provides information for parents about kindergarten in Prince George's County Public Schools. It discusses what kindergarten is, where children will attend, the structure of a typical day, the curriculum and assessments used. It outlines the seven domains of the Maryland Model for School Readiness assessment. The document also discusses grading, report cards, and how parents can get involved at their child's school.

1. Transition to
Kindergarten
Parent Night
“Talk, Listen, Read, Play …
Learning takes place in everyday moments”.
Developed By: Andrea Grucela &
Ashley Paesch

2. What is Kindergarten?
“Kindergarten forms the basis for the development of the
critical academic, intellectual, social and emotional
experiences and learning foundations that will guide and
inform students throughout the duration of their school
careers”.
“The experiences are planned using the Maryland State
Curriculum for Kindergarten and include reading, writing,
mathematics, social studies, science and health”.
www.pgcps.org/kindergarten

3. Where will I go to Kindergarten?
• Schools are identified based on boundaries
• You MUST enroll at your boundary school
• Applications are accepted for Kindergarten children to
attend specialty programs and charter schools (may be
outside of your boundary school)
– Application deadline for the 2012-2013 school year is March
16, 2011
– A lottery system is used to select applicants
– Placement notifications will be mailed to parents
– Early entrance applications are not accepted for
specialty programs

4. A typical child entering Kindergarten…
• is aware that written words and symbols mean something
• recognizes a few letters and/or words
• pretends to read and/or write
• loves to have stories read to them
• is becoming independent but still needs limits set
• follows two to three step directions
• can open their own food and juice containers
• is physically strong and coordinated
• communicates with adults and others
• uses the bathroom independently
• can get on and off the school bus independently

5. Who’s in a Kindergarten class?
• Students who are 5 years old by September 1, 2012
• 1 teacher (no additional paraprofessional)
• Children in the classroom come from:
– PreK
– Head Start
– Early Childhood Centers (ECC)
– Community Daycare Centers
– Home

6. A Day In The Life
• Arrival
• Reading/English Language Arts
• Lunch/Recess
• Math
• Specials (such as PE, Music, Technology, Media/Library and
Art)
• Health
• Social Studies
• Science
• Dismissal
*IEP implementation of services will be
provided throughout the day with support
from special education teacher

7. Arrival
Child will learn to INDEPENDENTLY …
• remove backpack/coat (button, zip, etc)
• follow morning unpacking routine (materials to teacher,
personal materials in cubby/locker, lunch/lunch money to
designated location)
• complete morning work (journal writing, read a book,
worksheet/handout)
• attend to school morning announcements
Attendance is mandatory. Students are expected
to arrive on time, daily.

8. Reading/English Language Arts
• 135 Minute time block
– Whole Group Instruction
• Opening routines
• Comprehension mini-lesson
• Phonemic awareness/phonics
• Word work
• Writing and Language mini-lesson
• Read aloud
– Small Group Instruction/Guided Independent Practice
(20 min each)
• Teacher guided reading group
• Literacy activity (independent work)
• Centers (such as: library, listening, write the room,
read the room, writing, computers)

9. A Balanced Reading Program is the core
reading program for Prince George’s County
Public Schools. It combines the development
of phonological awareness skills with literature
rich activities. This consists of:
• Phonemic Awareness – the ability to hear, identify and
utilize individual sounds in spoken words
• Phonics- the relationship between the letters of written
language and the sounds of spoken language
• Fluency- the capacity to read text accurately and quickly
• Vocabulary- the words students must know to communicate
effectively
• Comprehension- the ability to understand and gain meaning
from what has been read

10. Lunch/Recess
• Help your child practice and learn their PIN # for their lunch
account.
• Remind your child to give their money to their classroom teacher
for their lunch account.
• Children should be able to open all containers independently, if
bringing a lunch to school.
• If bringing a lunch to school please remember refrigerators,
freezers, microwaves and ovens are not available. Use a cold pack
for items needing refrigeration.
• Please have labels on lunch box and food items (in addition to all
other personal items).
• Adults are available in the cafeteria during lunch. Please teach and
encourage your child to raise their hand if they need assistance.
Paperwork for Free and Reduced Lunches must be submitted and
approved before it will be reflected on the students’ lunch
account. (Remember to submit your forms)

11. Specials
Children may participate in one or more of the
following:
• Music
• Physical Education/ Adaptive Physical Education (APE)
• Art
• Media Center/Library
• Computer Lab/Technology
In some cases, children will be taught by a teacher (other than
their classroom teacher), outside of the classroom.

12. Math
• 75 Minute block
– Whole Group Instruction
• Problem of the day
• Manipulatives/Hands-on materials
• Literature experience
• Defining and developing vocabulary
– Small Group Instruction
• Teacher guided math group
• Independent activity (journal, math workbook pages,
games, etc)
• Centers

13. Health
• 25 Minute Block (once a week)
– Teacher directed and independent activities
Maryland State Curriculum Standards
•Mental and Emotional Health
•Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs
•Personal and Consumer Health
•Family Law and Human Sexuality (Family Members,
etc.)

14. Social Studies
• 45 Minutes (every other day)
– Teacher directed and independent activities
Maryland State Curriculum Standards
• Political Science
• Peoples of the Nations and World
• Geography
• Economics
• History
• Social Studies Skills and Processes

15. Science
• 45 min block
– Whole class, small groups and lab
– Open-ended multi level lab activities
– Science journals
Maryland State Curriculum Standards
•Earth and Space
•Life Science
•Chemistry
•Physics
•Environmental Science

16. Dismissal
• Children will independently pack up their backpack and
gather materials to go home.
• Any changes in dismissal routine must be given to the
teacher in writing (i.e.- Marcus will not be riding the bus
today, etc.).
• ANY adult picking up the student MUST be listed on their
Emergency Card in the Main Office. Proper ID will be
required.
• Check with your school for specific pick up and drop off
procedures.

17. Kindergarten
Curriculum Materials
• Maryland Model for School Readiness (MMSR)
• Maryland State Curriculum
• Houghton Mifflin Reading – A Legacy of Literacy
• Scott Foresman – Addison Wesley Mathematics
• Scott Foresman Social Studies – Here We Go
• Scott Foresman Science
• Harcourt Health and Fitness

18. Kindergarten Assessments
• Alphabet Identification
• Concepts of Print
• Writing Spree
• Dictation
• Directed Reading Assessment (DRA)
• Maryland Model for School Readiness (MMSR)
• Math Chapter Tests

19. What is MMSR?
 An assessment and instructional system
 Identifies for parents and teachers, what
children know and are able to do when they begin
school
 Composed of seven domains

20. Seven Domains of MMSR
• Personal and Social Development
– How a child gets along with others and handles emotions
• Language and Literacy
– Learning to talk, listen, read and write
– Expressing himself and learning to understand others
• Mathematical Thinking
– Using patterns, counting, noticing relationships and
figuring out how to solve problems
• Scientific Thinking
– Wondering, asking questions, finding answers and
collecting information

21. Seven Domains of MMSR cont.
• Social Studies
– How people live, work, get along together and solve
problems
• The Arts
– Appreciating and participating in dance, drama, music
and art
• Physical Development
– Muscle control and coordination
– Meeting basic needs of food, clothing, shelter and
regular health care

22. Grading and Report Cards
• Report cards are sent home quarterly (every 9 weeks)
• Interim progress reports are sent home for each child in
the middle of each quarter
• IEP progress reports on IEP goals are sent home four times
during the school year
• Students receive a minimum of 1 grade per week, per
subject.

23. Grading Process
• Grading Scale
– PR – Proficient – 90-100%
– IP – In Process – 80-89%
– EM – Emerging – 70-79%
– ND – Needs Development – 50-69%
• Final Grades are comprised of:
– Class work
– Homework
– Assessments

24. Family Portal
• PGCPS uses an online student information system, called
SchoolMAX, which tracks nearly all student data, including:
• Contact information
• Attendance
• Grades
• Discipline
• Directions for use and how to access are located on the
PGCPS website at:
http://www1.pgcps.org/schoolmax/family/index.html

25. Getting Involved at School
• Remember to check the Parent Portal on a regular basis
• Volunteering
– Check with the teacher about opportunities and/or
needs for volunteers in the classroom and school
– ALL volunteers/chaperones who interact with children
MUST:
• Have a commercial background check completed by
Prince Georges County Public Schools
– Cost $7
• Fingerprinting may be required in special situations
Please contact the Fingerprinting office for details:
14201 School Lane Room #131
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
301-952-6775
Office Hours: M-F 8am-3:45pm

26. Children with Special Needs
• Placed in a Kindergarten program based on their IEP
• Implementation of special education services and related
services occurs in the programs based on:
– current progress
– present levels of performance
– goals and objectives
– amount of accommodations and modifications

27. Child Find for Parentally Placed Students in
Private and Religious Schools
(PARD)
• IEP students attending a private school MUST contact the
PARD office
• Current services are provided through a service plan to
qualified students
• Contact:
LaRon Martin, Child Find Specialist
John Carroll Elementary School
1400 Nalley Terrace
Landover, MD 20785
301-618-8342

28. How to prepare your child for their
transition to Kindergarten
• Talk about school in a positive way
• Visit the school (please make an appointment)
• Visit the school’s playground
• Share your child’s IEP with the school principal, special education
teacher and classroom teacher.
• Find books at the library about starting school
• Get organized (plan for bedtime, morning routines, get supplies)
• Create a plan with your child for the first day of school (dropping
off, saying goodbye, etc)
• Review bus safety, if applicable
• Attend the systemic kindergarten orientation day with your child
• Practice lunch PIN number during the first month of school
• Discuss your/child's feelings about starting school; address their
concerns
• Inform teacher and school of any special needs/concerns your
child may have (health, allergies, IEP, 504 plan, etc.)

29. Suggested Books to Read to Your Child to
Prepare for Kindergarten
– When Sophie Gets Angry – Really, Really Angry by Molly Bang
– Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come! by Nancy L. Carlson
– Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
– I Love School! by Philemon Sturges
– My Kindergarten by Rosemary Wells
– Lots of Feelings by Shelley Rotner
– The Neighborhood Mother Goose by Nina Crews
– ABC for You and Me by Margaret Girnis
– Countdown to Kindergarten by Alison McGhee
*available at your public library

30. Resource Websites
Parent and Family
http://www1.pgcps.org/judycenter - parent information center
http://www.familynetworks.com – Children’s Home Society & Family Services
http://www.naeyc.org/families - Nation Association for the Education of Young
Children
http://www.readyatfive.org/resources/tips.aspx - Ready at Five parent tips
Support Information
http://www.ncpad.org – National Center on Physical Activity and Disability
http://www.nichcy.org – National Dissemination Center for Children with
Disabilities
http://www.ppmd.org – Center for Parents of Special Needs

31. Websites con’t.
Educational Information
http://www.readyatfive.org/facts/mmsr.aspx - facts about MMSR
http://www.mdk12.org/instruction/ensure/MMSR/index.html - MMSR
http://www.getreadytoread.org – literary activities and online games
http://www.countdowntokindergarten.org – supports transition to
Kindergarten
http://www.gettingreadytoread.org/matriarch - school readiness
indicators
http://www.thearcofpgc.org – support for people with disabilities and
their families

32. PGCPS Offices
Board of Education – 201-952-6115
Compliance & Due Process – 301-952-6337
Early Childhood Office – 301-808-2707
Even Start – 301-431-6220
Family & Community Outreach – 301-952-2531
Fingerprinting – 301-952-6775
Head Start – 301-408-7100
Home Schooling – 301-333-1001
Judy Hoyer Family Learning Center – 301-408-6860

33. PGCPS Offices Cont.
Nonpublic Office - 301-985-1775
Partners for Success Parent Center – 301-952-2811
Safety Office – 301-952-6527
Special Education – 301-618-8300
Student Services – 301-952-6384
Talented & Gifted (TAG) – 301-808-3709
Transportation & Central Garage – 301-952-6570
– Parent Complaint Line 301-780-5800
Walk-In Student Counseling & Family Support Centers –
301-749-4567