Our goal for Kindergarten is to encourage students to love learning
and to become independent learners. We expect students to be
responsible for appropriate behavior. We encourage the classes to
become communities that care for each other and work together. We work
in both large and small groups. We often work one to one with students
in order to meet their needs.
In Kindergarten, the children rotate daily for reading, writing, math
and computers for their academic block. The children also have a free
choice time of center at the end of their day. This is a great time for
them to socialize with friends and learn how to cooperate with others.
Our Kindergartners participate in the following programs weekly:
science, social studies, handwriting, physical education, computers,
Spanish, art, music, and library.
Reading, Writing and Spelling
We use a literature-based program with leveled books for reading. We
incorporate phonics during instruction time. Children work in groups
identifying letters of the alphabet and working on important readiness
skills. We also work on identifying sounds that letters make and simple
word/sentences for writing. We encourage the students to phonetically
sound out words in the beginning and teach correct spelling as the year
progresses.
Math
Our school math program is Everyday Math. These activities integrate
mathematics into children’s daily life in the classroom. There are many
opportunities for teaching mathematics that are inherent in our everyday
routines. Our calendar time each morning encompasses adding,
subtracting, tens/ones, telling time, counting and patterning. The units
that this program covers are measurement, money, geometry, numeration,
patterns/functions, clocks/calendars, graphing and operations.
Social Studies and Science
Units in social studies are self-concept, communities and Africa.
Science units are non-living versus living things, nutrition, heat/light
and sound as well as growth of plants and animals. In addition to Discovery Works we have also adopted the FOSS Science curriculum. Click here for a parent letter explaining our current lessons with FOSS Science. We use a
multidisciplinary approach to teaching both science and social studies.