Reading/Language Arts: In kindergarten, we use a cross curricular approach to establish a strong foundation for all subjects. Reading instruction covers a variety of reading and writing behaviors. Shared reading materials include: children’s literature, charted songs and poems, sound stories, and stories shared through various technology components. Shared reading materials incorporate the five essential components of reading:
• phonemic awareness (the ability to identify the separate sounds that make up spoken words and to alter and arrange sounds to create new words),
• phonics (the study of how letters represent sounds in written language),
• comprehension (the active process of constructing meaning from text),
• vocabulary (the words we must know to comprehend text and communicate effectively), and
• fluency (the ability to quickly and accurately decode letters, words, sentences, and passages).
With all these tools and resources, our students will also develop a true joy of reading.
Writing: Children learn writing skills through true life adaptations and engagement in their world. Picture drawing, left-right directionality, labeling, list making and use of inventive spelling are all important steps towards being able to express thoughts into the written word. The mechanics of writing, such as the correct formation of letters is taught, encouraged, and expected as we instill good habits in each young student. Various gross and small motor activities provide opportunities and exposure to our beginning writers.
Math: Number concepts and skills are taught through manipulatives, hands-on activities, and active experiences. Kindergarten math expectations include five domains of study. They are:
Counting and Cardinality, Operations and Algebraic Thinking, Number and Operations in Base Ten, Measurement and Data, and Geometry. These expectations emphasize making connections between math and other subjects as well as between math and daily life.
Science: The Kindergarten Science Curriculum explores subjects such as: the Nature of Science, Life Science, Physical Science, and Earth and Space Science. Through active engagement with our environment and exploration of nonfiction literature, we will learn and practice important life skills like observing, classifying, identifying, and predicting. We integrate our science units in a cross curricular manner.
Social Studies: Kindergarten students will learn about themselves, their families, and the community. Students will be introduced to basic concepts related to history, geography, economics, and citizenship. Social Studies is integrated through literature and yearly events (holidays) and times of the year (seasons/months). In kindergarten, much of the focus is on self-awareness and appreciation.
