Core Curriculum » Kindergarten

Kindergarten

KINDERGARTEN

LANGUAGE ARTS

As teachers, we want to children to experience the joy of reading. Consider what children have to learn before they begin to read:

Phonetic Awareness:
* Identify and produce rhyming words in response to spoken words
* Identify beginning and ending sounds
* Track auditorially each word in a sentence
* Demonstrate letter sound correspondence
* Distinguish between a letter and a word

Vocabulary Development:
* Learn new words from listening, reading, and writing
* Build simple words

Reading Strategies:
* Retell familiar stories
* Sequence a simple story
* Identify beginning, middle, and end of a story
* Identify characters and setting of a story
* Use pictures and context to make predictions about story content
* Discuss a story and remain on topic in the discussion

Directionality:
* Left to right page sequence
* Left to right in sentence
* Return sweep
* Top to bottom
* Beginning of book & end of book

Book Concepts:
* Cover of book, title page, & front and back

Writing:
* Write name
* Write and use letters. phonically spelled words, and pictures to communicate their own ideas
* Participate in interactive drawing and writing
* Write using a left to right progression
* Identify upper and lower case letters
* Identify punctuation: (?), (.), (,), (" ")

Listening and Speaking:
* Listen to others and know when to respond
* Understand and follow one and two step oral directions
* Share information, opinions, and questions, speaking audibly in coherent, complete sentences
* Recite short poems, rhymes, and songs

MATHEMATICS

We want children to develop an understanding and insight into the patterns of mathematics through the use of concrete materials. To this end we base our curriculum on the state adopted Mathland program.

Number Sense:
* Write and name numbers 1 - 20
* Arrange number in sequence to 20
* Count using 1 to 1 correspondence to 20
* Understand concept of numbers through 10
* Solve basic word problems
* Compare 2 or more sets

Measurements and Geometry:
* Name simple shapes: squares, circles, triangles, parallelograms, rectangles, and diamonds
* Use correct vocabulary when describing or comparing objects: big-little, short-tall, alike-different,
* Demonstrate general understanding of time: morning, night, yesterday, today, tomorrow, week, year, days of the week

Algebra and Functions:
* Recognize a pattern, extends of a pattern and create a pattern
* Sort and classify objects

Statistics and Probability:
* Collect information and record results using objects, pictures, and picture graphs

Problem Solving and Reasoning:
* Solve word problems appropriate to grade level

SOCIAL STUDIES

Social Studies is approached in a varied number of ways. Our new literature series approaches and enriches the concepts stressed at this grade level.

Around the Neighborhood:

* The community

Family and Friends:

* Social skills
* Getting along with others
* Celebrations

Different Cultures:

* Celebrations

SCIENCE

Our goal in the science program is to develop ecologically aware students who have an appreciation and enjoyment of science through:

* Knowledge of the scientific process
* Integration of science with other curricular areas
* Common scientific vocabulary
* Common core of knowledge
* Hands on approach to scientific discovery
* Application of science and technology
* Knowledge and respect for hazardous materials

Physical:
The five senses

Earth:
Weather

Life:
Matter - living and non-living

MUSIC AND ART

During the year singing, music appreciation, classroom instruments, and rhythmic movement are part of the program along with a variety of art and craft experiences.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Each child develops large and small muscles, balance, and coordination through body movement activities.

* Basic motor skills
* Rhythm and dance
* Game skills
* Sportsmanship

ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS

Your child will have an opportunity to participate in several special programs, including:

* Computer education, lab or classroom
* Library
* Art Docents