Language Arts:
Our program Beginning to Read, Write and Listen prepares your children with language and reading skills. Our series introduces each letter and it's sound. Each book develops letter recognition, letter formation, and a listening skill and a reading component. Each letter book continues to build on the previous book. By the end of the series the children are reading short paragraphs. Our program guides students to identify upper and lowercase letters, rhyming words, initial consonants, final consonants, high frequency words, vocabulary appropriate to grade level, picture interpretation, context clues, oral directions, and classification.
Through our program, students respond to literature, participate in collaborate learning groups, peer activities, create projects, and choose topics for writing and discussion. We enjoy a variety of literature including Nursery Rhymes, Fairy tales, fiction/non fiction, and are introduced to various authors. Students participate in read alouds, shared reading, independent reading and guided reading. Students will be able to discuss personal events as appropriate to the literature and to writing. They will also listen and respond to whole texts, develop and understanding of main ideas and supportive details, summarize stories, distinguish between fact and fiction, understand cause and effect, draw conclusions, identify parts of a book (title/author/illustrator) and sequence events. They will respond to literature in a variety of ways including song, dance, role playing, drawing, and visual arts. When writing, students will use speaking, listening, reading and viewing to assist with writing. They will write from experiences, thoughts and feelings. Students will use a variety of strategies, such as brainstorming, listing, discussion, drawing and role-playing for finding and developing ideas about which to write.
Our program facilitates listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Children bring their own experiences and knowledge to the learning process; as they decode and comprehend the messages of others, they encode their own experiences and build new knowledge form old. Our program provides each student the opportunity to develop readiness for reading, learning to read, and reading for interest and independence.
Handwriting:
We use the Zaner-Bloser Handwriting program to teach penmanship. This program helps children make a smooth transition from print to cursive. Students will learn print manuscript of all upper and lowercase letters of the alphabet. Our program assures consistency from grade level to grade level, as well as development of necessary skills to produce natural, legible handwriting.
- will develop proper pencil grip, seated posture and paper placement
- will participate in activities to strengthen fine motor skills, such as working with play dough, cutting, pasting , coloring and art projects.
- handwriting is modeled and reinforced daily
- students will participate in daily handwriting practice and weekly homework
- students will learn to write their first name properly: beginning with a uppercase letter, followed by lowercase letters.
Math:
Our mathematics curriculum is supported by our text, Envisions Math Series. We use manipulatives to explore and enhance the study of mathematics. Mathematical concepts are presented through speaking, writing, drawing, pictures, graphing and demonstrating with concrete models.
SKILL AREAS
Sorting and Classifying
- positioning and classification
- sorting and graphing
Exploring Solids, Shapes and Patterns
- explore and sort solid shapes
- exploring, recognizing, completing and comparing patterns
Numbers to 5
- exploring and using numbers 1-5
- writing numbers 1-5
- exploring groups that are the same and groups that are different
- sort groups of 1-5 objects
- ways to make numbers to 5
Numbers to 10
- exploring and using numbers to 10
- writing the numbers 6-10
- exploring groups that are the same and groups that are different
- sort groups of objects 6-10
- ways to make numbers to 10
Measuring
- estimate and measure height
- estimate and measure length
- measure distance
- measure capacity
Time and Money
- order events before and after
- order events first, next or last
- compare time
- tell time on the hour
- count pennies
- count nickels
- count dimes
Putting Together
- explore addition
- solve problems using data from a story; to solve problems using the strategy, Make a Table
- Taking Away
- explore subtraction
- to solve problems using data from a story; to solve problems using the strategy, Make a Table
Sharing and Number Sense
- create fair share for two groups
- create fair shares for three groups
- create fair shares when there are leftovers
- create fair shares by using halves
- what comes before/what comes after
- using a number line
- more and less
- equal sets
Science
The Kindergarten curriculum is divided into 6 major units of study: the senses, your body, seeds and plants, matter and measurement, weather and animals. The purpose of the Kindergarten program is to introduce the student to, and develop a foundation in each of the aforementioned areas of study. The goal is to nurture in the student an appreciation and enthusiasm for science. In addition, students will understand the relationship between their classroom experiences and everyday life. Understanding is achieved through a variety of instructional methods with an emphasis on "hands-on" experimentation and activities. Experiences in science are informative, challenging, and encourage students to explore the world of science.
Units of Study
THE SENSES
- identify eyes, ears, skin, nose, tongue as part of the body used for senses
- understand that light is necessary to see
- classify objects by sounds they make
- classify objects by the way they feel
- classify objects by the way they smell
- classify objects by the way they taste
- identify objects as being sweet, sour, salty and bitter
YOUR BODY
- identify visible body parts
- describe how the visible body parts function
- identify some basic foods and classify the food into basic food groups
- observe the proper care of the skin, the hair, the nails and the teeth
- show the proper care of the skin, the hair, the nails and the teeth
SEEDS AND PLANTS
- compare the size, color and shape of various seeds
- identify the type of fruit and vegetable that produces the seed
- describe the type of conditions necessary for seeds to grow
- observe plants as being trees, shrubs, flowers, grass or weeds
MATTER AND MEASUREMENT
- classify objects by their color
- demonstrate and identify the color that results when primary colors are mixed
- identify basic shapes
- estimate which of two objects is heavier or lighter
- identify which identical container has more in it
- identify which of two sets has more or less objects in it
WEATHER
- identify a variety of weather conditions
- record daily weather conditions on a weather chart
- identify clothing and other objects appropriate to a variety of weather conditions.
- name seasons of the year
- describe the characteristic of each season
- identify activities appropriate to each season
- describe the effect of seasonal change on plants
- describe the effect of seasonal changes on animals
ANIMALS
- identify various animals
- identify uses for animals
- distinguish animals, which are good for pets
- describe adequate pet care
- describe various animal habitats
- describe eating habits of animals.
- learn about migration and hibernation
Social Studies
In Kindergarten Social Studies, we foster the healthy development of the self, and of the self in relation to other people and to the community/environment. Our program helps students gain an understanding and respect for various cultural traditions, national holidays, and important figures in American History. Students also learn geography skills. Our curriculum develops a foundation of behaviors, attitudes, skills and information, which the students can use to comprehend the world around them.
Units of Study
School Helpers
- students will be able to identify the: principal, nurse, secretary, librarian, art teacher, physical education teacher, music teacher. custodians
- students will be able to visit the school staff in their environment
- students will complete and orientation to the school building
- Holidays-National and Ethnic/ Figures in American History
- Columbus Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Martin Luther King Jr., Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Chinese New Year, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day
- students will gain an understanding of how and why we celebrate holidays.
- student will gain an understanding and appreciation for important figures in American history and how they impacted our society.
- Geography and Map Skills
- students will be able to identify various bodies of water, states, countries, continents
- students will learn about where we live
- students will learn directional words; north, south, west, east
- students will learn the importance of knowing where places are and how to read a map.
Health, Safety, Character Education:
Our program helps all students develop the behaviors, coping skills, and self-confidence needed to relate to themselves and others in a diverse and ever changing world. Our program also fosters good decisions to stay healthy and safe.
Staying Healthy
- good hygiene
- nutrition
- participate in regular physical activity
- develop and apply stress management skills
- Dental Health Awareness
- Ways to protect our bodies from germs
Bully Prevention & Character Education
- weekly class meetings, including topics: building a positive classroom climate, identifying feelings, communication, peers relationships, respecting differences and promoting acceptance, serving the community, and using current events.
- getting to know each other activities, "All About Me"
- learn to recognize individual uniqueness
- learn to recognize and accept cultural and individual differences
- self esteem building, demonstrate positive attitude toward self
- demonstrate the ability to express personal feelings and ideas to others
- allow others opportunities to express ideas, thoughts and feelings
- learn to interact with others appropriately/sharing and cooperation
- develop and maintain friendships
- learn self discipline and self control techniques
- demonstrate problem-solving skills
- demonstrate decision-making skills
- demonstrate organizational skills
- social skills lessons
Safety
- making good decisions to stay healthy and safe
- Fire Safety: 911, Stop, Drop and Roll, identifying address, phone number, escape plan, meeting spot, good fires/bad fires.
- demonstrate ability to follow school/classroom rules and procedures
- learn about the importance of following rules and procedures
- learn about traffic signs/ traffic safety