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The Kindergarten
Experience…
 The
Kindergarten program will encourage growth of the "whole child"
in the following developmental areas: language, motor, affective
(social, emotional, and personal), and cognitive. Play will be an
integral part of the kindergarten curriculum. It is the child’s
way of learning, exploring, and understanding the world, as well
as a source of pleasure. Play is a way to test new ideas, practice
new skills, and begin to see new relationships.
Reading/Language
Arts
- Language
development begins at birth and is strengthened and refined through
play, dialogue, and first hand experiences in reading, writing,
listening, and speaking, first at home and continuing at school.
Instruction in Kindergarten will focus on development of the following
learning competencies:
- development
of book and print awareness
- demonstration
of understanding of sounds of letters
- recognizing
and naming upper and lower case letters
- recognizing
common sight words
- reading
or attempting to read the child’s own dictated story
- reading
or attempting to read simple patterned, or predictable texts using
letter-sound knowledge and pictures to construct meaning
- relating
the content of a variety of texts to the child’s own experience
- listening
to, discussing, illustrating, and dramatizing stories
- retelling
or summarizing main points of stories
- following
oral directions
- using new
vocabulary in writing
- using a
variety of sentence patterns
- using correct
manuscript formation and spacing
- using temporary
and/or conventional spelling
Mathematics
- The goal
of the math program is to develop students who value mathematics,
and who are competent in reasoning and using mathematics to solve
problems. Instruction in Kindergarten will focus on development
of the following learning competencies:
- using reasoning
abilities to perceive patterns, justify strategies, and evaluate
the reasonableness of answers
- communicating
mathematically using words, numbers, symbols, pictures, and models
- explaining
solutions to simple mathematical problems using mathematical vocabulary
and symbols
- representing
and explaining whole numbers using physical materials, number
lines, and other pictorial models
- recognizing
geometry in the physical environment—circle, square, rectangle,
triangle, oval
- selecting
and using appropriate units and tools of measurement
- demonstrating
knowledge of simple measuring relationships: days, weeks, months,
pennies, nickels, dimes, etc.
- collecting
and organizing data through simple graphs
- recognizing
basic number patterns
- solving
problems orally and pictorially and justifying their thinking
Science
The science
program is designed to guide students in active and extended scientific
inquiry and to provide opportunities for scientific discussion and
debate among students.
- Instruction
in Kindergarten will focus on development of the following learning
competencies:
- asking questions
about natural phenomena: trees, shadows and light, magnets, water
- using science
themes to investigate science issues and problems
- sorting
living things in groups using various properties to decide which
things belong to separate groups
- describing
features of plants and animals that help them survive in different
environments
- asking questions
about the properties of common objects
- describing
the properties of objects and materials
- explaining
ways of finding out the answers to questions about the properties
of common objects
- investigating
earth materials—rocks, soil, water
- demonstrating
knowledge of the four seasons, day & night and how the sun
affects both cycles
- using technology
and tools to gather data
Social
Studies
Social studies
is a yearlong activity-based program. Through instruction the child’s
perspective on home, school, and community will broaden. Through
the use of literature, instructional materials, discussions, and
projects, the students will have opportunities to increase understanding
of their world.
Units taught
in Kindergarten include
- Names
- Friendships
& Working Together
- Family
- Farm
- Instruction
in Kindergarten will focus on development of the following learning
competencies:
- adjusting
to kindergarten, learning to make new friends and work together
as a team
- discussing
similarities and differences of individuals
- discussing
similarities and differences of families
- experiencing
a variety of people and cultures
- using globes,
maps, charts, and graphs
Art
- The Kindergarten
art program is one in which students will discover
- elements
of design such as line, shape, color, space and texture
- principles
of design such as light and dark
- using natural
forms for subject matter
- techniques
in painting, drawing, cutting, tearing, and gluing using
a variety of media
Music
Through the
Kindergarten music program, students will discover
- musical
elements such as rhythm, melody, tempo, and dynamics
- proper singing
techniques
Physical
Education & Health
In supporting
development of the whole child, the Kindergarten physical education
program promotes the development of gross motor skills through noncompetitive
activities including ball handling skills, rhythmic and fitness
activities. Through health instruction, children will learn about
the importance of cleanliness and good grooming, develop skills
that reduce the spread of diseases, identify healthful foods and
learn how food choices impact their overall health.
Return
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To support
the total instructional program, each school also provides the following
services:
- at-risk
programming
- gifted
and talented identification and programming
- guidance
and counseling curriculum and services
- library/media
services and resources, including technology education
- special
education programming and services
- Contact
your school principal for further information about any program.
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