KINDERGARTEN CURRICULUM
The kindergarten program introduces children to a formal education in a safe and nurturing environment. The curriculum challenges children and supports all areas of development. Teachers recognize both the value of emergent curriculum and the need for directed, sequential instruction to ensure that children enter first grade with the needed skills and knowledge to be successful.
Language Arts
The Language Arts curriculum collaboratively delivers composition, grammar, reading, writing, vocabulary and spelling. Each of these components is organized to meet the unique needs of each student.
Reading
Open Court Reading places emphasis on phonemic awareness, phonics, word knowledge, comprehension skills, inquiry skills, writing, and language arts skills. The program creates a literature-rich environment that instills a passion for lifelong reading and a love of literature. An appreciation of books is encouraged. Early readers are sent home weekly and are often used as they learn to read.
Spelling
Saxon Phonics and Spelling enables students to develop spelling skills. A series of short, simple rules explaining typical spelling patterns are taught. Children can successfully spell words with regular spelling patterns and are not limited to merely memorizing words.
Grammar
Open Court Reading provides students with a practical, working knowledge of grammar and develops confident and competent writers. Direct instruction of grammar skills are reinforced by the students' own writing. Different kinds of sentences, capitalization rules, and correct punctuation are emphasized.
Writing
Writing is integrated throughout the curriculum in a variety of settings including whole class, small group, or independently. Students begin to view himself/herself as a writer as the connection between spoken word and print are made. The student writes not only to develop the mechanics of writing, but also for a variety of other purposes, including as a means of self-expression.
Mathematics
Saxon Math and Mathematics Their Way are the math texts used in kindergarten. Both series are based on the idea of making mathematics real for students. Students are challenged to think carefully and to use mathematical common sense. Manipulatives are used daily. Students work in the following mathematical strands: free exploration, numeral writing, patterns, sorting, measurement, graphing, estimation, number, and place value. Every Day Counts, published by Great Source Education Group, is a calendar math curriculum that uses changing data on a bulletin board to generate daily math discussion. Elements such as Days of School Counting Tapes, Calendars, Coin Counters, Measurement, Clocks, Depositors, and Graphs make kindergarten level concepts hands-on. Questioning strategies that engage students in reasoning and sharing their predictions and their thinking are at the heart of Every Day Counts.
Science
Using a variety of hands-on, interactive experiences, the science curriculum allows children to explore, manipulate, discover and construct knowledge about the world around them. The students develop inquiry skills by observing, predicting, and collecting data. The students describe, discuss, and illustrate results of classroom experiments.
Social Studies
The social studies curriculum strives to develop the social skills of each child. Students practice the rules of the classroom community. The classroom community provides a model and opportunity for the students to become active citizens in their classrooms. The curriculum focuses on the school, neighborhood, and community. The student develops a beginning awareness of the people, places and events that make up a community. Students also develop a sense of the importance of people in the community and their roles. The following themes are taught during the school year: Ocean, Apples, Autumn, Pumpkins, Five senses, Pilgrim and Indians, Christmas, Winter, Dinosaurs, Heart, Community Helpers, Spring, Farm, Plants, and Insects.
Health
The Health program is a comprehensive program which is integrated into all areas of the curriculum and includes fitness, personal safety, nutrition, personal health and hygiene.