Curriculum Overview

Reading

• Oral comprehension- read daily to children and follow-up with either a story mapping chart or daily discussion.
• Basic understanding- Introduce children to rhyming books that play with language in order to introduce word families and extend vocabulary.
• Using environmental print to associate letters with words to make reading purposeful.
• Use picture clues to read unknown words.
• Read 23 Kindergarten words within the Harcourt Materials:

  a, are, come, do, for, go, have, here, I, like, little, look, me, my, no, on, one, see, the, to, we, what, you

Language

• Read picture books on tapes, share books with others, listen to books on tape.
• Name and give sounds for upper and lower-case letters.
• Begin to use sound blending.
• Demonstrate ability to listen and follow directions.
• Orally communicate using complete sentences.
• Begin to use the writing process to communicate ideas.
• Write two frame or related sentences.
• Apply strategies to comprehend literature.
• Begin to use the writing process by using appropriate symbols for sounds in beginning, middle and ending positions in word.
• Demonstrate ability to spell sight words in daily writing.

Spelling

• The students will demonstrate the ability to correctly spell core high frequency sight words in daily writing. The core kindergarten words are:

  The, and, a, in, is, you, it, at, I, we, can, like, see, my & me

Math

1. Students will be able to apply concepts to number systems to real world situation.

• Students will be able to sort and classify objects.
• Students will be able to recognize and use patterns for problem solving.
• Students will be able to use whole numbers that will apply to life situation.

2. Students will be able to apply problem solving and critical thinking skills to everyday life.

• Students will be able to apply strategies to solve mathematical problems relating to life situation.

3. Students will be able to interpret real world situations using measurement concepts.

• Students will be able to use money concepts.
• Students will be able to use time in their daily life.

4. Students will be able to gather, organize, display and interpret data.

• Students will be able to compare and graph experiences.

5. Students will be able to apply the principles of geometry to their environment.

• Students will be able to analyze geometric shapes.

6. Students will be able to communicate mathematically using media and technology.

• Students will be able to use calculators and or computers to solve simulated real-world problems.

Technology

1. Parts of a computer

• Monitor
• Disk drive
• Keyboard
• Mouse and mouse pad

2. Personal identification number

3. Keyboard Skills

• Letters of the alphabet
• Numbers
• Escape Key
• Backspace key
• Enter key

4. Log in and out of the old and new network

5. Safety tactics of the computer

6. Cooperative learning

7. Click to a given assignment and follow the task

Differentiated Instruction

• Classroom centers provided individual instruction based on ability
• Classroom assignments are also modified and adjusted to the appropriate ability level.

Grade Level Information

Homework Policy

Homework is important as a valuable aid in reinforcing what has been learned in class. Homework in kindergarten should extend and encourage the natural curiosity and learning experiences that take place in the classroom. It also helps to develop responsibility and study habits.

Homework will be assigned once a week on Wednesday. The homework assigned should not take your child more than ten minutes to complete. All homework will be checked. Students will be given praise and other incentives when they do their homework. If a student chooses not to do their homework, they also choose to loose certain privileges such as a recess period. If the student continually does not return homework, this will necessitate teachers contacting parents. If there is a valid reason why a child is not able to finish homework, a parent must send a note on the day the work is due stating the reason the work was not completed.

Parents can make homework a priority by providing necessary supplies, a quiet environment and support or help if the student has tried and is unable to do the work after they have given it their best effort. By working together, we can help to make your child's homework experiences a means to develop the study habits that will be needed in the later grades. The homework sent home on Wednesday is only in addition to the fifteen minutes children should read or be read to each day. All children benefit when lessons taught in class are reviewed daily with parents.

Reading List

Arthur's Family Vacation Marc Brown
Butterfly & The Lamb, Eric Carle
Growing Vegetables Soup, Lois Ehlert
Is there Room on the Feather Bed Libba Moore Gray
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse Kevin Henkes
Messy Bessy Patricia McKissack
Moongame Frank Asch
These Can Do Pigs David McPhail
Uncle Elephant Arnold Loebel
Wonderful WormsLinda Glaser
Franklin Goes to School Paulette Bourgeois
Arthur's Really Helpful Bedtime Stories Marc Clark
Clifford Grows-Up Norman Bridwell

Curriculum Content and Essential Skills

District Curriculum