Reading
The kindergarten reading program focuses on phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. We utilize the Wilson Fundations program, which is a research based curriculum that breaks down the rules and patterns of the English language. Students engage in daily practice to develop print concepts, phonological awareness, and word recognition. They recognize, name, write, and identify the sound of each letter, and these alphabetic principles are reinforced with an art project for each letter of the alphabet. Kindergarten also uses the Heggerty Curriculum to build phonemic awareness. The children are exposed to different types of literature, including fiction and nonfiction, through read alouds and independent reading. Students learn to identify and retell key details of the characters, settings, and main events in a story and to analyze the relationship between text and illustrations. As the class engages in literature discussions, the students develop the skills of speaking audibly, clearly expressing their thoughts, and following rules of conversation.
Writing
Using a combination of drawing, dictating, and independent writing, students engage daily in writing tasks to express their ideas and respond to prompts. Their writing is self-initiated, and they spontaneously practice their letters, label drawings, or write stories to keep in their writing folders. They are learning to put words together into sentences and to use capital letters at the beginning of sentences and punctuation at the end of sentences. During the week, the children have many opportunities to work in our Writing Center. We make many class books that the children love to create, read, and borrow to share with their families.
We use the Illustrative Mathematics (IM) curriculum for kindergarten math.
The big ideas in IM Kindergarten include: representing and comparing whole numbers, initially with sets of objects; understanding and applying addition and subtraction; and describing shapes and space. ~Illustrative Mathematics
In kindergarten science, the year begins with a unit on observations. The students learn that scientists use their senses and tools to investigate and gather information about the world around them. The students practice using simple tools, such hand lenses and mirrors, to investigate and explore. They also begin to make predictions based upon their observations and experiences. Next, kindergarteners compare and contrast living and nonliving things. Students explore the life cycles of various plants and animals to understand that living things grow through processes of growth and change over time. This unit includes the incubation of baby chicks, allowing the students to see the process of growth first hand. In addition in kindergarten science, the class examines states of matter, specifically solids and liquids. They look at how water can take the form of a solid, liquid, or gas and explore how these changes occur.
We begin the year by asking the questions, “What does it mean to be a member of a classroom community?” The students learn the importance of rules to promote safety, fairness, and peace within the classroom, and they learn how their actions impact the classroom community. They begin to explore maps as tools that provide information and learn the cardinal directions. In kindergarten social studies, the students also learn about national holidays in the United States, including the history and traditions of each holiday. Students also begin to develop an understanding of the past, present, and future, and they apply vocabulary related to the past, present, and future in connection to personal stories, historical events, and observations of the natural world.
Hebrew
In kindergarten Hebrew, the alphabet is taught through hands-on projects, songs, and multi-sensory activities. Each student creates an Aleph Bet book with appropriate vocabulary. Students learn to print letters and write their names. Students also hear stories read in Hebrew and perform plays. Vocabulary development includes numbers, colors, weather, family members, and classroom items.
Jewish Studies
Jewish Studies is comprised of four themes: Torah, holidays, Israel, and prayer.
Torah: Torah is taught mostly in English using different teaching approaches such as Godly Play, story reading, and role-playing. We focus on the first book of the Torah (Genesis/Bereisheet) with the addition of the Passover story.
Holidays: Holiday symbols, customs, and prayers are taught in kindergarten through stories, songs, and ritual practices. A highlight of the year is learning about Havdalah and performing a play and Havdalah service with families on a Saturday evening.
Israel: Students develop a meaningful relationship with Israel through personal connections with language, people, places, and events. As an ancient land and modern state, we teach our students that Israel is a home for diverse and vibrant expressions of Judaism. Kindergarten students take an imaginary trip as an introduction to their study of Israel. Our students engage with Israel at all grade levels and feel a deep connection to their homeland.
Prayer: In kindergarten, students learn several Jewish prayers through story, sign language, and song. Students’ appreciation and knowledge of morning prayers are showcased at the culminating end of the year breakfast.
The goal of our music program is for students not only to become skillful and enthusiastic music makers but also to encourage music literacy, participation, and performance. Through joyful discovery of classical and contemporary music, students cultivate musicality and knowledge. In kindergarten, students learn to move their bodies in coordination with beat, rhythm, and tempo and learn to sing in-tune with expression and confidence while gaining confidence on stage.
Students work with a variety of drawing tools, paints, and papers. Students learn techniques for drawing, painting, weaving, printmaking, and collage. In kindergarten, students are introduced to the concepts of lines, shapes, color, and texture. Emphasis is put on the process of creating art rather than the finished product. The defining project of the kindergarten curriculum is the creation of self-portraits.
Kindergartners begin to learn to express emotions by using facial expressions and body language. They also learn to create characters using puppets, pretend to be different animals, and learn the basics of how to act out a story. By the end of the year, the students are comfortable speaking and performing in front of others, and they demonstrate the ability to observe, listen, and respond to their fellow actors. Students showcase the skills learned during their Hebrew performance of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” and their musical showcase at the end of the year Kindergarten Breakfast.
In physical education class, students are encouraged to participate in low- and high-energy activities with a focus on physical coordination, sportsmanship, and problem solving. Students learn the fundamentals and rules of major sports, as well as physical fitness, stretching, and agility. Units over the school year include soccer, flag football, basketball, handball, strategy games, and floor hockey. Using demonstration of skills, review of age appropriate rules, and scrimmages, students learn new sports, the importance of physical fitness, respectful play with others, and how to engage in healthy competition.
Students become familiar with library routines and organization as well as concepts such as author/illustrator, fiction/nonfiction, and genres/formats. During weekly read-alouds, students explore how books can provide both information and entertainment and are encouraged to ask questions. Kindergarten students begin to develop skills to evaluate and choose books that they want to borrow— first from a small selection, and then by the end of the year, from various sections of the library shelves.