Foundations For Learning In Kindergarten

Reading in Kindergarten - The foundation for literacy will be laid in kindergarten as our students are given the opportunity to:

1. Develop the skills and strategies that are essential to reading.

• use pictures to predict "what happens next" in a story
• rhyme and play with words
• recognize the consonant sounds
• hear sound sequences in words
• use some letter sound links
• recognize words in different contexts
• use simple plural forms
• recognize labels and captions in the classroom
• read and follows directions and symbols
• read top to bottom, left to right, and front to back

 2. Understand word meaning.

• recognize own name in print
• listen and responds to literature
• connect characters with actions
• retell simple text in sequence
• name all letters of the alphabet - both capital and lower case

3. Read different materials for a variety of purposes.

• explore new books, both fiction and non-fiction
• participate in reading of pattern books, poems, songs and familiar books

4. Become confident as a reader.

• pretend to read
• demonstrate an enjoyment of literature
• reread for practice

Parents as Partners in Reading

• Read to your child every day.
• Talk about the details in stories and pictures.
• Encourage your child to retell stories and predict what might happen next.
• Play word and letter games.
• Visit your local library.
• Read and recite nursery rhymes, songs, and simple poems together.
• Keep reading materials in easy reach and encourage them to explore books that are fiction and non-fiction.

Writing in Kindergarten - In kindergarten we encourage the child to hold the pencil correctly, write letters and numbers from top to bottom, and correctly place their name on a line using a capital first letter and lower case for the rest of the name. Forms of writing that students may bring home include: dictation, rhyming, drawings with labels, poetry, and pictures in sequence. 

• The "writing process" begins in kindergarten as students practice the steps and skills necessary to become a writer.
• Students may participate in the writing process by drawing stories, rebus writing (words plus pictures = story), and group writing.
• They may dictate their story to an adult, make lists, and talk about story elements (character, setting, and sequence.)

PARENTS AS PARTNERS IN WRITING

• Provide writing materials of all kinds: colors, pens, pencils, markers.
• Encourage their creativity as they experiment with the written word.
• Listen as they "read" their stories.
• Griping the pencil correctly makes writing easier. Check with your child’s teacher to find out how to correctly hold a pencil.

Mathematics in Kindergarten - Kindergarten students begin a real world connection as they explore the world of mathematics. They will work on:

• sorting, classifying, and graphing
• completing patterning activities
• being able to recognize and write numbers from 0 to 10 and be introduced to numbers 0 - 20
• having experiences in estimation, graphing and measurement
• completing readiness activities for addition and subtraction with an understanding of how many are left and how many are there altogether?
• understanding concepts of measurement like short and tall
• understanding more and less
• identifying and naming simple geometric shapes
• recognizing math in their everyday life
• counting to 50
• understanding money values (penny, nickel, dime)
• participating in "hands - on" math activities

PARENTS AS PARTNERS IN MATH

• Count and sort items.
• Play guessing games. (larger, smaller)
• Cut out shapes.
• Make patterns and have your child extend them.
• Ask your child "why?" questions.
• Make math connections in the home: clocks, dials, cards, shapes