Language Arts
The language arts program in kindergarten is comprehensive and challenging, yet developmentally appropriate. Through the SRA Open Court Reading program and other teacher-developed activities, students learn the basics of reading and writing.
Handwriting, sentence structure, and sight words are taught during journal time each morning. The Handwriting Without Tears program is used for proper development of letter and number formation. Early in the year, students write the date and draw a picture in their journals. After several weeks, students begin to label their drawings using beginning sounds. Several weeks later, students begin to write the word label by writing the sounds they hear. After the winter break, students begin writing simple sentences in their journals.
Emphasis is placed on using proper capitalization, spacing between the words, and using the correct end mark. As the year progresses, details are added to the sentences and finally, two or more sentences are required.
A strong emphasis on phonics and sight-word recognition is the key to a successful reading program. Students come to kindergarten on varying levels – some are reading already and some are still learning their letters and sounds. Students are given opportunities for practicing developing reading skills in the large group, with partners, and one-on-one with the teacher.
Advanced readers are given more difficult reading selections and are encouraged to participate in the Accelerated Reader Program, a program designed to test comprehension.
Mathematics
Kindergarten students use the Everyday Math Program for math instruction. The program is designed to help children learn and understand concepts of mathematics that are the foundation for math instruction they will have throughout elementary school. Math is taught using games and activities that help children grasp difficult concepts. We look for math all around us in our everyday lives. There are no worksheets in the Everyday Math Program; however, teachers provide occasional worksheets so that children are familiar with them.
A favorite math activity is a game that helps reinforce the value of coins and equivalent exchanges. The children roll a cube that is marked 1¢, 5¢, and 10¢ on each of the six sides. When children collect five pennies, they exchange them for a nickel. When children collect two nickels, they exchange them for a dime. The child with the most dimes at the end of the game is the “winner.” The Everyday Math Program is used through the fifth grade at Aiken Prep.
Science
Science in kindergarten is a time for hands-on exploration. We study five different “FOSS” Science units throughout the year. The units are Trees, Wood, Paper, Fabric, and Animals. In each of these units, the students learn about their world by conducting experiments with the various materials being studied. For example, when we study paper, students will handle ten different kinds of paper. We feel them for similarities and differences, we drop water on them to see which kinds are most absorbent, and we fold them to see which are the easiest to fold. After the unit is complete, students will often come to the teacher, excited about finding one of the paper types in the classroom or at lunch. Similar experiences are noted with the wood and fabric units. Of course, the classroom for our study of trees is outside, all around campus. Our study of animals includes bringing different animals into the classroom. We study and compare goldfish and guppies, land snails and water snails, and earthworms and night crawlers. The students love to handle the animals (except for the fish, of course) and we teach respect for living creatures while learning fascinating facts about them!
Social Studies
Social studies is taught year-round through teacher-created units. One of our SRA Open Court units also lends itself to a tremendous study. The unit is called “Red, White, & Blue” and introduces the students to the theme of patriotism. Students learn about government, voting, and the history of our country (among many other concepts) during this four-week unit. We also use the holidays as a spring-board for discussion of important historical facts and events.
We also use several class projects to learn important social studies concepts. During the fall, each student chooses one of the states and creates a presentation for the class. Parents offer much support, but the students do the presenting. In the spring, students choose a country and teach the class about it. In February, we team up with a middle school or high school class to learn about the presidents. Each student chooses a president and finds interesting facts in the library with the help of their older student buddy. During December, we learn about the various holidays that are celebrated during that time of year. We discuss Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, and often have guest speakers come in to share their holiday traditions. These are just a few examples of the many ways we learn about our culture and others in kindergarten.
Music
5K students enjoy a variety of musical experiences with an emphasis on singing, rhythm, movement and performance. Students play percussion instruments, xylophones and color-coded hand bells. Simple rhythm notation is introduced and recognition of the treble and bass clefs. There are performances for Grandparents’ Day, Christmas, and Lower School graduation.
Spanish
In 5-K, basic Spanish vocabulary is practiced orally through songs, finger play,
books, videos and games. Children learn greetings, numbers, the alphabet,
colors, parts of the body, clothing, animals, transportation, classroom terms,
family, household terms, and question words. We begin to read and write simple
Spanish words. As Spanish becomes more familiar, computer programs are
introduced for a more interactive experience. Most of all, learning Spanish is
FUN!
Field Trips
We take many field trips during the school year that enrich our classroom studies. We visit the Ruth Patrick Science Center four times each year for classes that reinforce what we are learning in science. We also visit the Aiken Area Council on Aging four times each year to participate in community service activities. We attend plays and concerts to learn proper etiquette at such events, and just to enjoy the fun!
Physical Education
Students receive PE instruction every day as an important part of their development.
Library Storytime
Listening and viewing skills; story discussion; library etiquette and book care; care and organization of books and periodicals; books checked out weekly.
Art
In 5-K, we are using Books the Kids Love to learn the basic elements of art: line, shape, color, value, texture, form and space. We use different mediums to illustrate each element of art.
