Kindergarten

• Language Arts
• Reading
• Writing
• Phonics
• Handwriting
• Mathematics
• Social Studies
• Science - NGSS
• Listening and Speaking
• Foreign Language - Spanish
• Technology Class
• Physical Education (PE)
• Music Class
• Art in Action
• Second Step - Skills for Social and Academic Success

Language Arts

Reading

Students will demonstrate reading readiness by:

• Identifying upper and lowercase letters
• Recognizing letter and sound relationships
• Reading simple one-syllable and high frequency words
• Using picture/context clues
• Hearing and using rhyming patterns
• Identify the sequence of the story
• Identifying the front cover, back cover, and title page of a book
• Recognizing the left to right, top to bottom directionality of print
• Blending vowel-consonant sounds orally to make words or syllables
• Retelling familiar stories
• Reading and understanding grade level material
• Retelling stories aloud
• Recognizing the beginning, middle, and end of a story
• Identifying characters, settings, and important events

Writing

Students will demonstrate writing readiness by:

• Tracing words and letters to develop fine motor skills
• Practicing proper pencil grip
• Printing numbers, letters and words on lined paper
• Writing first and last names using upper and lower case letters on lined paper
• Writing the appropriate letter for initial middle and ending sounds in cvc words
• Blending sounds to write words
• Using invented and grade-level spelling
• Completing writing journals and ABC journals that record thoughts and ideas using recognizable letters and words
• Writing sentences with a capital letter, proper spacing and punctuation
• Writing basic narrative, informational and opinion pieces along with illustrations
• Organizing, editing and proofreading their writing

Listening/Speaking

Students will demonstrate readiness with listening and speaking skills by:

• Listening without interrupting
• Following one and two-step oral directions
• Listening respectively to the ideas and opinions of others
• Listening attentively during instructions and activities
• Participating in class discussions
• Reciting prayers, poems, and songs
• Speaking clearly
• Sharing ideas with the class and responding to questions
• Using polite words when speaking

Handwriting: Students will be learning basic manuscript strokes, letters and numerals. Even in today's digital world, handwriting skills are critical to students' academic success. There is a strong connection between handwriting proficiency and literacy. Students will be practicing using a proper pencil grip and working hard to form letters and numbers correctly.

Fundations Phonics: Students will be taught carefully sequenced skills that include print knowledge, alphabet awareness, phonological awareness, phonemic awareness, decoding, vocabulary, fluency, and spelling. Critical thinking, speaking and listening skills are practiced during story time activities.

Reading Workshop: Reading Workshop starts with a mini lesson, which focuses on teaching children various reading strategies and introduces them to different types of texts. Students will then spend time reading with a partner, reading independently, and reading with their teacher. Students will participate in guided reading and confer with the teacher during this time block. The children will “book shop” once a week from the classroom library, choosing “just right books” at their reading level, as well as books that they choose on their own.

Writing Workshop: During Writing Workshop, the teacher acts as a mentor author, modeling writing techniques and conferring with students as they move through the writing process. Students will be learning to write at least three types of text: narrative, opinion, and information texts. They will also be introduced to early versions of revision and editing.

Step Up to Writing: Students will practice comprehension skills to support their ability to respond to text both orally and in writing. They will practice foundationals writing skills and learn how to organize, edit and proofread their writing.

Mathematics

• Counting and Cardinality
  • Counting to 100 by tens and ones
  • Writing numbers from 0-20
  • Identifying greater than, less than, equal to
  • Representing a number of objects with a written numeral
• Operations and Algebraic Thinking
  • Represent addition and subtraction problems within 10 using objects or drawings
  • Fluently add and subtract within 5
• Number and Operations in Base Ten
  • Compose and decompose numbers from 11-19 into ones and some further ones
• Measurement and Data
  • Describe length and weight of objects
  • Classify objects into categories
• Geometry
  • Correctly identifies shapes
  • Correctly distinguishes between two and three dimensional shapes
  • Builds shapes from components

Religion

Students will identify that God is a loving creator. They will learn about the Holy family and that Mary is the mother of God. Students will listen to and retell bible stories, as well as listen to stories read at Mass. Students will learn prayers and the Sign of the Cross. Students will identify customs and liturgical seasons and participate in special masses throughout the school year. Students will learn about character, compassion, and values. Students will recognize the needs of the poor and the importance of service to others in need in our community.

Social

Students will learn why it is important to follow rules and what it means to be a good citizen. Students are introduced to symbols of our state and country, as well as symbols and signs that they might see in their neighborhood. They will discuss the jobs that are important in our community, jobs their parents may have, and talk with members of their community about their roles and responsibilities. Students will be introduced to location by learning to find things on a map or globe, and to identify places in their neighborhood or school. Students will begin to explore the concept of time by using and interpreting a calendar. Students will learn from times past by discussing holidays and traditions, reading about important people in history and identifying how things have changed.

Science

Students will be exploring the world around them using their five senses and learning how to think like a scientist by asking questions. Students will participate in Mystery Science lessons which focus on the following themes: plants and animal needs, severe weather, weather patterns and seasons, sunlight and warmth, and motion of objects. Students will also observe and compare the difference between solids, liquids, and and discuss that the earth is made up of air, land, and water. Students will participate in some simple experiments such as sink or float, weather tracking, growing a plant, the water cycle, etc.

Second Step - Skills for Social and Academic Success

Students will participate in the Second Step program, which is designed to increase students’ school success and decrease problem behaviors by promoting social-emotional competence and self-regulation. It teaches skills that strengthen students’ ability to learn, have empathy, manage emotions, and solve problems.