Our Classroom Covenant

I have a right to be happy, and to be treated with

Kindness in this room:

This means no one

Will laugh at me, ignore me or

Hurt my feelings.

I have a right to be myself in this room.

This means that no one will

Treat me unfairly because I am

Fat or thin

Fast or slow

Boy or girl.

I have a right to be safe in this room:

This means no one will

Put me down

Or do anything to hurt my feelings.

I have a right to hear and be heard in this room:

This means that everyone will listen

And my opinions and desires will be considered

In any plans we make.

Overview of Kindergarten Curriculum and Assessment

LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Children are involved in reading, writing, listening, speaking, observing, and illustrating everyday. Reading is modeled and practiced as we read big books songs, poems, and chant together. Writing is modeled and practiced as we write TheDaily Message, create our own stories, lists, and class books. Although reading and writing is integrated into every center activity, some other specific activities in which your child will participate include:

  • Making Meaning
  • Reading Workshop
  • Writing Workshop
  • Word lists – our names, beginning sounds (letter of the week), sight words
  • Take home books, poems, and posters
  • Journal writing and book writing using “inventive” spelling

WRITING

In kindergarten writing is both letter formation and telling, drawing, and writing stories. There is little emphasis placed on perfect letter formation, but the children do learn how to form the ABC’s correctly in class. A copy of the correct formation of letters is included in this packet. Children are encouraged to use lower case letters when writing their names, therefore, if you are teaching your child how to write his/her name it is helpful if they can do it with lower case letters. Also, please reinforce that your child always starts at the top of the line when forming their letters.

In story-writing, we begin with children being able to tell a story, use details in their drawings to tell a story, and then to actually use letters and words to write the story.

MATH

Through active participation and manipulation, children will problem solve and experience math as it relates to their daily life. Some of the many skills introduced and practiced include:

  • Observing: describing and identifying properties of objects
  • Sorting: by attributes
  • Patterning: identifying extending and creating new patterns Graphing: interpreting concrete graphs and pictographs
  • Understanding of numbers: counting, writing numerals, building and recognizing standard configuration, recognizing numerals to 30, matching items one to one, creating sets or groups
  • Counting: to 100 (additional: 2’s and 5’s to 30, and 10’s to 100)
  • Geometry: identifying 2-D and 3-D shapes, positional words
  • Measuring and estimating: length, weight
  • Adding and subtracting to 10

SOCIAL STUDIES

Many activities are designed to broaden a kindergarten student’s concept of self, family and community. Children will explore values, learn the rules of social living and gain respect for individual differences. They will learn to help one another and cooperate together.

SCIENCE AND HEALTH

Children’s natural curiosity and their interest in the world around them form the basis for kindergarten science. Projects are active, exploratory, and experimental. Children are encouraged to question, predict, observe, and test before reaching a conclusion. Our science units include studies of properties, water, and animals.

In our Health Curriculum we will examine our senses and learn about keeping our bodies healthy. Our Health units are developed around the Michigan Health Model.

ASSESSMENT

Children are assessed according to their own growth and ability. Children from 3 to 9 years of age develop at very different rates. Samples of student work will be kept to show ongoing progress.

There will be formal conferences held for each child in December and in the March. Teachers will be happy to speak with you regarding your child’s progress at any time during the school year. If you do have a question or concern over the course of the year, please e-mail, write a note, or leave a voice mail message to set up an appointment.

Here Are Some Ways to Help Your Child With Writing:

  • Provide Writing Materials: Let your child use all different kinds of paper, markers, crayons, pencils, pens, and paints. Maybe you could have a special writing place in your home where your child can get these materials.
  • Let Your Child See You Write: Explain to your child what your writing says and why you are writing. When writing notes, provide paper and pencil for your child to write, too.
  • Write Messages: Help your child write messages for important things like Library day is Monday orTomorrow we go to the dentist.
  • Keep a home calendar: to record and anticipate important events.
  • Draw Pictures and Help Your Child Write Stories About Family Events. Relatives might enjoy reading these stories.
  • Keep a journal at home.

Remember to praise your child’s efforts and keep in mind that their writing will improve with practice.