We believe that developmental readiness is crucial to success in school. Just as adults do not decide when children will crawl or walk, we do not determine when they are ready to read or write. Therefore, we offer both Junior and Academic Kindergarten programs to give our students a successful start in school. Acting as a bridge between preschool and kindergarten, Junior Kindergarten provides our students with an extra year to develop before beginning our challenging academic program.
Our Junior Kindergarten Curriculum
Reading Readiness
Junior Kindergartners engage in a rich array of language experiences that
develop the essential prerequisites for reading and writing. We have both
structured and unstructured activities, and use flannel boards, puppets, dramatic
play, and children's literature to develop comprehension skills, visual and
auditory discrimination skills, the use of the written word, and foster a
love of reading. We use Modern Curriculum Press to support instruction in
phonics and follow the Houghton Mifflin reading program.
Junior Kindergartners:
- listen to a wide variety of literature and talk about personal experiences
- discuss the main ideas of a selection; sequence events in a story
- demonstrate comprehension by retelling
- follow a set of verbal directions to complete a task
- use pre-writing strategies such as drawing pictures, dictating stories
- develop vocabulary, use appropriate language, and ask questions for information
- chime in with rhyming pairs and repeated/predictable phrases
- recite poems, songs, chants
- names the letters of the alphabet both upper and lower case
- learns the sounds of the letters of the alphabet
- understands how print is organized and read (reading top to bottom, left to right, sweeping back for the next line)
Math
In our Junior Kindergarten program, manipulations are used to develop mathematical
thinking, including counting, number and numeral recognition, and one-to-one
correspondence. Following along with our K-5 program, we use the first book
in the Scott Foresman-Addison Wesley series. We use number and geometric patterning
activities such as graphing and charting, games, and collections to reinforce
number skills. Students develop problem-solving abilities by engaging in real
life mathematical situations, such as sorting and classifying objects in the
classroom.
Our Junior Kindergartners learn to:
- Count orally from one to thirty; identify and write numerals zero to ten in and out of sequence
- Use language such as before or after on a number line, next to, right and left, above and below
- Compare two or more sets and identifies which is equal to, more than, or less than the other
- Recognize and continue numerical and geometric patterns
- Sort and classify objects according to selected characteristics, such as by size or ordinal position (first, third...)
- Describe concepts of time (morning, evening, yesterday, tomorrow), temperature (hot or cold), and weight (heavier or lighter)
- Demonstrate the ability to solve a pictorial representation of simple addition and subtraction problems
Social Studies
Junior Kindergarten students learn about their immediate community, develop
a respect for our natural environment, and become contributing members
of a diverse classroom community. Children focus on themselves, their
families, and the school community and neighborhood.
Science
Awareness and appreciation of science are developed through a focus on
hands-on investigations. Students observe, predict, sequence, analyze,
and apply knowledge they have learned. Units such as oceans, the solar
system, seasons, insects, and sinking and floating are integrated with
language arts and mathematics.
Music
Each student develops a strong sense of musical self-worth. Activities include
listening, singing, and physical response to the rhythm of music. Language
skills are enhanced by the creation of verses and in the use of rhyming.
Art
We use a wide variety of media such as clay, paint and collage to allow
children to explore and develop an appreciation and love of artistic expression.
Emphasis is placed on exploration and creativity rather than the end product.
Physical Education
Students develop gross motor coordination through a variety of movement activities.
They develop listening skills, an awareness of space and how to move in it,
and they learn to work together.
- kicking, throwing, and catching
- running, skipping, hopping, and jumping
- age-appropriate games
Spanish
Our Junior Kindergartners begin to develop basic speaking and comprehension
skills in Spanish. By singing and role playing, they learn to follow basic
directions and commands using simple, everyday words relating to their
surroundings, such as family members, greetings, colors, and pets.
Outside Time
This is an unstructured time for children to socialize and to develop
their large muscle skills by running, climbing, swinging, and exploring
our child-centered playground.
Buddies
Students in Junior Kindergarten are the younger partners (buddies) of
students in grade four. They meet once a month for educational and social
activities. Buddies provides an opportunity for older and younger children
to develop strong and lasting relationships and contributes to the strong
sense of community across all grades.