New Hope Academy Elementary School

Kindergarten Curriculum Outlines

(Compiled from all faculty who teach kindergarten subjects)
UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Language Arts

Jolly Phonics is used to introduce individual letter sounds and student progress to blending sounds into words. Jolly Phonics utilizes a fun, sign language symbol for each sound making it easier for a Kindergartener to remember the sounds with the letter symbols. Jolly phonics also introduces the sounds associated with multiple letters like "ch," "oi," "ae," etc.

The phonics based SRA and Open Court programs are the basic text series used in Kindergarten. The students develop phonemic awareness through guided exercises. Students become familiar with many basic sight words and read three letter words with short vowel sounds. They are introduced to common "blends" and many progress to reading long vowel and compound words. Students are able to read early primers, draw conclusions from stories and identify fact versus fiction. Children begin developing independent work habits in the Kindergarten.

Kindergarteners write in journals and learn how to construct a basic sentence using capitols and periods. The use of quotation marks, question marks and exclamatory marks are introduced. Students are encouraged to write using inventive and phonetic spelling. The object, at this age, is to become comfortable with the writing process and expressing oneself by writing. Formal spelling instruction will begin in later grades. Children contribute to class discussions and develop their listening and oral vocabulary through exposure to literature and some direct instruction. Students also practice following oral directions with several steps.

Handwriting – Basic Italic – Italic is a modern handwriting system based on enduring letterform that is highly suited to rapid and legible writing. Italic conforms to natural, rhythmic hand movements. Italic builds on previously learned concepts and the letter shapes remain the same from the individually formed letters to the connected cursive used in later grades, eliminating the abrupt leap from "ball and stick" to looped cursive. Self-assessment is an integral part of the program.

Mathematics

Saxon Math – a comprehensive system from Kindergarten through pre-calculus, which emphasizes learning in small increments and review of all previously, learned concepts throughout the year. Saxon Math in grades K-4 is primarily a hands-on approach working with manipulatives. Each night's homework consists of many different types of problems from all previous lessons.

The Kindergarten Saxon Math program is a hands-on school based program with no homework component. However, we often choose to augment the program with appropriate worksheets and activities that support and extend the concepts taught in Saxon Math. Some of the basic math concepts.

Kindergarteners learn about are: calendar concepts, one-to one correspondence counting, counting by 1's, 5's and 10's to 100(+), patterns, the use of pattern blocks and tangram puzzles, addition and subtraction of numbers 10 and less, measuring, ordinal numbers, sorting, graphing and shapes.

Social Studies

Students are introduced to concepts such as history, citizenship, government, economics and geography. They are exposed to important historical figures and events and the holidays and traditions of many cultures. We study several units: one on Native Americans and early American settlers, Black History, holidays and traditions of several different faiths and the symbols and ideals of the United States of America.

Science

Grades Kindergarten-6 use the Silver Burdett Discovery Works system – in which concepts are taught through hands-on experiments for every unit as well as in the textbooks. Kindergarten units and topics are: The Senses, Body Parts, Looking at the Sky, Pushes and Pulls, and Living Things. Teachers select some of these units for instruction and may add other topics which include the study of dinosaurs, fossils, birds, etc. in the Kindergarten.

Additional Subjects

Children in Kindergarten at New Hope attend classes in Physical Education, Music, Art and Character Education. Children are exposed to the foreign languages Spanish and Korean through a fun monthly introduction program in the Kindergarten year. The program includes exposure to cultural aspects (holidays, foods etc.) and basic language instruction utilizing music and games.

Art

Textbooks/Materials used: Art Fun: A survival kit for art teacher (3 books), The simple origami, 501 fun-to-make Family Crafts

Units and Topics: Learn about and the use of art tools in safe, responsible manner. Learn to use large markers, crayons, and large and small brushes. Learn to paint and print with fingers, vegetables, and found objects. Learn to recognize the differences in art media. Learn to cut, glue, tear, bend, bend, and fold, with paper airplane and some simple origami. Create sculptures from objects, i.e. fishes from plastic soda bottles. Learn to recognize and draw geometric shapes and see how to use them to make a drawing. Learn to make different lines: thick, thin, zig-zag, curved strait etc. Give skills and media lesson step-by-step. Allow each student to express themselves with lots of free drawing time and experiment with different materials.

Spanish Language

Kindergarten, First Grade, Second Grade: Introduction to vocabulary and simple phrases through games, writing exercises and cultural activities. Each week a new topic is presented.

Korean Language

The Korean language program is designed for students to develop and polish their skills in reading, writing, and speaking the Korean language. In addition, students will be able to identify Korean language and culture through a variety of special activities.

Elementary school students are generally organized into four levels: kindergarten, grades 1 & 2, grades 3 & 4 and grades 5 & 6. For younger students, we use various materials and techniques, which are helpful to understand Korean vocabulary and culture.

Students will have cultural exposure. They will attend Korean class once a month. They are expected to learn the Korean way of greeting, as well as Korean traditional clothing, the national flower, the Korean flag, songs and drawings, in order to introduce Korean customs and language.

Music

Textbooks/Materials used: Silver Burdette World of Music, dance and movement tapes, different types of listening material, rhythm instruments, instrument workbooks, and art material.

Units and Topics: Reading and clapping rhythms, singing different cultural songs, discussing the history of songs, learning to play instruments, learning about instruments, listening to different types of music, louds and softs, directions of notes, movement and dancing.

Physical Education

Units and Topics: The main goal for my kindergarten classes is to focus on their basic locomotive skills. Beginning with the most basic movements and to incorporate these skills into games for enjoyment and fitness.

   • Spatial awareness drills with locomotor skills

   • Running organization

   • Fitness testing (introducing fitness activities; i.e. sit-ups, push-ups, etc.)

   • Jumping, hopping skills rope jumping

   • Using upper body, pulling, tug of war, etc.

   • Throwing, catching skills; using bean bags, various size, types of balls

   • Tumbling

   • Rhythms

   • Games, review

Information Technology

Programs used: Educational Software (Jump Start Kindergarten, Learning Company, etc. appropriate to grade level)

Kindergarteners have a class in technology each week. The objective of this first year is to have the children become comfortable with a computer including using the mouse, and begin learning keyboarding skills. Fun learning programs facilitate this in the lab. The classroom also has several computers for students' use in a learning center.

Units and Topics:

   • Play educational computer games. (Computer as a Learning Center)

   • Start, shut down the computer.

Learn appropriate behavior at the computer and in the lab.

Get to know the elementary school teachers.
Take a look at the curriculum for other grades in high school, middle school, or elementary school.
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