Curriculum

Math

• FJS uses Math & You program to guide Math instruction.

• The scope and sequence of our Math curriculum has clear alignment and methodical pacing in achieving the Common Core State Standards (now referred to as the New Jersey Student Learning Standards).

• The structure of Math lessons helps students progress from hands-on learning activities to abstract learning.

• Technology is incorporated into our Math curriculum through Math & You, which has interactive videos and worksheets that students can draw on and manipulate via the SMART Board.

• East Hanover teachers have received training from the Conquer Mathematics program, which teaches educators about developmentally appropriate Math activities at a kindergarten level.

Phonics

• Grades K-2 use the phonics program called Fundations by Wilson Language.

• Students will become familiarized with certain routines, which repeat  throughout the year. This helps us practice old skills and is a way to introduce new skills.

• Handwriting is a big focus of the program - practice at home too!

• Another fun part about Fundations is Mama Echo and Baby Echo, owls who help us learn the letters and their sounds.

• We begin with letter recognition and sounds, then CVC words then sentence writing and even dictation!

• We will also use a program called Heggerty to teach oral phonemic awareness skills, which help students Identify and manipulate sounds in words.

Reading

• We are using texts from the Arts & Letters program to aid in our reading comprehension.

• We will engage in four modules throughout the school year, each focusing on a different topic, Including the five senses, farms, America past and present, and the continents. While studying these topics, students will learn:

  • Reading comprehension skills

  • Vocabulary, related to both reading skills and the topic of the module 

  • Writing skills

  • Speaking, listening, and discussion skills

Writing

• Writing in kindergarten involves a combination of practicing handwriting and letter formation, drawing pictures, and ultimately writing 1-2 sentences that others can read.

• Students will learn that sentences should have proper capitalization, spacing, and punctuation.

• Students should be able to spell their heart words with accuracy, but should try "invented spelling" for other words, in which they sound out the sounds in the word phonetically, and not always conventionally.

• Writing genres and skills will work alongside our Arts & Letters reading program.

Social Studies and Science

• We will alternate between teaching Social Studies and teaching Science throughout the school year.

• We will discover a variety of kindergarten-appropriate topics in both subject areas through open-ended exploration and hands-on activities.

  • Science topics to include: "Trees and Weather," "Materials and Motion," and "Animals Two by Two"

  • Social Studies topics to include: classroom community, families, national symbols

​Play Time

    With the introduction of full-day kindergarten in East Hanover, we are prioritizing the education of the whole child. That means that we will be having play time EVERY DAY in our class! Play allows children to explore academic topics on their own, navigate social situations, and have FUN! Play time can be either indoor or outdoor. Outdoor playtime is located at the playground outside the cafeteria, which is most developmentally appropriate for pre-schoolers and kindergartners. Indoor playtime is located in our classroom, with a variety of fun play centers to choose from! They include: Reading and Writing Center, Math Center, Home Living Center, Blocks Center, Art Center, Water/Sand Table, Table Toys, and Puzzles and Games Center.