Health will be taught using the Great Body Shop curriculum. We will also teach Social, Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons utilizing the Connected and Respected curriculum. We will be looking into expanding our growth mindset this year and hopefully changing our outlook on the world. We will be changing , "I can't..." to "I can't yet..." or "I don't know how," to "I can't wait to learn how to do that."
Aquarian kindergarteners and first grades will be using Illustrative Math uses Saxon Math as our curriculum. Students are assessed and placed into the appropriate ability level. While much of the work is done in class, you shoul expect math homework most nights. The main focus of the math homework is to share with parents what their child is working on in class as well as helping establish a sense of responsibility.
The Science curriculum will cover themes such as forces (push, pull, and friction) and cycles (seasons, plants and animals). Our class will enter a class project in Aquarian's Annual Science Fair.
Writing is a combination of drawing, dictation, and writing at this level. Your child will explore the many reasons for writing such as to express an opinion, to tell about an event, to answer questions, to share what they learned while researching a topic, and to tell about a book they have read.
Students will also learn how to correctly form upper and lower case letters, to use capitals at the beginning of a sentence, use correct punctuation at the end of a sentence, and spell simple words phonetically.
Social Studies will be a journey learning about ourselves and our community around us. We will explore how we fit in the community and how we can have a positive impact on our community. Our studies may include read alouds, guest speakers and field trips.
Reading will include teacher led readings, small group reading and individual reading. Students will practice skills such as asking and answering questions, identify characters, settings and major events in a story, and understand the relationship between illustrations and the story.
Students will participate in direct, whole group instruction utilizing "Wit and Wisdom" as well as small, leveled learning groups based on the individual reading levels utilizing "Geodes."
We will be utilizing the Fundations Phonics program for our phonics instruction as well as handwriting. Each week you will be sent information regarding what your child will be learning in regards to phonics, handwriting, and "tricky words."
Grading Policy:
Kindergarten assessments are based on standards that your child will progress through throughout his/her kindergarten year. Assessments will include letter name and sounds, letter formation and writing sentences, as well as math concepts such as counting, shape recognition and patterns. Students will receive a report card four times a year and parents are invite to attend conferences twice a year (first and third quarters). In addition to the report cards, students will participate in an end of year portfolio share with families.
Homework:
Typically, the only homework your kindergartener should have is in math (depending on the math level he/she is in). There may be an occasional family project that your child may be assigned but these will be with the focus of keeping the family involved in the child's education and learning.