Looking at the Kindergarten Curriculum

1. Looking at the Kindergarten Curriculum • Literacy – Reading and Writing • Letter Recognition and Sounds • Decoding Skills • Word Study and Spelling • Comprehension • Listening • Speaking • Handwriting • Math • Science • Social Studies • Art • Physical Education • Music • Library • Computer Newcastle Kindergarten

2. Social & Character Building Newcastle Rule…We make choices that don’t cause a problem for anyone! • Newcastle uses Love & Logic and our school rule to provide social support. • In kindergarten, students learn how to be life long learners so they can be successful throughout their education • Kindergarten provides opportunities for your child to play and talk to other children while taking responsibility for their choices.

3. Social & Character Building At Home • Encourage your child to share and take turns • Give small chores/jobs so your child may experience responsibility and a sense of accomplishment • Talk and model how to express feelings appropriately and with self control • Remind your child to listen when others are talking

4. Safety and Self Help Competence • Have your child practice orally stating their home information in case of emergencies (names, phone numbers, parent names) • Let your child tie, snap, button, and zip their own clothing • Model and encourage the practice of good hygiene (washing hands, direct coughs into elbow, wiping noses, using a napkin) • Have your child get into the habit of putting their toys away and cleaning up after themselves

5. Recognition skills and strategies to comprehend test Concepts of print, phonological & phonemic awareness, develop oral language, phonics Vocabulary Use resources to find meaning, apply vocabulary strategies Build Vocabulary Apply new vocabulary, learn new vocabulary during lessons Sight words Comprehension Ask questions, mental imagery, expository vs. narrative, prior knowledge, infer & predict LiteracyRead, Read, Read!

6. Read together Read nursery rhymes and recite them or act them out Rhyme with common words, see who can think of the most Create silly songs Make-up riddles Create new silly rhyming words (if your child’s name is Sam, his name could turn into Bam, Ham) Find words that begin with each letter in the alphabet Practice letter sounds Things to do at home to help with reading

7. Prewrites Produces a draft Revises to improve text Edits text Publishes to share Adjusts writing process as necessary Adapts writing for a variety of audiences Writes for different purposes Writes in a variety of genres Writes own name correctly Develops ideas, style, conventions Analyzes and sets goals for writing Writing

8. Practice first and last name with lower and upper case letters Write letters & words in the sand, shaving cream, rice, finger paint, play dough Create a writing toolbox filled with pencils, envelopes, pens, etc. Create an alphabet scrapbook. Each page has a letter with handwritten words or pictures from magazines Practice drawing pictures of something that happened and label the pictures with beginning sounds Things to do at home to help with writing

9. Number Sense Measurement Geometric Sense Probability and Statistics Algebraic Sense Define Problems Construct Solutions Analyze Information Verify Results Organize, represent, and share information Relate Concepts to other disciplines and to real life situations Math

10. Sort laundry, toys, blocks, candles, etc. Ask your child to help you identify colors, shapes, and numbers Look for shapes in the environment and have your child find something that is a circle, square, triangle Count objects together around your home, add and take away Make flashcards for numbers with corresponding pictures Play Go Fish, Memory, Bingo, Dominoes Cook together and measure Refer to the calendar and talk about numbers Count out loud, skip count, count by 10s Things to do at home to help with math

11. Fine Motor Practice • Provide crayons, markers, pencils, scissors, glue, paints, etc. for your child to use • String beads, Fruit Loops, and other objects to make necklaces • Pick up small objects with tweezers • Put together puzzles • Play Legos, Tinker Toys, blocks, and with other small building type toys

12. Kindergarten Report Card Issaquah report cards are standards based. This means that students are either reported as meeting standard or not. Below is the scoring criteria for 1, 2, 3, & 4. Teachers measure students ability from the district rubrics. 4= Student exceeds standard 3= Student meets standard 2= Student is approaching standard 1= Student performs below standard