WELCOME TO KINDERGARTEN
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| Tools of the Mind Parent Brochure |
| Tools of the Mind Parent Brochure- Spanish |
Language Arts
The literacy practices in our Tools of the Mind classrooms are based on recommendations from the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the National Early Literacy Panel, the International Reading Association, as well as scholarly literature reviews. Children read and write in response to themes, which incorporate all content areas.A key feature of the Tools approach to literacy is that our children write for a variety of reasons throughout the day as they encode, and later decode, the written language. Teachers carefully scaffold the writing process, a method approved by the International Reading Association, as the primary driver of literacy skill acquisition. Scaffolding is individualized with an emphasis on comprehension, advanced vocabulary, and dramatization.
Phonics instruction is not only embedded in our Tools of the Mind program but also explicitly taught through the Wilson Fundations program. Fundations emphasizes phonemic awareness, phonics-word study, high frequency word study, fluency, vocabulary, handwriting, and spelling. The goal of the program is to provide all students with the strongest possible start in mastering foundational skills.
Phonics instruction is not only embedded in our Tools of the Mind program but also explicitly taught through the Wilson Fundations program. Fundations emphasizes phonemic awareness, phonics-word study, high frequency word study, fluency, vocabulary, handwriting, and spelling. The goal of the program is to provide all students with the strongest possible start in mastering foundational skills.
Reading
Buddy Reading
In Buddy Reading children are paired with a partner to read. Self -regulation is built into this activity using “lips” and “ears” mediator cards. Children are reading at their own level.
In Buddy Reading children are paired with a partner to read. Self -regulation is built into this activity using “lips” and “ears” mediator cards. Children are reading at their own level.
Buddy Reading
During Buddy Reading2 one child reads a book at his/her level while the other child follows along and prompts the buddy to remember what to do if he/she encounters a word they have trouble decoding.
During Buddy Reading2 one child reads a book at his/her level while the other child follows along and prompts the buddy to remember what to do if he/she encounters a word they have trouble decoding.
Individualized Reading
Children are using leveled readers in small groups. This allows each child to read at his/her own level. The children read with a buddy who is at the same level and they help each other with strategies and decoding.
Children are using leveled readers in small groups. This allows each child to read at his/her own level. The children read with a buddy who is at the same level and they help each other with strategies and decoding.
Writing
Scaffolded Writing
Writing in Kindergarten includes the following skills: concept of word, sound-to -symbol correspondence, alphabetic principle, use of word patterns, reading comprehension, and writing for a specific reason.
Writing in Kindergarten includes the following skills: concept of word, sound-to -symbol correspondence, alphabetic principle, use of word patterns, reading comprehension, and writing for a specific reason.
Children use the act of drawing and writing to help them remember what was read. This strengthens listening comprehension skills and speeds the internalization of new vocabulary.
Editor’s Eyes
Children practice sight words and punctuation by taking the “reflective role” of searching for mistakes in writing. They learn what being an editor means by using “other-regulation” with a mediator.
Children practice sight words and punctuation by taking the “reflective role” of searching for mistakes in writing. They learn what being an editor means by using “other-regulation” with a mediator.
Literacy Centers
Children practice literacy skills they have already learned with the support of a peer. The activities are self-correcting, thus providing instant feedback. The game format keeps the students engaged and motivated. Each center has “must do” and “can do” activities.
During the week, children complete a learning product in each center. They are assigned a Study Buddy who checks their work for completion
Children have a learning plan, where they keep track of what they are going to practice on their own during center time. They set learning goals during learning conferences each Friday with the teacher
Mathematics
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Into Math
The Kindergarten mathematics program emphasizes the application of mathematics to real world situations. Numbers, skills, and mathematical concepts are not presented in isolation, but are linked to situations and contexts that are relevant to everyday lives. The curriculum also provides numerous suggestions for incorporating mathematics into daily classroom routines and other subject areas. Children are assessed in an ongoing manner inclusive of product assessment and more formal periodic assessment of concepts accomplished individually and in small-group settings. The goal is for children to leave kindergarten secure in the following areas: appropriate counting skills, comparison of numbers, basic foundation for addition and subtraction, number sense, measurement, and shapes. |
Operations & Algebraic Thinking
Children will understand what place value is, how it relates to the way we write numbers, and what it means when we count and group objects by tens
Children will understand what place value is, how it relates to the way we write numbers, and what it means when we count and group objects by tens
Numbers & Operations in Base Ten
Math Magic helps children understand that the decomposition of numbers less than or equal to 10 can occur in a number different ways. Children use manipulatives to express the operation and then recreate it on paper using a number sentence.
Math Magic helps children understand that the decomposition of numbers less than or equal to 10 can occur in a number different ways. Children use manipulatives to express the operation and then recreate it on paper using a number sentence.
Geometry
Children learn the names of three-dimensional shapes as well as how to draw representations of them. They learn to look at objects from different perspectives (front, side, back, top), developing spatial reasoning.
Children learn the names of three-dimensional shapes as well as how to draw representations of them. They learn to look at objects from different perspectives (front, side, back, top), developing spatial reasoning.
Science & Social Studies
In our science program, Kindergarteners will engage in science and engineering practice by asking questions, participating in investigations, observing, recording, and interpreting data to build explanations. Science investigations and scaffolded writing are integrated along with the use of three kits filled with materials and teachable moments. These kits are: Trees and Weather, a unit where students are provided with solid experiences to help them develop an understanding of what plants and animals need to survive and the relationship between their needs and where they live. Students will also monitor local weather, experiencing weather patterns and come to understand the importance of weather forecasts to prepare for severe weather; Materials and Motion provides Kindergarteners with integrated experiences with physical, earth science and engineering ideas. Students begin with a study of natural resources and properties of materials and how those properties determine their use – wood, paper, and fabric. Students use those materials to engineer structures, applying physical science core ideas of energy transfer. Next students will investigate the effect of pushes and pulls and apply this to the concept of variables to change the strength and direction of rolling balls to achieve specific outcomes. Animals Two By Two provides students with close and personal interaction with some common land and water animals. Students observe and describe the structure of fish, birds, earthworms, and isopods. Appropriate classroom habitats are established, and students care for the animals. Animals are studied in pairs; students compare the differences and similarities in the structure and behavior.
In our Social Studies through the Magic Tree House series children explore various cultures and historical periods. They develop geographical understanding by studying the world through a theme-based curriculum, one that integrates multiple content areas. The NJ Student Learning Standards for Social Studies are addressed and integrated with the common core standards for reading informational text, literature, speaking & listening, and writing. Activities to develop self-regulation help students learn to become good citizens.
In our Social Studies through the Magic Tree House series children explore various cultures and historical periods. They develop geographical understanding by studying the world through a theme-based curriculum, one that integrates multiple content areas. The NJ Student Learning Standards for Social Studies are addressed and integrated with the common core standards for reading informational text, literature, speaking & listening, and writing. Activities to develop self-regulation help students learn to become good citizens.
Science
Science Observation Station helps increase a child’s descriptive vocabulary, teaches children how to attend to details and how to separate attributes from each other. It also helps children make predictions and use objective ways to identify whether their predictions are correct. Topics are related to the Magic Tree House series and the District adopted Science kits.
Science Observation Station helps increase a child’s descriptive vocabulary, teaches children how to attend to details and how to separate attributes from each other. It also helps children make predictions and use objective ways to identify whether their predictions are correct. Topics are related to the Magic Tree House series and the District adopted Science kits.
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Kits
The Foss and Insight Science Kits enhance the curriculum and focus on the study of: •Sound and Light- Physical Science •Air and Weather- Earth Science •Plants and Animals- Life Science |
Social Studies
Using the Magic Tree House series and non- fiction books and resources, children explore many cultures during different historical periods. They learn and identify actions that are unfair or discriminatory and propose solutions to address such actions. Children also learn about rules and laws created to protect the rights of people, as well as resourses, map skills and scientific achievements .
Using the Magic Tree House series and non- fiction books and resources, children explore many cultures during different historical periods. They learn and identify actions that are unfair or discriminatory and propose solutions to address such actions. Children also learn about rules and laws created to protect the rights of people, as well as resourses, map skills and scientific achievements .
