the KINDERGARTEN program KINDERGARTEN program

Learning Lab

In an effort to give each child every opportunity possible to succeed throughout not only their school careers but also the rest of their lives, we have incorporated a Learning Lab into the curriculum for grades K-6. Learning Lab will occur for 30 minutes at the same time each day for all students, so no child misses out on regular classroom instruction. Our intention and main goal for this program is to meet the individual needs of the students in our district.

Learning Labs include three platforms: specialized studies, intervention and enrichment. Specialized studies will include students who have Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), and will focus on each child’s specific needs and goals. The intervention platform provides a concentrated focus on math and reading, and will include research-based reading and math-specific programs to strengthen skills. The enrichment platform will be an extension of the curriculum, executed in a dynamic, complementary approach.

Utilizing the results from the reading and math assessments conducted during your child’s phase-in day, reading level and their performance on classroom activities over the first several weeks of school, teachers will be placing students into one of the three learning lab platforms in reading and math. Letters will be mailed home indicating your child’s placement. These groups are fluid and can change throughout the year depending on the needs of your child.

Technology Instruction

Technology skills are taught from kindergarten through grade 12. There are numerous skills that the kindergarten child is taught/introduced to throughout the year by the classroom teacher and school librarian.

The kindergarten child will have access to computers and iPads in the classroom and in the library. Throughout instruction, your child may use age and skill-appropriate websites and/or apps related to math and reading. Additionally, they will be involved in simple writing tasks or simple publication.

Learning Centers

The kindergarten classroom is designed with areas of “learning/choice centers.” During a specified period of time, the kindergarten child may choose their own activities from any of the centers. Learning centers in the kindergarten classroom include:

• Blocks or other constructing/building materials

• Sensory table (water/sand table, etc.)

• Art (specified mediums)

• Open or independent art

• Writing center

• Books

• Reading/language center

• Math center

• Puzzles

• Manipulatives (beads, geoboards, etc.)

• Science center

• Dance center

Other centers, which may appear for a short period of time, are theme oriented.

By using the materials in these centers, the kindergarten child also learns to coordinate the work of mind and hands, develops muscular coordination, learns to work independently and/or cooperatively and learns to appreciate their own creations and the work of others.

These centers allow students the opportunity to develop social and emotional skills. Language and reading readiness skills, as well as math and science concepts, are developed through the exploration of the materials in these areas.