Our Kindergarten Language Arts curriculum is a balanced program integrating reading and writing skills. Reading combines both whole language and phonetic strategies. It focuses on immersing the child in oral language, including daily read alouds, oral language experiences, poetry, the rhyme and rhythm of language, and oral and written storytelling. Books are read for the pleasure of a good story as well as to learn about life and the good writing strategies of the author. The children are read to and begin to read themselves in order to become better writers. Oral language is the primary mode of teaching both phonics and comprehension skills.
During this year, they learn about sounds, letters and words. They use comprehension strategies to identify basic facts and ideas, generate and respond to questions and make predications and comparisons. They listen to and respond to stories, learning to understand character, setting and theme. They learn to write letters correctly and to write and speak with a command of standard English conventions in clear and coherent sentences. They begin to write personal narrative stories of their lives with eagerness and confidence.
The Kindergarten Hebrew/Judaic Studies Curriculum emphasizes an oral receptive and expressive language program. Classroom instruction incorporates Hebrew immersion principles, techniques, and methodology. The language of instruction is Hebrew. Hebrew Immersion focuses on comprehension and usage of basic Hebrew vocabulary. Kindergarten students are immersed in Hebrew during the afternoon hours as they participate in "rikuz" (circle time) learning including the calendar routine, opportunities to sing songs, recite or retell a story, play games, answer questions, make connections about holidays or events, express their needs and lead Tefillah. All of the above mentioned activities are conducted in Hebrew, the target language.
The children learn the names and sounds of the 22 letters of the Hebrew Aleph-Bet through songs, vocabulary, and art projects. Their oral language is enriched by the various units of study, including: days of the week, months of the year, the weather, the seasons, numbers, animals, clothing, food, family and more. They are exposed to Israeli culture through music, literature, food, celebrations, games and dance. The students learn about our Jewish traditions through the study, stories and experiences of the Jewish holidays, Shabbat and Torah stories. Students participate in daily Tefilah and learn to recite the appropriate brachot before snacks and lunch.
The following are some of the concepts that will be covered in kindergarten. Next to each is the corresponding California State Standard)
The complete list of standards is available for you to look through in the classroom.
