Kindergarten reading is taught in small, flexible groupings through a multi-sensory curriculum that focuses on phonics, sight word-acquisition, and a variety of whole language experiences. Kindergarteners joyfully learn letters and sounds with the help of our Zoo-Phonics friends, which provide a visual, auditory, and kinesthetic approach to learning letters. Our Express Readers program provides systematic phonics instruction through engaging phonetic readers, comprehension activities, phonetic spelling games, and readers theater experiences. Our Reading A-Z and Fountas & Pinnell curricula complement our phonics program with engaging, developmentally appropropriate fiction and nonfiction leveled readers that build confidence, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension skills.
Literacy centers allow students to participate in a variety of hands-on, self-directed activities and developmental learning games, which are designed to reinforce and enhance their beginning reading, spelling, and writing skills.
Kindergarten students also participate in the Writers' Workshop program weekly. The goal of the program is for children to write what they know by selecting topics that are personally meaningful and relevant to them. Through focused mini-lessons and individual conferences with the teacher, students enhance their craft as early writers and become independent authors of a variety of literary pieces. The children are encouraged to share their writings with their classmates so as to gain experience in communicating their personal experiences and ideas in a sequential and interesting format, while simultaneously strengthening their public speaking skills.
