Holly Hills Elementary School & Pre School

Math Program

We use the Envisions math program in Kindergarten. This program gives your child a wide range of mathematical experiences and ideas. We achieve this by integrating math instruction into other curricular areas, like science and social studies. 

Using this program encourages children to talk about how they solved a problem and what they are thinking mathematically. By discussing their thoughts, they are clarifying and solidifying their learning. Your child will explore, learn and practice mathematics in a range of settings including whole class, small group, partners, and individually. They will learn to work cooperatively and independently as they solve problems based on real-life situations.

 

Lucy Calkins' Writing Workshop

Children love to tell stories, and there is no better place to tell all of your stories than Writing Workshop. This year in Kindergarten we will begin to build the writing foundation. Our emphasis will be on writing, itself; your child will learn to plan, draft and revise stories, poems, and reports…and best of all, learn to write with confidence and skill.

 

We will be focusing on the story telling aspect of writing a lot this year. Students will be encouraged to tell their story to a partner before they begin to write it on paper. This gives children the opportunity to hear their story, and get it organized before they even touch a pencil, crayon or marker. This is the Kindergarten way of "brainstorming". Students are encouraged to tell real stories about places they have been or experiences they have had. It is much easier to tell a story and add detail to something that has really happened rather than to a make believe story.

 

Each writing unit can last 4-7 weeks. Your child may be exposed to writing topics such as: Small Moments Stories, Nonfiction, Poetry, Author Craft, Editing and several others. The completion of each unit is celebrated with a Publishing Party. Students select and "Fancy Up" their favorite piece to share with the class. It is a fun time for all of our authors!

 

 

Guided Reading

The goal in guided reading is to help children learn how to use independent reading strategies successfully. Teachers start by assessing each child by taking a running record, which is a tool for coding, scoring, and analyzing a child's precise reading behaviors. I will work with your child to find his/her Instructional level, so that I can demonstrate and teach strategies that can be applied when reading independently. 

Once all the students have been assessed, I can begin grouping them by reading level and ability. During a typical guided reading lesson students will have the opportunity to predict, draw conclusions, use pictures for meaning, apply phonetic skills, read sight words, and comprehend what has been read. We will work to build fluency as the year progresses.

Running records are done often, as students become more confident with their reading. Students may move 1-2 levels in a marking period, or may stay at the same level. Continued practice of sight words at home will help during guided reading lessons.

The following is considered "On Grade Level" for Kindergarten readers: 

Marking Period 2 - Level A/B

Marking Period 3 - Level B/C

Marking Period 4 - Level D

 

Phonics

 

In Kindergarten we use the Orton-Gillingham Multi-Sensory Approach to phonics.

This program utilizes three styles of learning to help build the sound/symbol relationship and literacy skills: Visual (Sight), Auditory (Sound),Kinesthetic (Touch)

 The phonics lessons are structured and fun for the kids. Below is a general overview of a typical lesson in our class.

The 3 Part Drill:

o Visual - Students will learn letters by flash cards

o Auditory - Students will review sounds of letters through oral listening activities

o Kinesthetic - Students will do a "touch" activity to reinforce letter/sound association. These may include: sand trays, Play Doh, screens, shaving cream, etc.

  *Vowel Intensive

o Review of short vowel sounds

o Review sounds in different positions of words

o Hand signals

Aa /a/ - Hand under chin

Ee /e/ - Smile and touch mouth

Ii /i/ - Touch nose

Oo /o/ - Make a circle with finger around mouth

Uu /u/ - Thumb points up

*Dictation

o Later in the year students will begin practicing spelling simple words.

o Finger tapping a word

o Pounding sentences with hand

*Red Words

o Words that are taught by sight not by sounding them out

o Students are taught to recall words through:

Visual - Looking at a word

Auditory - Repeating the word

Kinesthetic - Arm tapping the word and using screens

 

  Science and Social Studies

In Kindergarten we will be focusing on 4 Science units throughout the year.

*Living Things

Identifying the physical characteristics of both plants and animals

The basic needs of plants and animals

Learning about the life cycle of a plant and animal

Learning how plants and animals adapt to their environment

*Plants

Identify parts of a plant

Learn the needs of plants

Classify, compare and contrast different plants

Learn the stages of growth for plants

 *Weather/Water

Learn the water cycle

States of water - solid, liquid and gas

Seasons

 *Magnetism

What types of things are attracted to magnets

For Social Studies, we will be learning about friendship, communities, jobs, holidays and much more.