Kindergarten provides a bridge from kids’ home education or preschool to more structured school learning. It introduces kids to school rules, teaches them how to sit and pay attention, and helps them learn how to work with peers and adapt to new situations.
Kids also gain independence and self-awareness in kindergarten. They learn how to ask questions, experiment and discover and document their findings.
Reading
Reading is one of the most important skills children learn in kindergarten. They develop print concepts, phonological awareness, and knowledge of letter names and sounds to build the foundations for fluent reading.
Kindergartners also begin to recognize high-frequency sight words (words like “at, be, of, and to”) and use them in sentences. Memorizing these “wonder” words helps them sound out new words and helps them read CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) word families.
They also start writing their own names, simple sentences, and common words they hear spoken throughout the day using invented or creative spelling. Keep a box of writing materials, such as crayons, pencils, markers, and paper, handy to encourage your child to practice these new skills at home.
Math
From counting and basic shapes to patterns and simple addition, kindergarten is a crucial step in building the analytical thinking skills kids will use throughout their educational journey. Encourage your kindergartener to practice these essential concepts with fun games that help them connect abstract ideas like numbers and shapes to objects in their world.
Unit 4: Describe Position and Patterns
Kindergartners develop their ability to describe object positions using words like above, below, in front of, or behind. They also learn to identify, develop, and extend simple patterns.
Many kindergartners arrive at school already able to orally count to 10 or more, but that doesn’t mean they automatically understand how to add and subtract. That’s where teachers like Murphy and SpringMath come in with a strategy that incorporates games, timed fluency tests, and other activities to engage students.
Science
Young children have the natural curiosity and propensity to observe, explore, and make sense of their surroundings. When nurtured and guided appropriately, this natural curiosity and desire to understand their environment become the foundation for learning science.
Kindergarten students learn the differences between plants and animals and their identifying characteristics; they learn about Earth/space concepts, such as rocks, water and weather conditions. They also learn to use observations to plan an experiment or investigate a question.
Through hands-on activities, they discover the state of matter, including ice, liquids, and solids; they learn about force and motion, including wheels, pulleys, magnets, and gravity; and they experience electricity and sound. They also learn how the human body works. This type of learning helps students develop scientific attitudes, such as a belief that science is something all people do.
Social Studies
Social studies encompasses a wide range of subjects and disciplines, including history, geography, economics, government/civics, and more. It promotes a better understanding of the world and our place in it, as well as respect for diverse cultures and perspectives.
Kindergarteners should be introduced to the world outside their homes through a study of basic geographic concepts such as maps, oceans, and landforms. They should also explore different family traditions, holidays, and celebrations to foster a deeper understanding of multiculturalism.
Children should also be taught about American culture and values, such as citizenship, fairness, and responsibility. They should learn how to identify and take steps to address civic problems through classroom-based deliberative processes. This prepares them for delving into more specialized social studies subject matter in later grades.
Language Arts
Developing language arts skills promotes cognitive development by engaging students in higher-order thinking, promoting their intellectual growth and expanding their cognitive capacities. Language arts activities also help children develop empathy for the experiences and perspectives of others, fostering emotional intelligence.
Kindergarten students will develop a strong foundation in phonics with two colorful workbooks that reinforce the alphabet and letter sounds. They will recognize all of the consonant and short vowel sounds (phonemes) and will be able to spell simple words using sound-letter relationships. They will also track text from left to right and top to bottom, recognizing the front and back cover of a book as well as the title page.
Make reading time a priority for your child and read to them regularly. Play word games like I Spy to broaden your child’s vocabulary and ask them questions about books they’ve read together.