Course Descriptions for Kindergarten Classes
Grade K | Reading and Writing
This course lays the foundation for successful reading by using the primary building blocks of phonics instruction and daily exposure to and interactions with books. The student will begin phonics instruction by learning to name letters and associate letters with sounds. Tying in personal experience, the student will link letter names to words in his personal vocabulary. By the end of the course the student will identify consonant sounds at the beginning and end of words and will know the short vowel sounds. Skills are introduced through classic stories and poems and a set of twenty phonics-based story books. In addition to formal reading instruction, the student will establish a daily reading routine and will complete activities in response to self-selected books.
As the student learns to read, he will also learn to write. Language development will occur as the student discusses ideas and opinions with the Learning Coach. Listening and speaking will help the student learn grammar skills and correct sentence and story construction. The student will learn to print manuscript letters, words, and sentences with guided instruction and practice in the Handwriting workbook. Language skills and handwriting will come together as the student composes journal entries and short narratives.
Student Resources
• Poems and Prose (Calvert School)
• Sounds and Letters (Calvert School)
• Kindergarten Teacher Aids (Calvert School)
• Reading Work Pages (Calvert School)
• Rainbows (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich)
• Zaner-Bloser Handwriting K (Zaner-Bloser)
• Sounds and Symbols Early Phonics(Calvert School)
• Take Me to Your Readers CD (Little Planet Learning)
• Reading and Writing B Lesson Manual
• Primary Journal
· Grade K | Mathematics
This course is an introduction to math and mathematical thinking. The Calvert series textbook, Calvert Math, and the Practice and Enrichment Workbook are the primary resources for this course. The student will learn to make comparisons between objects and learn basic shapes. He will learn to write numbers and count through 31. The student will get ready to add and subtract through stories. Additionally, he will have the chance to work hands-on as he studies money, time, fractions, and measurement. Throughout the course, the student is given the opportunity to apply the skills learned in different ways. Problem-solving activities are found in each unit.
Student Resources
• Calvert Math (Calvert School)
• Calvert Math Practice and Enrichment Workbook (Calvert School)
• Math B Lesson Manual
• Blue, Red, and Yellow Cubes (each color set of 20)
· Grade K | Science
Throughout this course the student will engage in activities designed to stimulate curiosity and highlight the surrounding environment. The Macmillan/McGraw-Hill book, Science in Your World, and the accompanying Science Activity Pages will be the primary resources for this course. The course encourages the student to begin to explore two major branches of Science by observing, describing, measuring, and questioning the immediate world. The opening unit introduces the student to the basics of the scientific method. The Life Science units allow him to examine the living world. The Earth and Space Science units provide the opportunity for the student to acknowledge patterns on Earth and in the sky. Throughout the course the student will be recording daily observations about the weather, the moon, and everyday habits. In addition, he will build an instrument, create a seasons collage, plant seeds, make a bird feeder, and take part in many other fun scientific activities.
Student Resources
• Science in Your World (Macmillan/McGraw-Hill)
• Science Activity Pages (Calvert School)
• Science B Lesson Manual
· Grade K | Social Studies
In this course the student will be introduced to fundamental social studies skills and content. Through discussion with the Learning Coach, she will investigate the world around her. Specifically, the student will begin to learn about her nation, family, and community. Some topics include major holidays, various jobs, roles of individuals within the community, and famous people. Moreover, she will be introduced to the concept of current events. An introduction to basic chronology and discussion of days, weeks, months, and years is also included as part of this course. Additionally, some basic geography content will be introduced, thus laying the groundwork for future Geography courses. For example, the student will discuss different types of landforms and various methods of transportation. This course provides a valuable opportunity for her and the Learning Coach to begin a dialogue about many different subjects. Additional topics discussed as part of this course include: responsibility, friendship, manners, and goals. Meaningful activities that serve to enrich the student’s understanding of the discussion topics accompany many of the lessons.
Student Resources
• Social Studies B Lesson Manual