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Program Overview

Daily Schedule

Although all of our Kindergarten classes are unique and follow their own pacing based on class make-up, our daily schedules are similar. Below you will find more information on what happens during the day in any given classroom.

Literacy

Read Aloud:  The teacher reads to the children and shares the thoughts and wonderingsof an expert reader.  The teacher also asks questions to check for understanding.

Shared Reading:  Here the whole class, no matter what reading level, shares in the reading process together.  This activity primarily is taught using big books but can include document projectors and individual readers, as well.  The lessons include many facets of reading including: concepts of print, comprehension, punctuation, word study, fluency, character/setting, elements of nonfiction, how to read for information and more.

Guided Reading:  Here the teacher works with small homogeneous groups (groups of similar ability).  The lessons focus on specific reading skills.  Groups are created based on student ability but are fluid.  The child can be moved to another group based on ability or needs.

Independent Reading:  The student applies the skills learned in the read alouds, shared reading, guided reading, and word study in his/her own reading of leveled books (books that are at or just above the child’s reading level).

Word Study:  Phonics based, students study sounds (phonemes), how words are built, and the relationships within words (word families, rhyming, blending, etc.).

Writing:  In kindergarten, writing looks different throughout the year:

Beginning of the year:  Students write through pictures using lots of detail and colors that represent the real world.  In this early writing, children will work on labeling their illustrations through letter sounds and inventive spelling.

Mid year:  Students will write simple sentences using high frequency words and inventive spelling.  The children’s illustrations should match the writing.

End of year:  Students will write 2-3 sentences (in one sitting) on a subject.  This writing could include a narrative, poetry, reading response, and nonfiction.

Children will also be expected to show what they know in all subjects (math, science, health, and social studies) through writing.

 Math 

In math, students will gain deep understanding and meaning of shapes (plane and solid), patterns, classifying, positional terms, numbers/values, grouping numbers/amounts, coins, time, and beginning adding and subtracting.

 Science

Students, throughout the year, will study, in depth, trees, fabric, and animal life.

 Health

Students learn about their bodies and how to take care of themselves.

 Social Studies

Students learn about their community, holidays, geography, and citizenship to name some subjects.

 Physical Education

We have a fantastic program led by Ms. Woodling.  Students will be constantly moving as they learn both fine and gross motor skills through cooperation and teamwork. 

Homework Policy

 

Homework assignments serve specific purposes.  Students need practice with new skills or concepts, and they need to brush up on old ones.

At the beginning of each month, homework packets will be sent home with your child and will be due at the end of the month.

 Parents often have concerns about homework.  They wonder how many reminders and how much help they should give.  Basically parents must remember that it is the child’s responsibility to do the homework (yes, in kindergarten you will need to help in almost every assignment, but it will still be your child’s responsibility).  You may also help in these five ways:

  1. Decide with your child on a time that homework will be done each day, building a consistent, regular routine.  Insist on absolute quiet during study time.
  1. Set up a working place, preferably on a desk or table with good light – a place of his/her own – which delivers the message that studying is valued in this home.
  1. Avoid giving more than one reminder that it’s time to do homework.
  1. Remember, this is your child’s work.  Be available for guidance, but the message should be, “I’m here to help, but I won’t do the work for you.”
  1. Explain clearly in advance the logical consequence you will be using when homework is not completed.  Examples of consequences are loss of after-school play privileges, no visiting with friends, and no TV or video games.

 

Our School as a Community

Bay Park is a small community based school. We often have school wide events such as our Halloween Costume Parade, Spirit Week, Aloha Thursdays, Earth Day Fridays, and Read Across America Day. Our Kindergartners celebrate a very special day each February-the 100th day of school! Click here to view pictures from this years 100th day event.

Bay Park is known for its beautiful community garden. This year the kindergarten playground is going through its own remodel as four large planter boxes were moved into our area. All four kindergarten classes, as well as our friends in the K/1 combo class are working hard to plant, tend to, and harvest their crops. Click here for pictures of our Kinder garden and to view pictures of Mrs. Bailey teaching a nutrition lesson to students in Room 12.