Kindergarten students are challenged to problem solve, think deeply, and enjoy learning in a respectful, safe environment. Literacy is a large part of kindergarten, therefore, reading God’s word, memorizing scripture, and discovering unique God given talents will play a major role in each child’s experience at Stafford Academy. Chapel, songs, drama, and art activities will further instill a deep knowledge and love for our Lord.
Stafford Academy uses cognitive and social strategies to develop each child. Common Core State Standards are integrated into fun individualized lessons created by our licensed teacher. We prepare our students to enter first grade with the skills required for a successful experience along with a deep love for learning. Our goal is to create an environment that promotes a high level of self worth.
As well in Kindergarten we are busily working on Reading, Mathematics and Writing the foundations for continued academic success in school! Common Core State Standards (CCSS) call for challenging, research based curriculum that teaches children to be powerful mathematical thinkers and problem solvers.
Everyday Math helps children build and maintain basic skills, including automatic fact recall, while helping them use everyday, real-world problems and situations to nurture their higher-order and critical-thinking skills. Children go deeper into their understanding of mathematics while understanding that math is happening all around them everyday.
Just as in mathematics, Common Core State Standards (CCSS) calls for research-based and deeper thinking in language curriculum that challenges children to meet the high expectations of understanding the written word. Wonders is a literacy program we use that addresses all 5 components of reading (Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Vocabulary, Comprehension, and Fluency). In Wonders students go deeper into their understanding of reading through whole group and small group instruction.
We spend time working on the six plus 1 traits of writing by looking at the main idea, details of writing, how to organize our writing to make sense, and spelling words we have learned correctly. At the end of each week, there is a research and inquiry lesson, where Kindergartner’s learn the beginning stages of how to conduct research and how to create a write-up of their research!