Valley Preparatory School Redlands California

Kindergarten at Valley Preparatory School focuses on the whole child.  Here we seek to build the framework for an exceptional student.  A strong academic foundation is at the base of our curriculum where the children are exposed to a challenging academic environment as well as an environment that addresses their social and emotional development.  Our classrooms are nurturing settings that lead the children to accomplish both academic and social goals.  The children learn to cooperate with others and to develop a sense of belonging, independence, and a responsibility for themselves and the group.

Reading and Language Arts

In Kindergarten, our goal is to establish a love of reading.  The children are exposed to a wide variety of literature that enhances the entire curriculum.  We seek to create an independent reader who enjoys and appreciates the doors opened to them with the acquisition of this skill.  They learn early on that reading can be for enjoyment and also as a means to search for information.  To accomplish this goal, a solid, phonics based program is used. The children learn word attack skills that will enable them to become successful, independent readers.  Our aim is for them to experience continued success as they progress throughout the year.  In addition to the phonics, our language arts program also focuses on writing skills, listening skills, and speaking skills.  Creative writing is introduced as well as the basic mechanics of a well structured sentence.  The children also learn to use simple punctuation.  They begin to write imaginative and creative stories, drawing upon their experiences and exposure to various literary styles.  The literature rich environment gives them the opportunity to learn to express and communicate their thoughts and ideas.  Our theme units, which tie in with the "letter of the week" in phonics, are naturally integrated with science, social studies, are, math, and music.  Cross-curricular activities enhance the educational experience and keep skills from being taught in isolation.  This gives the child an opportunity to apply their skills in a variety of ways and places.  The children are given the opportunity to perform in front of an audience of family and other students in small productions.  On a weekly basis the opportunity to speak in front of the class is offered in the sharing and mystery sharing times.  Proper mechanics of writing is taught, where the children learn and practice proper letter formation using the traditional manuscript method.  Listening and following directions has its basis in the language arts program but extends to all other areas of the curriculum.  The development of strong listening skills is another way of developing a successful student.

Texts: Sadlier Phonics Level A
Primary Phonics 1
Primary Phonics Readers

Mathematics

The kindergarten math curriculum revolves around the child and skills that relate to his everyday life.  The children use manipulatives to explore concepts such as place value, addition, subtraction, fractions, measurement, money, time, and geometry.  The children are introduced to graphs, classification, comparisons, and patterns.  Students are given experience working with mathematical concepts that will develop their confidence in working with mathematical ideas. 

The expectation is for children to understand numbers and be proficient in the identification and writing of numbers to 100.  The children identify shapes both plane and solid.  They create and look for patterns in their classroom and in the world around them.  Successful problem solving strategies are introduced. 

Text: Mathematics Book A, Modern Curriculum Press

Science

The science program in kindergarten at Valley Preparatory School introduces the children to the themes and modules that will be expanded upon in the first and second grade curriculums.  The modules are easily adapted to and are integrated into the language arts program.  The children are provided with information through a large variety of literature, multi-media presentations, and experimentation.  Throughout the year, life science, physical science, and earth science are explored.  The information gained enhances the experimentation and combines with conceptual understanding to create a program that introduces the child to the world in which they live.  The students learn to observe, make connections, compare and contrast, and draw conclusions. 

Text: Science Level K, Houghton-Mifflin

Social Studies

The social studies curriculum focuses on the kindergarten child and their world.  They learn about being a good citizen in their home, classroom, school, city, and country.  The children also explore far away places and their world long ago.  The World I See, from Houghton-Mifflin, is an activities based social studies program where the children are introduced to the skills that are encountered in the same program in the upper grades.

We cover Transportation, Marvelous Me, Where We Live, and Community Helpers.  We compare and contrast the city and the country as well as today's world and long ago.  Our program is integrated with our language arts program and as mentioned in the language arts section, we use a wide variety of trade books to provide information and enhance the units.  Literature provides the starting points for discussion in all areas of emotions, other cultures, and places in their world.

Text: The World I See, Houghton Mifflin