Language Arts is a major part of the Senior Kindergarten Curriculum.

This year the children will learn with the Open Court Reading Program. The books include: -Language Arts Skills Workbook -Writers Workbook Your child will also be expose to DNealian -Scott Foresman DNealian Handwriting
*Review the letters of the alphabet. *Know beginning and ending sounds. *Be introduced to short and long vowels. *Listen to and interpret literature based readings. *Become involved in Whole Language experiences. *Begin to acquire high-frequency words. *Be introduced to color and number words. *Experience the joy of writing through journal work. *Print letters of the alphabet using DNealian method. *Listen, understand and follow through with directions. *Make predictions using pictures and context clues. *Have introductions to nouns, verbs, and adjectives. *Recognize roles of authors and illustrators. *Continue pre-reading and reading skills on their instructional level. *Experience Readers and Writers Workshops

Senior Kindergarteners are presented with activities that will help them further distinguish between the concrete and the abstract. The program we will be using this year is Early Bird Kindergarten Mathematics by Singapore Math.
*Numbers 020 *Pattern recognition *Determining size *Sorting and classifying *Odd and even *More and fewer *Measurement *Time *Money *Graphs *Geometry *Addition *Subtraction *Word problems

Each classroom has a science area where the children may touch natural materials. In addition, there are planned units on Weather, Plants, Five Senses, Solar System, Nutrition, Dinosaurs, and our Bodies. Congressionals forty -acre campus is used for science projects.

Both Senior Kindergarten classes explore the same social studies themes with ageappropriate projects, stories and activities, which are occasionally followed by joint activities. For example, after learning about the pilgrims in November, the classes conclude the unit with a Thanksgiving feast made by the children. Other units include Me and my Family, Community Helpers, Famous Americans, Holidays Around the World, Continents, and Map Skills.

In Senior Kindergarten the computer is used as a center. Most of the computer programs used in Senior Kindergarten require little reading which encourages the children to work independently. Many of the Senior Kindergarten programs have multi-levels. The Senior Kindergarten classes will be introduced to a new iPad program.

The music teacher, Mrs. Stanly, meets with each group twice a week. The program includes basic music concepts taught through singing, creative movement, and rhythm instruments.

Senior Kindergarteners have Physical Education every day of the week with our P.E. teacher, Mr. Laws. The program includes a variety of games and activities to further develop gross motor skills in our P.E. room, the gymnasium and outdoors. The children are exposed to age-appropriate activities that promote good sportsmanship.

Art is a regular part of the classroom routine. Each classroom has an art interest area with materials set out for painting, collages, cutting, pasting, drawing, coloring and creative exploration. Child-directed and teacher-directed art activities are used in combination to develop fine motor skills and creative expression. The Lower School Art teacher, Ms. Philip, teaches the children twice a week.

Senior Kindergarteners are visited by the French and Spanish teachers three times a week. Seora Ochoa teaches Spanish and French is taught by Madame Starfield. The children will be introduced to a vocabulary of common words such as colors, numbers, animals, foods, health, body parts and basic greeting. Children are also introduced to basic cultural traditions through songs and literature.

A Library area with reading materials appropriate to the age level is found in each of the classrooms. The teacher also uses additional materials enriching the units of study. Each week the children are visited by the librarian, Ms. Samowitz. Children are read a couple stories and then go to the Reception Room Library to check out books.

In Senior Kindergarten we take lots of adventures with Ms Frizzle and the Magic School Bus. Our stories are filled with fun activities through the eyes of science. Seatbelts everyone! Get ready to blast off.

Senior Kindergarteners have many opportunities to socialize with our new buddies from the Lower/Middle schools. We get together with our second grade Book Buddies once a month for some shared readings. We also have a First Grade Buddy program. We will meet with these first graders several times throughout the year for some exciting activities.

The Senior Kindergarten will enjoy many Swap Days throughout the year. These days are always fun and popular with the children and incorporate a theme we are currently studying. We put all the boys in one class and all the girls in one class on that day. Children from both rooms will enjoy activities with all four of the Senior Kindergarten teachers. It is always great fun.

SEPTEMBER: Back to School Five Senses Me & Family OCTOBER: Fall International Week Community Workers NOVEMBER: Weather Pilgrims DECEMBER: Holidays Around the World Magnets JANUARY: Martin Luther King Jr. Solar System FEBRUARY: Famous Americans The Human Body MARCH: Nutrition Maps APRIL: Plants Maps (Cont.) MAY: Dinosaurs Continents