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Kindergarten Curriculum

The ongoing commitment of the Berry College Elementary School and Middle School is to provide a model of the best in educational practice for children, the college, and the community. In collaboration with the Berry College Charter School of Education and Human Sciences, the school serves children by providing a quality education which will enable the fullest development of their potential in a child-centered program. An integrated curriculum and discovery-oriented activities reflect the child's decisions and interests. A collaborative environment provides opportunities for the child to construct a personal knowledge of the world.

Language Arts: Kindergarteners must write in a journal every day. They begin with pictures and letters and move to simple words and phrases. Inventive spelling is encouraged as a phonics based comprehension. Children “sound out” words, writing letter sounds they hear. Starting in January, a personal dictionary is placed in the journal and frequent words written by a teacher for the child’s use. Every month the journal is assessed and the child and teacher set a “goal” for the following month. By incremental steps the child becomes an adept and confident writer. Parents receive each completed journal at the end of the month and are expected to review it with their child and discuss the goal. The summer after Kindergarten a journal is given to each child to keep before they start first grade. Although not required, this continuation of the writing process insures the progress already made.

The McMillian Big Book series is used weekly. The teacher reads a “Big Book” and children have smaller copies to follow along. Different activities teach sight words, rhyming words, and words that follow patterns. Children are expected to read this book by the end of the week. These words are not “sounded out”, but read by sight using contextual clues. Handwriting is taught using the Palmer printed alphabet and reinforced in all writing and homework assignments.

Through the learning of sight words as well as phonic sounds a child begins the process of solid reading skills leading to a lifetime of fluent reading. If a child is unable to assimilate these skills over the course of a year the Kindergarten year may need to be repeated.

Mathematics: The Everyday Mathematics program facilitates learning by using hands-on problem-solving approaches, games, and activity-centered explorations. Children manipulate math materials in whole class, small group, and individual practice activities. The program emphasizes mathematic strands that spiral throughout the K-5 curriculum, including ongoing daily mathematic routines, numeration, operations and computation, patterns, geometry, measurement, time, and money, and data and change. Mastery of basic addition and subtraction facts is reinforced through a variety of math games. The theme for the week is explored mathematically as occasions develop.

Science: Science lessons are integrated into weekly thematic units. Children are given the opportunity to explore scientific principles through manipulation and experimentation. Children practice observing, posing questions, hypothesizing, experimenting, recording results, and generating conclusions. Field trips and guest speakers contribute to the comprehension of information introduced.

Social Studies: Children study themselves, their families, and their community. American and Christian holidays are presented in study and celebration.

A weeklong study of Japan is incorporated during “J” week. We emphasize and practice six universal character traits; trustworthiness, caring, respect, responsibility, fairness, and citizenship.

Economics: Economic education is based on the precept that every student is part of a greater community. Thus, students gain experience with the basic ideas of producing, consuming, exchanging, investing and specializing within their classroom community. Expanding studies focus on scarcity through human and natural resources, supply and demand, and basic opportunity costs. Hands-on experiences allow children to build understanding within our comprehensive program that builds upon prior knowledge.

Field Trips: Kindergartners go on weekly local field trips, and several out of town trips. Exposure to varied locations and experiences build language skills, social skills and solidify group dynamics. These skills are utilized in the classroom through reading writing and math. Parents are Welcome on every trip, and will be asked to transport children. A field trip fee will be collected in the fall and a blanket permission slip signed. A weekly permission slip will
be sent for information.

Art: The elementary art curriculum centers on the study of the Principles of Design and the Elements of Art, and is supported by our textbook Portfolios by Barrett Kendal Publishing. The students utilize various equipment and media such as graphite and color pencil, watercolor and tempera paint, clay and concrete. Proper techniques for using these mediums are introduced and practiced. Through reading and discussion of our text, students are exposed to the elements of art and principles of design as they apply to the appreciation and criticism of works of art. We also study various artists and artistic movements in the history of art and the importance of art in the cultures of our world.

Library: The Berry College Elementary School Library holds a rich and diverse collection of children's materials, including approximately 6,000 children's books. The library and its staff serve students, teachers, and parents. It supports both the school's curriculum and children's individual interests. Students are encouraged to explore and discover during scheduled class visits and at other times throughout the school day with their teachers' permission. A master storyteller introduces children to a variety of books and stories during their library visits. Members of the library staff provide a comfortable, nurturing environment in which an early love of books is developed and nourished. Here, the imagination of children is captured and stirred, journey freely through new worlds introduced in literature.

Music: The elementary school music curriculum emphasizes the understanding of musical skills such as technique, playing, creating, singing, reading and listening. Students also explore the musical concepts of dynamics, tone color, temp, rhythm, harmony and melody. Learners demonstrate their knowledge of music through performance, listening, and appreciation of a variety of styles of music from different periods and cultures.

Physical Education: The focus of the elementary physical education program is the introduction and exploration of physical education skills and concepts. Physical education emphasizes the total development of the child (i.e. physical, motor, cognitive, social, and emotional development. At the elementary level students are guided through a series of developmentally appropriate experiences and activities that promote a desire to engage in physical activities, create a sense of self worth, encourage cooperation, self control, and lead to choices that promote a healthy life style. Physical education instruction includes vigorous physical activity, diagnosis and learning of neuromuscular skills, information about physical activity and fitness, and time to enjoy the application of skills and knowledge.

Spanish: Our Spanish curriculum fosters an appreciation and enthusiasm for the study of foreign language and culture. Emphasis is on communication which is taught authentically by a native Spanish speaker through songs, games, rhymes, and other activities. Grade specific themes are integrated into Spanish vocabulary study and activities.