Kindergarten Curriculum
Each day in Kindergarten, they begin with a morning routine that fosters independence and builds executive functioning skills. As children arrive, they individually choose to work in a variety of centers that include hands-on activities which promote critical thinking, problem-solving, and concrete skills in literacy, math and our Judaic curriculum. For example, at one center students might work at alphabetizing a set of letters, while at another center, students might choose different ways to count and sort a diverse collection of beads. This morning period is also a prime opportunity for educators to provide students with individualized instruction and support as they transition into the school day.
Ma’agal & Tfilah
Students gather in the ma'agal area of the classroom to start each day united in prayer and song. Each student has his or her own siddur which includes pages of tfilot that are taught and discussed over the first days and weeks at school, and expanded upon throughout the year. One of our most meaningful units at the beginning of the school year is a discussion of tfilah and how each student understands and connects to the tfilot that they are learning. The chazzan or chazzanit (prayer leader) of the day chooses a tune and leads the class, allowing each student to experience a moment of leadership in the classroom. There are also numerous opportunities throughout tfilah where group participation and discussion are encouraged and facilitated by educators.
Morning Meeting
Morning meeting immediately follows tfilah and is a time that purposefully builds community in classrooms. Educators lead students through a review of both the secular and Judaic calendars, the daily class schedule, a morning message, and more. One of the most popular units from morning meeting focuses on counting the days of school by ones and tens, leading up to a big celebration of the 100th day of school. These exercises integrate many core skills that the students will expand upon throughout their days, such as understanding the place value system, as well as developing early reading, decoding and comprehension skills.
Math
The focus of our math curriculum is to build the foundation for counting to 100, counting using different patterns, comparing and ordering numbers, numeracy, place value, shapes and patterns, and basic addition and subtraction. A variety of manipulatives are used to show one to one correspondence and to give children a multi-sensory connection to numbers and their values. Students spend a lot of time learning about how the base ten system works, such as how the numbers 11-19 are 10+ ___ more, or how 100 is made up of 10 groups of 10. Children also participate in a daily estimation jar to build their sense of quantity, further develop their counting skills and learn about data collection by frequently collecting class responses to a question and analyzing the results.
Fundations
In addition to the literacy skills taught through the content of our curriculum, we also use the Fundations Wilson Language Basics Program to support our youngest learners in developing a foundation of phonics skills. Fundations is a research-based, multisensory, structured language program that supports reading and writing development. The Fundations terminology is used
throughout the day to support students with reading and writing in all content areas.
Reading and Writing
Throughout the year, students gradually become readers and writers. Our balanced literacy program emphasizes the teaching of reading by establishing a strong foundation in phonemic awareness, building a solid sight word vocabulary, and strengthening comprehension skills. The goal is to have children develop a love of literature and an eagerness for learning to read and write. Educators model reading and writing across many different genres and incorporate these skills into all aspects of
the day.
Hebrew Language and Israeli Culture
In addition to the classroom educators who integrate Hebrew language into lessons throughout the day, kindergarteners also have a Hebrew Language teacher who spends a 45 minute period in the classroom daily. Our Hebrew Language program follows a curriculum called Chalav U’Dvash, which brings everyday Hebrew literacy to the forefront of the classroom. Throughout the year, students build Hebrew language vocabulary and simple sentence formation. Children delight in learning Hebrew letters and writing their Hebrew names. With consistent exposure to Hebrew, students learn the meaning of words associated with familiar routines and instructions. Hebrew books and poems are also a vibrant part of classroom life. Students play, sing, perform skits, and roleplay to make learning Hebrew meaningful and exciting.
A critical component of our Hebrew Language program also includes exposure to Israeli culture and Zionism, which children learn through stories, songs, games, videos, food, and celebrations. Our school-wide Yom Ha'atzmaut celebration is a favorite among our students and faculty. The campus is abuzz with Israeli pride, projects, music, parades, costumes, and so much more. The love and connection our students share for Israel is always palpable and enduring.
Play
During the day, students are given time to independently play and explore with their peers in class. During play time, students
are invited to choose from a variety of open ended materials, such as blocks, legos, puzzles, play doh, games, and dramatic
play props. Research has shown that there are cognitive, physical, social, and emotional benefits of play. Play time gives
students the opportunity to further develop friendships and social language skills throughout the day.
Our students are also given time to play outdoors, making use of our incredible campus. We have ample space for our students to run, varied play equipment for students to climb and different locations to explore during play. Students play on the beach and search for sea glass; sled down our back lawn in the snow; collect wildflowers and discover wildlife in our woods; draw with chalk in our large front circle; and more!
Enrichment
We believe in the importance of providing students with a well-rounded education. As such, our Kindergarten program includes
physical education, science, fine arts & music, Judaic music, a class on Social Emotional Learning strategies, yoga, computer skills, and library time.
Physical Education
In physical education, students play a variety of games that focus on spatial awareness, various movements, and cardiovascular
activities. Students are also introduced to basic sports skills such as throwing, kicking, tossing, and catching. A developmentally appropriate concept of sportsmanship is a constant throughout all activities. From our state-of-the-art gymnasium to our outdoor baseball fields, basketball courts, hockey rink, gaga pits, newly updated playgrounds, beachfront, nature courses, and so much more, our campus offers unlimited unique spaces for students to physically challenge themselves.
Science
Science class makes use of our expansive campus and diverse terrain to create a hands-on science curriculum that meets the current Next Generation Science Standards. Major topics of study and exploration include force and motion, animal and plant needs and the movement and function of sunlight. Individual units include the four seasons, plant structure and growth,
dinosaurs, pushes and pulls, roller coasters, butterfly life cycle, food chains and weather. The emphasis is on giving students the tools they need to launch inquiry-based investigations into the world around them and makes use of our expansive and diverse campus to explore and meet the current Next Generation Science Standards.
Fine Arts and Movement
In fine arts & music, students begin their journey into the world of visual arts and classical music appreciation that will continue throughout their tenure at Westchester Day School. A fully integrated art and music curriculum, adds a truly unique visual, tactical, and auditory learning dimension to the already rich core classroom experience, both in Judaic and General studies. It also helps promote the imaginative and critical thinking skills that are so necessary in today’s high-tech world. Besides acquainting students with and fostering their understanding of concepts and techniques, the program empowers them to uncover their own talents and to enjoy the deeper forms of beauty around them – starting with our magnificent campus, which sparks creativity and supplies materials that often make their way into our projects.
Inspired by works of notable artists and accompanied by music of famous composers, students learn about the importance of shapes, lines, and patterns, explore the world of animals, the four seasons, and forces of nature, and follow the cycle of holidays. Throughout, students ponder the broader questions of what is meaningful or beautiful, why something has the power to move us, and how things that we see or hear can make us feel.
Jewish Music and Ruach
Our Jewish music program provides an outlet for creative expression and spirituality and is also a direct extension of our Judaic and Hebrew Language curricula, with the students learning many Hebrew tfilot, songs for Jewish holidays, contemporary Jewish music, and songs about Israel and Israeli culture.
Social and Emotional Learning
In Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), students are taught by our school social worker, using the Social Decision Making,
Social Problem Solving curriculum, about identifying their emotions and the physical manifestation of these emotions in their
bodies. The class discusses the importance of calming their bodies and learns different breathing techniques to facilitate this.
SEL is also a space in which the class can discuss and process their emotional response to external events that may have
affected the students.
Yoga
Our yoga program allows students to take time to focus on their breathing, practice mindfulness and increase their body awareness through the different poses. They stretch and move to music in a creative and imaginative practice. They use standard yoga poses and take turns leading their friends in moving from one pose to another.
Computer Skills and Technology
Throughout the year, students are also introduced to beginner-level computer skills with the support of their educators and our resident Director of Technology. Smart Boards are fixtures in our classrooms and are used for interactive lessons. Students have the opportunity to practice literacy and math skills using specific computer programs in the classroom on our shared Chromebooks and iPads.