St. Joseph Catholic School
Kindergarten
​CURRICULUM AND PHILOSOPHY
I am a believer that each of us has been created by God with a unique blend of strengths and interests. What motivates and excites me will differ from what motivates and excites others. As a Kindergarten teacher my desire is to help children gain greater access to the world in order to discover what will motivate and excite them. The end goal of a primary school education is to provide children with the abilities they need to become lifelong, independent learners.
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Reading
I am a strong believer in teaching children how to read using a phonics-based approach. I use a multi-sensory approach to learning the sounds of letters and blends. In 2017 I will be using the Zoophonics program. As we progress through the school year, my students will also learn a large number of high frequency words.
Fine Motor Skills
By the time children reach Kindergarten, they typically will favor using either their left or right hand. We will continue to do activities which will help build muscles in the hand and arm to become more proficient when writing. Because lowercase letters are used at least 95% of the time, special attention will be given to correctly forming these letters. A handwriting journal is used to display improvements throughout the school year.
Math
Students in Kindergarten are just beginning to make sense out of the code we use for math. Numbers, shapes, and patterns are just a part of what five and six year olds are learning. Kindergarten math focuses heavily on learning the vocabulary words used in mathematics.
Religion
A key component to St.Joseph School is a focus on Jesus. Attending mass twice a week, prayer, and daily religious training are all vital parts of our school.
PE, Music, and Computers
Students attend PE and Music classes three days a week and visit the computer lab once per week. .
Science / Discovery
Much of what is learned in Kindergarten is done so in a discovery based atmosphere. Students are encouraged to ask questions and wonder.