Curriculum

Standards-Based Report Cards

 

Standards-based report cards measure how well an individual student is doing in relation to the grade level standards, not the work of other students. This type of report card will give you a better understanding of your child's strengths and weaknesses.  The rubric is designed on a scale of 1-3:

E-Exceptional

This student consistently demonstrates a thorough in‐depth knowledge of basic & extended concepts & skills. Performance is characterized by self‐motivation & the ability to apply skills with consistent accuracy, independence & a high level of quality

3-Meets the Standard

This student demonstrates thorough understanding of concepts and skills. Performance is characterized by the ability to apply skills with accuracy & quality.

2+ Progressing Well Toward the Standard

This student demonstrates an increased understanding of basic concepts & skills. Performance is characterized by the ability to apply skills with greater success. Performance is becoming more consistent with regard to accuracy & quality requiring less support.

2-Progressing Toward the Standard

This student demonstrates understanding of basic concepts & skills. Performance is characterized by the ability to apply skills with increasing success. Performance varies in consistency with regard to accuracy, quality, & level of support.

 

1-Not Meeting the Standard

At this time the student does not demonstrate understanding of basic concepts & skills. Performance is inconsistent even with guidance & support.

 

Please note that these numbers do not correspond with a traditional letter grade on report cards. For instance an "E" is not an "A" on a traditional report card.  By the end of the fourth marking period, an assessment score of 3 indicates that your child is right on target for his/her grade level.  This score should be celebrated! An assessment score of "E" will appear much less frequently.

 

A sample of each grade level's standards-based report card can be found on the district website: www.middletownk12.org

 

 General Math Curriculum

 

• Sort and classify objects using one or more attributes
• Recognize and write numbers to 30
• Count orally by ones, five, and tens
• Name ordinal numbers first through tenth
• Add and subtract using manipulatives (Cheerios, candy or other objects that can be picked up)
• Understand spatial relationships (top/bottom, near/far, before/behind)
• Compare quantities by estimating, weighing, and measuring
• Use graphs to gather information
• Recognize patterns and shapes
• Tell time to the nearest hour
• Count coins
• Recite the days of the week and months of the year

General Language Arts Curriculum

 

Recognize and write all of the letters of the alphabet in upper and lowercase forms

Write his first and last name

Learn sounds corresponding to vowels and consonants

Use initial consonant sounds and sound patterns to read words (for example, f + an = fan; r + an = ran)

Identify several sight words, including names of colors

Recognize and use rhyming words

Retell a story including details

Put events of a story in order

Write simple sentences using sight words and phonics skills

Writer's Workshop

During Writer's Workshop the children will be writing in their writing folders. They will pick a topic they want to write about that day. They often will choose something that is a current event in their lives (birthday, holiday etc.)  In the beginning, the children will begin the writing process by using illustrations to tell their stories. The children will soon add words to their illustrations. They are able to use our word wall, word lists, & alphabet charts to assist them with the writing process.

 

The children will be phonetically spelling most of the words. For example, a child may spell "ball" as "bl".  This is perfectly acceptable. It's OK if they have missing letters, especially the vowels. It is important not to over-correct them at this emergent stage of writing. This will only make them feel defeated and get frustrated as a writer. 

My goal is to have the children write more sentences as the year progresses and they gain independence.

 

Please encourage your child to write at home!

 

Other Areas Covered in Kindergarten Curriculum

 

 

• Art and music: Experiment with different materials and methods

 

• Health and physical education: Learn essentials about nutrition and functions of the body. The It's OK to Be Different program will help the children to see and understand that no one person is the same and that our differences are really what make us all special. For that reason, all students should embrace differences and be kind to one another. 

 

• Social studies: Identify major religious and civic holidays and historical figures; appreciate similarities and differences across individuals, families and traditions; understand different roles in communities

 

• Science: Use all senses to observe and experiment with plants and animals, weather and temperature. Discover the differences between living and non-living. The study of balls and ramps uses science to build your child's experiences with balls of various weights and sizes - see how they move on ramps. Two themes are focused on throughout this unit: the properties and characteristics of balls;  the things that affect the way balls behave.