Kindergarten, Kindergarten Enrichment

Program Goal
The Learning Place will provide kindergarten children with a structured, 4 1/2 hour educational program. The goal of the kindergarten program is to provide children with an early education that promotes their physical, social, emotional and cognitive growth. The kindergarten classroom will promote autonomy and provide children with positive experiences, preparing them for first grade and future learning.

Kindergarten Program - Available 2010-2011 School Year

Small class size & individualized instruction

Teachers with degrees in Early Childhood and Elementary Education

4 1/2 hour program that is approved and licensed by RI Dept. of Education

Creative Curriculum that includes math, science, art, literacy, music, drama and more.

K Enrichment / Morning Progam - Available Now & 2010-2011 School Year

Morning program for children that will attend PM Kindergarten

Fun, hands-on, educational activities that reinforce Kindergarten skills

Bus transportation available to Fogarty Memorial School, Glocester

1/2 day program licensed by RI Department of Education

Hours

Program Hours:

8:30am - 1:00pm

Drop Off Time:

8:30am - 9:00am

Pick Up Time:

12:30pm-1:00pm

Daily Schedule

8:45-9:00

Arrival - sign-in, choose classroom jobs, morning greeting time

9:00-9:20

Pledge of Allegiance, calendar, counting the days of school, group discussions, morning story, explain center assignments

9:20-10:45

Center time (learning centers and independent snack)
Children will complete Math / Science, Literacy & Art assignments
Upon completing the 3 assigned activities and snack, children will transition to free choice. Free choice includes computer, board games, sensory table, easel painting, free choice writing & drawing, and more.

10:45-11:00

Group Literacy Activity or Group Math Activity
(ex., story extension activities, story comprehension activities, spelling lists, vocabulary lists, group graphing, counting and problem solving activities)

11:00-11:30

Lunch

11:30-12:00

Outdoor Play

12:00

Kindergarten Enrichment students leave for PM Kindergarten

12:10-12:40

Small Group Lessons
(ex., journal writing, spelling lessons, science experimentd, educational games, small group reading instruction)

12:40-1:00

Chapter Book - In the late Fall we will begin reading chapter books. We will read aloud and discuss 1 chapter each day.

1:00-1:15

Daily Reflection Time / Pick Up Time

Curriculum & Assessment

Kindergarten Curriculum & Educational Activities
The kindergarten day includes instruction in the academic areas of math, science, and literacy as well as enrichment activities in the areas of art, computers, music & movement, drama and physical fitness. The classroom environment is set up to provide space for individual learning centers. In addition to learning center activities, the schedule includes time for group lessons. These are conducted in both small and large groups depending on the needs of the class and style of the lesson.

Kindergarten Math & Science Programs
The kindergarten curriculum will include activities from the Mathematics Their Way curriculum. This program is designed to teach and reinforce skills in the areas of counting, sorting, patterns, classifying, number concepts, graphing, measurement, comparing, place value, and problem solving. These skills and concepts are introduced through hands-on experiences and exploration with innovative methods and materials. The curriculum includes science experiences that introduce children to scientific skills and methods. Activities will allow children to use the scientific method of asking questions, observing and recording their findings and discussing their conclusions. Throughout the year the children will use their senses to investigate changes, gather information, make predictions, investigate cause and effect relationships, and make generalizations based on their experiences. The math & science activities withh include recording mathematical & scientific information in journals.

Kindergarten Language & Literacy Program
The language and literacy program includes big book experiences, shared reading, journals, and quiet reading times. The reading times are usually in small groups and could be either teacher initiated or child directed. The literacy program includes children's literature with repetition, rhythm & rhyme which promotes early reading skills. The goal of our literacy program is to teach phonics and reading skills as well as foster an appreciation for books and reading. We incorporate quality children's literature into the reading program and encourage children to use books in various ways throughout the kindergarten day. Literacy journals are used to help children understand different concepts about print. Early in the year we encourage the children to draw a picture and write letters or words that describe the pictures. We accept all types of writing (invented letters, scribbles, copied letters, etc.) and encourage them to "write" on their own. Through the use of journals children develop an understanding that letters create words and words have meaning. Individual spelling and phonics instruction is incorporated into journal time. As the year progresses, we move toward "kid Writing" (inventive spelling; ex: "kat" for cat) which includes sounding out words and creating sentences on their own. We use the "Handwriting Without Tears" curriculum to teach handwriting.

Student Assessments
The kindergarten teacher at The Learning Place will collect work samples throughout the year and conduct formal assessments of each child's growth and development three times a year. The assessment tool used measures the physical, emotional, social and cognitive progress of each child. Conferences are held three times a year, shortly after the formal assessments have been completed.

Program Licensing & Approval
The curriculum at The Learning Place is approved by Rhode Island Department of Education. We communicate and collaborate with the RI Department of Education as well as the local public school departments to ensure that our kindergarten program meets or exceeds the expectation of public kindergarten programs. Our curriculum is reflective of the developmentally appropriate practices recommended by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. The kindergarten teacher uses the RI Early Learning Standards, the National Association for the Education of Young Children's recommended developmentally appropriate practices and The Learning Place's curriculum grid as resources when planning the curriculum and developing program procedures & policies.

Kindergarten Teaching Philosophy
The kindergarten program at The Learning Place is both age appropriate and individualized. The kindergarten teacher considers early childhood development and the natural sequence of growth when planning the curriculum. The teacher provides individualized instruction by observing each child's growth patterns, learning style, and personality and adjusting her interactions & lessons as needed. Children are encouraged to explore, gain information and master new skills through real life situations and hands-on activities within learning centers and teacher directed lessons. The teacher will add to the learning experience by asking open ended questions, adding materials to further the child's involvement, and interacting in a way that promotes the development of problem solving and social skills.

Licensed by
RI Department of Education

© Copyright 2001-2010 The Learning Place, LLC. All rights reserved
The Learning Place, LLC • 19B Terry Lane • Chepachet, RI 02814-2160
401-567-9091 • info@thelearningplace.cc

The Learning Place in Glocester, RI offers preschool programs, kindergarten programs, and kindergarten enrichment
programs, using hands-on learning in science, math, language, literacy, art, music, and movement to promote
children's physical, social, emotional and cognitive growth and development..