Curriculum

Children will be able to identify real-life connections between words and their use. For example, they might note places at school that are colorful, linking the adjective "colorful" to specific locations like the art room or a bulletin board decorated with student artwork.

Children will understand how to write a letter or letters for most consonant and short-vowel sounds (phonemes). For example, they will write "b" for the /b/ sound in "bat" or "a" for the /a/ sound in "cat."

Children will be able to distinguish shades of meaning among verbs describing the same general action by acting out the meanings. For example, they might demonstrate the differences between "walk," "march," "strut," and "prance" through physical actions, helping them understand the subtle differences in how each verb describes moving.

Children will understand how to spell simple words phonetically, drawing on knowledge of sound-letter relationships. For example, they might spell the word "fish" as "f-i-sh" based on their understanding of the sounds associated with each letter.

Children will be able to use words and phrases acquired through conversations, reading, and being read to, and responding to texts. For example, after listening to a story about a farm, a child might use words such as "tractor," "harvest," and "barn" while playing with farm animal toys or drawing a farm scene.

Children will be able to determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on kindergarten reading and content. For example, they might use context clues from a story to figure out that the word "bat" can mean an animal or a piece of sports equipment, depending on the sentence.

Children will be able to identify new meanings for familiar words and apply them accurately. For example, they will recognize that "duck" can refer to a bird and also understand it as the verb "to duck" under something, using context clues to determine the correct meaning in different situations.

Children will be able to use the most frequently occurring inflections and affixes (e.g., -ed, -s, re-, un-, pre-, -ful, -less) as clues to the meaning of an unknown word. For example, they might deduce that "helpful" relates to providing help because of the suffix "-ful," or understand that "redo" means to do again because of the prefix "re-."

Children will be able to understand and use question words (interrogatives) such as who, what, where, when, why, and how.

Children will learn to use non-violent methods to protect their personal space. Teachers can introduce concepts like using words to express discomfort, such as saying, "Please stop, I need space," or finding a teacher for help. Role-playing scenarios can further reinforce these methods, showing children how to handle situations respectfully and effectively without using physical means. This education helps them understand and assert their boundaries safely.