Kindergarten Language Arts

In this section: Kindergarten 1st Grade 2nd Grade 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade 6th Grade 7th Grade 8th Grade Student Evaluation and Assessment, Grades 6-8 Upper School Writing Strategies

Kindergarten teachers encourage an appreciation of literature through reading a variety of picture books aloud to students followed by class discussions. As a whole class and in small groups, kindergartners begin word study by learning the names, shapes, and sounds of the English alphabet and how letters and sounds can be put together and taken apart. Teachers use phonemic activities with students to increase their awareness of the speech sounds that underlie the alphabetic writing system. Students become familiar with and begin to memorize age-appropriate sight words (non-phonetic words). They begin to put the language they hear and see onto paper through writing and dictation. The spelling of consonant and short vowel sounds is taught through phonemic awareness activities and handwriting lessons. Students are encouraged to use their "best guess" (phonetic spelling) when they write, practicing and expressing their growing knowledge of the relationships between letters and sounds of the English language.

Goals and Objectives

Reading: By the end of kindergarten, students are expected to…

• Know about letters, words, and sounds and begin to apply this knowledge to read simple words
• Identify the basic facts and ideas in what they have read, heard, or viewed
• Use comprehension strategies such as generating and responding to questions and comparing new information to what is already known
• Listen and respond to stories based on well-known characters, themes, plots, and settings

WRITING: By the end of kindergarten, students are expected to…

• Begin to write legibly using "best guess" spelling on teacher directed projects

WRITTEN LANGUAGE CONVENTIONS: By the end of kindergarten, students are expected to…

• Begin to understand English language conventions as set forth in The Golden Guide
• Write uppercase letters of the alphabet independently and become familiar with lowercase letter formations

LISTENING AND SPEAKING: By the end of kindergarten, students are expected to…

• Listen and respond to oral communication
• Speak in clear and coherent sentences
• Deliver brief recitations and oral presentations about familiar experiences or interests

Annual Kindergarten Language Arts Projects

The kindergartners will create many class books based on group experiences and literature read in the classroom. Individual books will also be generated such as an Alphabet Book and a journal.

Assessment and Evaluation

Ongoing and informal assessment is done in kindergarten through teacher observation during class discussions and student work times. In addition, more formal interview style assessment is performed both in the fall and in the spring.

Resources

Resources for Teachers:

Words Their Way, Bear

Phonemic Awareness in Young Children, Marilyn Adams, B. Foorman

The Phonological Awareness Book, Carolyn Robertson and Wanda Salter

Handwriting Without Tears, Jan Olsen

Books for Students:

A variety of student resources are used, including book collections that reflect a wide selection of beginning readers and quality literature for children.