BIBLE/CHARACTER FOUNDATION

Our Kindergarten Bible program focuses on lessons of Creation, Daniel, Samuel, Joseph, David, Jesus and many others. Students will become familiar with many Bible characters as we emphasize God’s care for us today. Students will appreciate the lives of biblical heroes as well as other Christian leaders who, by example, provide a foundation for living. We also learn about the other countries and cultures of the world as we study about and pray for missionaries. A foundation for Godly character is laid throughout the year as we study the following character traits: obedience, faith, thankfulness, love honesty, perseverance, friendliness, and kindness. We us an ACSI curriculum that includes a colorful student workbook for our lessons.

PHONICS/READING

We use A Beka’s basic phonics program and phonetic analysis to teach beginning reading. The following phonics skills are introduced to Kindergarten children:

        * Recognition of name, sound, and picture of short and long vowels and

           consonants

        * Sounding out of blends, one and two vowel words, and consonant blends

        * Beginning phonics rules and simple spelling

       *  Reading sentences and stories with one and two vowel words, consonant

           blends, and special sound words from thirteen different phonics books.

Language experience and immersion in reading activities are a vital part of the curriculum. Reading groups begin the first semester so each child receives as much individual attention as possible. Children play games to practice reading skills, read through several small readers, and make books of their own throughout the year.

Students use the A Beka Letters and Sounds workbook to practice a variety of reading skills. Their workbook contains exercises that provide activities in the following areas: individual letter sounds, blending of consonant and vowel sounds, one and two vowel words, comprehension of words containing consonant blends and special phonics sounds, and sentence comprehension.

The worksheets will be completed after each phonetic concept has been introduced and taught by the teacher. In addition we use Zoophonics, a curriculum that incorporates kinesthestic, auditory and visual reinforcement.

HANDWRITING

Kindergarten students learn to print all upper and lower case letters of the alphabet. We write blends and special sounds along with words and complete sentences. We use the A Beka Manuscript writing text.

MATH

The core text for the kindergarten math program is A Beka’s Numbers and Skills K Arithmetic.

The following skills are developed through activities and learning centers:

        * Number recognition, counting and writing 1-100

        * Number concepts 1-100

        * Number sequences

        * Number words

        * Numbers before, after and between 1-100

        * Numbers largest and smallest 1-100

        * Counting and writing by ten to 100

        * Counting and writing by fives to 100

        * Using number words 1-10 and first - tenth

        * Value of penny, nickel, dime and quarter

        * Telling time to the quarter hour

        * Addition facts through ten

        * Position - inside, outside, top, middle, bottom, left, right

        * Classifying objects, color, shape, size

        * Patterns

        * Using the calendar

        * One-step story problems in addition

        * Introduction to subtraction

        * Simple graphing

SCIENCE/SOCIAL STUDIES

Science and Social Studies are integrated throughout the year. We develop basic Social Studies themes and concepts through the following units:

Science contains hands-on studies of the following areas:

        * Seasons and Weather

        * Plants

        * Animals

        * Our Bodies

        * Earth and Space

CENTERS AND READINESS SKILLS

Children participate in a variety of activities designed to promote readiness skills that are important to early reading, math and writing. Learning centers are provided for the children to supplement, reinforce, and enrich basic Kindergarten curriculum. Students work on these skills independently or in small groups. These games and activities help develop a wide range of skills:

        * Math and reading concepts

        * Social concepts

        * Language skills

        * Motor skills (gross and fine)

        * Creative Expression and pretend play

        * Perception Skills (auditory and visual)

        * Listening Skills

ART

Students are involved in many fun art projects consisting of different mediums such as painting, play dough, cutting, gluing, and paper projects. These projects will generally follow the Science or Social Studies theme we are currently studying. Projects will aid students in development of eye and hand coordination and will promote creative expression in the individual student.

MUSIC/P.E.

Our Kindergarten students participate in a variety of musical and physical education activities throughout the school year. The children learn about rhythm using lummi sticks. They also spend several weeks practicing songs for the Christmas program. During the second semester, the children learn worship songs. They will continue to work with lummi sticks as they prepare a special presentation for graduation.

In P.E. the Kindergarteners learn how to do jumping jacks, skipping, jump ropes and soccer skills. They work with scooter boards, basketball dribbling, gymnastic/aerobic exercises and parachute games.

SPANISH

WCS students participate in multimedia Spanish curriculum. Viva el Español is a complete language development program designed for teaching Spanish in elementary and middle schools. The main objectives in our Spanish program guide students through the development of listening, speaking, reading and writing skills with a special emphasis on communicative activities to create actual and practical use of the language. While learning Spanish, students also explore the cultures of the Hispanic world. Viva el Español makes learning Spanish fun and creates a positive attitude toward learning languages and experiencing a different culture.