St. Thomas the Apostle Kindergarten Program
The Kindergarten program is child-centered and assists each individual in becoming an independent member of an interdependent community. As we strive to develop a sense of responsibility and concern for others, basic skills are integrated with a variety of special programs and centers. In addition to the classroom centers listed below, kindergarten students participate in weekly specials including library, music, art, computer and gym classes. Beginning in the first grade, students also enjoy Spanish as part of our world language instruction.
Art Center
The Art Center is aplace where children can explore a variety of interesting materials. Young children can show us what they know through their artwork. They learn by using the senses and the Art Center provides a multi-sensory experience for them. In the Art Center, children can choose from materials such as paints, crayons, coloredpencils, markers and odds and ends we find in every day settings.
Block Center
The Block Center is an area that provides children with interesting construction materials for designing and building. Because of its arrangement, the center allows for small groups of children to share materials, work together to make designs, and solve problems they encounter with projects. Children learn about shapes, size, measurement, distance and how many building skills. One of the most important skills that will be developed when children are in the Block Center is working in collaboration with others.
Literacy Center
In the Literacy Center children learn they can communicate through reading and writing. Here they can express their feelings and ideas through the use of markers, crayons, pencils, paper, and glue. They can also engage in phonics activities and games. In the Literacy Center children begin to make the connection between the written and spoken word.
Listening Center
Young children love to have good books and stories read to them. We know that reading aloud to children has much benefit for them emotionally and academically as it contributes to their language development. The Listening Center is a place for children to hear favorite books read to them again and again as they follow along with their own copy of the book.
Book Center
The Book Center creates a comfortable space for children to explore and enjoy books. Books are displayed with space for reading alone or with a friend. In the early stages of reading, young children will “pretend” to read. Next they will sound as if they are “reading.” Both of these stages support the development of reading. In the Book Center we will have the opportunity to observe the children as they transition through the stages and begin to develop into competent, confident readers.
Math Center
The Math Center is special place where the children work with many interesting materials. Some materials are introduced to the children in a lesson where they are given ideas of ways to use them. Other materials are placed at the center for children to explore on their own. In both ways teachers gain insight into how children use a variety of math and problem-solving strategies. We know that young children need to begin with real materials before they attempt to do the same type of work with numerals on paper. This center makes math concepts “real” to children.
Science Center
The Science Center provides children with opportunities to explore and investigate the world around them. The study of animals is a basic content area of the kindergarten life science curriculum. Children are interested in animals, and animal study offers many avenues into important life science concepts, including that animals live in a variety of habitats, animals grow and change and that animals are affected by seasonal changes. Earth science provides many opportunities for children to learn about the basic elements of the weather curriculum that include how and why weather conditions change from day to day and from season to season.
For more information on early learning in children please refer to Early Childhood Education Standards. If you have any questions, please contact us.