Language Arts

Spring-Ford Area School District uses the Scott-Foresman Reading Program. Language Activities are a priority in kindergarten. Through the utilization of literature, class-made books, Big Books, puppets, tapes, poems and an array of other activities, children will experience a language-rich environment daily. This setting provides children with the appropriate foundation to eventually become emergent readers.

In addition to the daily language lessons, kindergartners receive explicit instruction in the areas of phonics and phonemic awareness. Each day activities are presented that assist young children in understanding the relationship between the alphabetic symbol (letters) and sounds. Eventually, children will utilize reading strategies to decode new words

The writing program builds on what each child already knows. Writing begins with scribbles and proceeds to lines, circles, random strings of letters, words, spaces, and eventually sentences. You may hear these “terms” in school during the year…”kid-writing”, “sound writing”, “ book spelling”. Your children will be encouraged and applauded for all attempts and accomplishments in writing. Providing a risk-free environment is paramount to your child’s development in the area of writing. If possible, please provide your child writing tools at home, such as, pencils, crayons, paper, etc.

Mathematics

Spring-Ford Area School District uses the Everyday Math Program (EDM). EDM involves children in a variety of activities that create a foundation for mathematical understandings. Children manipulate concrete materials, such as blocks, coins, unifix cubes, and pattern blocks to form mathematical concepts. Children discover the world of sorting, classifying, patterning, measuring, graphing and estimating. Literature selections may also focus instruction on specific mathematical concepts.

Social Studies

In social studies children learn about themselves, their family, the community, and the world around them. Real objects, pictures, films, books, graphs, experiments and field trips are utilized to provide information and opportunities for the children to explore, compare, and experiment. Interactive dramatic play centers, including a post office, vet clinic, grocery store, and restaurant, are set up throughout the year to provide students with realistic hands-on experiences. These centers also enable us to integrate language arts and math skills into the science and social studies curriculum.

Art

Your child will receive instruction in art education once during a five day cycle. Please be sure to check your child’s schedule. Be sure to send in a large t-shirt as an art smock for your child to wear on art day. Art smocks will be kept in the classroom.

Library

We have library book exchange once in a five day cycle. Please check the specials schedule, which is available on our website, for your child’s assigned library day. Make sure they have their library books in their book bags on that day so they can check out a new book.

Physical Education

Your child will receive instruction in physical education once during a five day cycle. Please be sure to check your child’s schedule for gym day. Sneakers are required.

Music

Children are exposed to a variety of rhyme, rhythm, and songs each week. In addition to daily music experiences in the classroom the kindergarten classes join together for a group singing time once during the five day cycle. Many of the songs that the students learn enrich and reinforce components of our language arts and math curriculum. Our goal is to develop an early appreciation of music while having fun and learning.