Language Arts

The aim of our language arts program is to develop a child’s comfort with communicating and expressing his/her ideas.  Language for kindergarteners includes many forms: listening, speaking, writing, reading, singing or even pictures, and body language.  The classroom is filled with many different language-rich activities that will help children see the connection between the printed word and communication of ideas.

Language development and listening skills also include: color words, shapes, animals, transportation, countries, community helpers, health, safety, manners, and science. Our well-rounded program offers children activities and opportunities to enrich not only thier vocabulary but thier world.

Phonics and Reading

Reading is an outcome of a child’s own mastery and enjoyment of our language.  Phonics is the key to fluent independent reading and spelling.  In kindergarten, children learn the sounds of the letters and letter combinations to provide them with a solid foundation for reading.  Using the ABeka Book curriculum, students daily put into practice the phonics concepts they are learning.   Our curriculum uses a multi-sensory approach to teach phonics and reading.  The illustrations on clue words for the alphabet along with the auditory sounds help reinforce the skills to be acquired.  Alongside the ABeka Book phonics program, the children are exposed to many read aloud stories and poems to heighten their appreciation of literature.

Skills:

• Differentiate between left and right
• Compare: sorting by size, weight, color
• Match upper and lower case letters
• Recognize name, sound and picture of long and short vowel and consonants
• Learn how to blend sounds of a consonant and a vowel and begin reading one- and two- vowel words
• Know beginning phonics rules and special sounds
• Apply new phonics concepts by reading sentences and stories from the twelve ABeka Book readers
• Sequence ideas, pictures and stories
• Read, recite, and act out stories, fables, poetry, and finger plays
• Expand listening, speaking, reading and writing vocabulary
• Practice listening comprehension and discussion of literature and picture books
• Recognize one’s full name

Writing

Every day children practice writing and applying the phonics concepts they have learned by using ABeka Book writing workbooks.  Through journal writing using their own words and stories with developmental spelling, children are able to apply their knowledge of letter sounds. 

Various materials and writing instruments are used to refine and develop their writing ability.  These include but are not limited to: challenging puzzles, perceptual materials (matching and sequencing materials), lacing and stringing activities, tracing and stenciling work, chalk and chalkboard, wipe-off marker with board, pencils, crayons, cutting and pin punching various objects, and student generated books and journals.

Skills:

• Use correct pencil grip
• Print upper and lower case letters legibly
• Begin writing letters, blends, words and sentences
• Position letters appropriately within lines
• Draw pictures to convey a message
• Write full name
• Apply knowledge of letter sounds using invented spelling
• Dictate stories to express feelings and ideas
• Organize ideas in a logical sequence

Mathematics

The ABeka Book math workbooks are utilized daily for counting, symbol recognition, and number writing.  Using various concrete counting and math materials in the classroom, students begin to see patterns and relationships among numbers.  Many activities help children identify, reproduce, extend and create patterns as objects are sorted by attributes and quantity. 

Skills:

Numbers and Number Concepts

• Number recognition, counting and writing 1-100
• Number concepts 1-100
• Numbers before and after (1-100)
• Numbers largest and smallest (1-100)
• Counting and writing by twos, fives, and tens to 100
• Number sequences by ones
• Using number words 1-10 and first through tenth
• Basic geometry - shapes

Computation

• Addition facts through 10
• Beginning subtraction

Time, Money, and Measurement

• Value of coins and dollar bill
• Telling time to the half hour
• Using the calendar
• Days of the week
• Measurement

Science

Our science curriculum centers on unfolding God’s marvelous creation.  As we learn how life began, we discover God’s plan for seeds, animals, seashore, earth and space, and humanity.  Children learn how living things grow and change.  Using ACSIs Purposeful Design science program, students enjoy learning about:

• Mammals
• Fish
• Plants and animals
• Fossils
• Birds
• Insects
• Movement
• Machines

Social Studies

Our curriculum develops a child’s awareness of self and their community.  Using maps and the globe, the children learn about other continents and their location.  They also learn about people in other countries and their likenesses and differences to us.

Skills:

• Importance of our family (Mother’s and Father’s Day)
• Famous people and holidays (Johnny Appleseed, Christopher Columbus,  Pilgrims, Native Americans and the First Thanksgiving, Christmas around the World, Martin Luther King, Presidents’ Day, Saint Valentine, Saint Patrick, Easter Celebrations around the World)
• Names of the continents of the Earth
• Children of the world and other cultures
• Community helpers

Bible at Cornerstone is the most important time of the school day.  It is never missed in the daily schedule and the Bible is incorporated in all curriculum areas.  Bible lessons are used to teach the children biblical stories, but also life lessons on how to love God and others. Using the materials, Biblical Choices for the Next Generation, students are led into a greater understanding of God and His plan for their lives by balancing Bible content and life application instruction.  Bible time includes the Pledge to the Bible, the Christian Flag, and the American Flag.  Each day we pray for the needs of our class and school.

Key Areas:

• Bible memory verses each week
• Knowledge of various Bible hymns/songs
• Lessons such as: Salvation, God in Three Persons, Genesis, and Life of Christ
• Positive understanding of who God is and his/her relationship to Him
• Respect for the Bible, its truth, its wisdom
• Understanding of and comfort with prayer
• The Golden Rule through use of manners and respect for others