Redmond Elementary offers two choices of kindergarten classes.  Both the full day and the half day programs offers hands on, interactive learning that prepares students for “First Grade”.  Art , Music, Poetry and Literature play an important part of each child’s school day.  In the full day program, PE is taught by a specialist twice a week for ½ hour each session.  Students begin checking out books and visiting the library during the first weeks of school.

Reading

Children are helped to refine their reading skills with our phonics-based approach using the “Read Well” program and practice their new found skills reading books.  The curriculum emphasis is on short vowels and consonant sounds, sequencing, auditory and visual discrimination, classifying and rhyming.  Teachers use powerful read-aloud books that teach rich vocabulary.  ReadWell Reading progam

Math

Our classes use the state approved standards in math instruction that include counting by rote to 100 forward and backwards from 10 – 1. As well as shapes, problem solving and ordering numbers.  Students begin to understand the meaning of addition. LWSD math overview

Printing (letter formation) and
Writing (expressing thoughts in written form)

Students continue to develop fine motor control as they learn to print letters, words and simple sentences using the D’Nealian style letter formation.  D'Nealian Manuscript 

They begin to write personal stories about “Small Moments” using the Lucy Calkins Unit of Study Writing Program.  Lucy Calkins

Science

In science, kindergarteners study two units,   The first is “Materials: Natural to Man Made” with an emphasis on wood, where it comes from, what people use it for, properties of wood and how paper is made.  Foss Science - wood and paper

They also study “The Living World” where they learn about animals, the basic needs of animals and plants, and different kinds of trees and leaves. Foss Science - animals two by two

New Social Studies Curriculum will be adopted for the 2009-2010 school year.