As guides along their educational journeys, our teachers work together to build a community where all children feel safe and respected. We work with each child holistically and honor their uniqueness. We encourage them to express their creativity and to find wonder in the world around them. We believe that everyday is an opportunity for them to grow and flourish. We know that each child is developing at a pace that is just right for them. Through an inquiry and play based approach to learning, each child can feel confident and capable to take on challenges to build their knowledge and understanding.
Kindergarten & First Grade Reading & Math Curriculum
Writing:
All children have stories to tell. During daily Writer’s Workshops, teachers support each child’s development by providing them with opportunities to bring their stories to life. Through play, the arts, and individualized skill building, children are engaged with writing daily. Mini-lessons help us to fine tune our craft by focusing on story structure, language conventions, writing strategies and exposure to a variety of genres. Children work through a five step writing process, starting with generating ideas, drafting, revising, editing and publishing. Writing is shared with the community and the children provide valuable feedback to each other.
Reading:
Text is all around us and at Oak, we believe that literacy is ingrained into our daily routines. We cultivate a “Culture of Literacy” through experiences and exposure, connecting what we are learning at school to the wisdom from the children’s families at home and others in the community. Through the exploration of various genres and texts, our teachers support children in the development of spelling, phonics, decoding and comprehension skills. Reader’s Workshop is a time where the children participate in guided mini-lessons, small group work, partner reading, independent reading and one-on-one conferencing.
Mathematics:
Because children think with their hands, we begin learning through the exploration of concrete materials, like manipulatives and loose parts. Skills are developed by first touching, manipulating and physically connecting with numbers. From there, children begin making pictorial models and representations, and eventually form a relationship with what they feel and see to algorithmic equations. Starting with a number talk and ending with a share, Math Workshop gives children an opportunity to learn from one another and to think creatively, critically and flexibly. When problem solving, children are equipped with a variety of tools to communicate their thoughts and to share their thinking in numerous ways. Collaboration and a conceptual approach foster a growth mindset that allows children to form a deep understanding and to feel comfortable to tackle any mathematical challenge.