Kindergarten Program

As children made in God’s image, learning how to live in community is foundational to human flourishing. Kindergarten students are trained in scriptures that promote Christian love, charity, and behavior. They are introduced to 10 character virtues and their vices and are expected to gradually demonstrate these traits as they mature. These include honor, obedience, diligence, wisdom, kindness, self-control, orderliness, service, attentiveness, cooperation, initiative, honesty, forgiveness, and responsibility. Our teachers create a gentle and nurturing environment that includes emotional coaching and modeling how to share and put others first, how to forgive and make amends, and how to encourage and show kindness in words and actions. Our teachers pray with and for our students, modeling dependence upon Jesus and living in obedience and faith. We hope to guid our Kindergarten students towards developing a deep love for all God created, including one another. Instruction in character and virtue at this level lays a strong foundation for the not only becoming a diligent student but lover of Christ and His creation.

Just as stories cultivate wonder and imagination, so does discovering and exploring God's creation, an expression of His love. Kindergarten students explore creation, culture, and beauty through the overarching theme of a countries of the world study. Students are encouraged to engage their five senses and use deductive reasoning in the disciplines of chemistry, physics, biology, and earth science while observing butterfly metamorphosis, writing and sketching observations in nature journals, exploring the law of gravity by dropping objects of different masses, wonder at chemical reactions between acids and bases, build earthquake proof buildings, extract chlorophyll, and more.

Furthermore, the deep exploration of a country demands an investigation of its culture which requires listening to and making music, creating art using various methods and mediums, or simply enjoying a cultural read aloud.

Lastly, wonder is also evoked as students discover beauty in architecture, paintings, & poems from countries around the world. Wonder and exploration lay the foundation for all future scientific study as they engage with creation using all their senses.

Beautiful books play a key role in the life of a classical student. Well written and beautifully illustrated books are the food to a child’s developing imagination. Our Kindergarten students enjoy a feast of great books throughout their day to explore virtues and Biblical truths, reinforce phonics, math, and even science skills. After recess, students quietly listen for enjoyment in a dimmed environment to the teacher read lengthier chapter books such as Socks or The Mouse and the Motorcycle. These quality books encourage the students to interact with rich language, beautiful illustrations, and masterful story lines. Furthermore, their sense of wonder and their growing imaginations are encouraged and guided through daily interactions with beautiful books.

n the classical tradition, the early years of learning are characterized by multi-sensory discovery and delight. Wonder is the foundation of all future study, and wonder is evoked through hands-on discovery. For instance, when our Kindergarten students are learning phonics, spelling, and math skills, they use manipulatives and tiles to ensure mastery in a motivating and multi-sensory approach. When learning poetry, students learn hand motions or sing songs that correlate with the verse. When learning patterns and skip counting, students use instruments like maracas, rhythm sticks, and the chroma harp to keep the beat and accompany their chants. During the day, they play in centers, which include opportunities to practice letter formation in salt buckets, shaving cream and finger-paint, play literacy games independently or with friends, and work with math manipulatives. This hands-on learning engages their senses throughout the day allowing the children to enter into delightful discoveries and rich learning thus sowing the seeds of wonder, imagination, and a love of learning.

Kindergarten students have time set aside everyday to play both inside the classroom and outside on the playground. During outdoor play times, students may choose to swing or slide, use the balls or sidewalk chalk, chase their friends, use their imaginations to play superheroes or family, and more. Play also takes place indoors during centers where language, fine motor skills, and social interaction are developed more fully while building, creating with Play Doh, conquering puzzles or mind games to name a few. Kindergarteners also play during times of celebration like on the 100th day of school or while using puppets to retell stories they have heard. Additionally, they learn to play group games in class, instruments in music class, and with colors and textures in art class. Play provides the space for their imaginations and wonder to take flight and bring them on amazing adventures.