Junior Kindergarten (Co-ed) and Kindergarten

The JK curriculum is a developmentally appropriate and play-based curriculum, and is focused on developing the whole child. Each child’s learning style and developmental level in the different areas of the curriculum are evaluated and assessed. The classroom programs are adjusted to meet, challenge and support each child’s individual strengths, interests and needs. Our curriculum includes activities that enhance skills and capabilities in all developmental areas and complement the individual learning styles of each child. Learning goals are continually assessed and tailored throughout the year. The classroom curriculum is designed to allow for individual differences in pace, style and range of learning. Play-based learning experiences are an integral element to our instruction and in the facilitation for the development and growth of a children’s imagination, creativity, and social-emotional well-being.

Cognitive growth is promoted throughout the school day. Our daily Morning Meeting builds community and offers opportunities to use and refine expressive and receptive language. A print-rich environment is used to promote literacy and reading-readiness skills, with an emphasis on phonemic awareness, letter recognition, sound to symbol relationships, left-to-right directionality, exposure to sight words, and vocabulary development. Fine motor skills are developed through the use of multi-sensory materials and activities.

Our mathematics curriculum works toward mastery of number recognition to twenty and beyond, number concepts, counting, measurement, shapes, patterns, and basic addition and subtraction. Math concepts are cultivated in a hands-on program that is connected to real world activities.

Social studies, music, art, Spanish, theology, STEM, physical education, and drama are incorporated throughout the curriculum. We value the importance of providing our children with predictable schedules and routines in a structure that emphasizes an understanding of how the individual needs of each child is balanced with the rest of the entire classroom community.

The JK program is integrated into monthly and seasonal themes so that learning is both meaningful and fun. 

A Reading Workshop model begins in January. Kindergarten uses a modified Daily 5 model called “Ride and Read” from September to December designed to increase reading stamina. The class works out of multi-leveled reading bins until January, when we transition to individualized leveled readers. Our writing program is a developmental writing program that is intertwined with the reading program. This approach insures each child’s skill level is individually targeted and helps her grow and develop at her personal pace.

Every girl leaves Kindergarten with a writing portfolio that shows her individual growth throughout the year. This portfolio includes drawing and storytelling, multiple examples of non fiction writing and progresses to complete books written by each girl. The “Handwriting Without Tears” program insures work on correct formation of letters. Both independent and collaborative use of technology is embedded within the Kindergarten reading and writing program and aligned with each unit of study. Speaking and listening skills are integrated throughout each day. 
 

The Kindergarten program reinforces concepts over facts:  i.e. 3 pairs of socks = how many socks? The Think Math! program features counting, addition, subtraction, attributes and sorting, money, greater than and less than, measurement, capacity and three dimensional shapes, graphing, analog and digital clocks, tally marks and building the foundation of multiplication and division concepts.  Individual math projects, centers and game days insure practical application, ongoing collaborative practice, and self paced and individually developed projects. 

The Kindergarten curriculum is a developmentally appropriate approach to learning about the world around us. The emphasis is on community through the student’s roles and interactions within the classroom and the Stuart community as a whole. The students begin to understand social studies skills by making choices each day in the classroom and on the playground by creating classroom rules, by becoming active problem solvers and by learning through classroom jobs and responsibilities. Students map the school; experience other Early Childhood classrooms around the globe through blogs and online networking and practice concepts of economy through student run cafe’s through their class garden. Our goals focus on a Kindergartener’s academic, social, and emotional growth in a dynamic, changing world.
 

At Stuart, we know the importance of educating the whole child, so our girls are taught by subject area teachers in STEM, Spanish, art, drama, and music — in light-filled studios, labs, and performance spaces designed specifically for each discipline.

Click here for the Lower School Specialists Curriculum. 

SEL EC to Grade 4

Social Emotional Learning in the Lower School will consist of self awareness, learning how to respect others, navigating the highs and lows of friendship and community at their age and even understanding things like empathy, kindness and boundaries. Students will learn early on about mindfulness practices and we’ll do fun and interactive activities. We will be utilizing a multimodal approach, so that every learner can grow in their understanding of God, self and others. I envision having a very collaborative working relationship with faculty and staff, as to both reinforce and help support the five goals of Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart. 

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This program strengthens the child’s readiness to grow in understanding beliefs, practices and opportunities of faith. Bible stories and real-life situations guide the children to make wise choices. Activities reinforce and extend the faith life of the children. The program helps the children see themselves, others, and the world in a God - centered way. Our three prominent themes for the year are creation, love, and family throughout different religions. Students explore these concepts through multi sensory play, crafting, dramatic exploration, and sharing personal experiences.