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We
are excited to be working with you and your child during this
exciting year of learning and discovery!
In our Kindergartens, we
want students to feel comfortable with themselves and the others in the classroom.
Simple elements of trust, security, listening, respect, and cooperation
will go a long way later in developing their ability to focus and learn
effectively.
Social Skills are taught informally throughout
the day, but are also taught as a part of a formal curriculum component called:
The Open Circle Program It's content focus areas include:
Social Competency
Diversity & Similarities
Problem Solving
Positive
Qualities:
Responsibility,
honesty, etc.
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The Kindergarten curriculum is mainly taught within the context of
daily routines and activities and include a wide variety of individual
and group learning activities, as well as time for free choice and
discovery. This enables children to develop strategies and utilize
their natural strengths in a variety of learning situations.
Below, we give you a glimpse of our basic programs and curriculum
units. For more detailed descriptions of the each of the
Kindergarten Curriculum areas, please log onto the Framingham Public
School Home Site. It’s very educational.
Math
Brophy Kindergartners participate in the district-wide Think-Math!
program
Think-Math Focuses on national & state standards as it provides
fun activities that develop conceptual
understanding & problem-solving and skill practice.
Hands on Science:
The 5 Senses
Exploring the Schoolyard
Living/ Non-living(& worms!)
Push & Pull- forces & simple machines
Our
Social
Studies Units include:
Who? Important people in our lives- family, school, community, country,
world, & history
When? How things change over time, and some basic time telling.
Where? Our physical space in the world. Everything from “location
words” (eg. right, left, above, below), to simple maps our
global address- street, town, city, state, country ( other
countries), continent, earth, & solar system!
Fundations Writing & Phonemic Awareness
Interactive Writing and Shared Writing
Writer’s
Workshop: Lucy Calkins program
Reading
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Shared reading and read-a-louds
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Small group reading at the child’s instructional level
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Independent reading at child’s “just right” level including
simple Poetry Notebooks
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A Typical School
Day:
Each day starts with a regular morning routine which includes some
“Table Work” with independent skill practice and/or math manipulatives
at the group tables.
Once everyone has arrived and settled in, we come together as a whole
group for our “morning meeting” which includes calendar, school day
count, interactive poems or songs, and the shared reading preview of
the day through our “morning message”.
In addition, each day generally includes:
- Progressing math and literacy curriculum components
through fun and meaningful discussions, games,
and activities.
- Time to work in smaller groups that focus on literacy
and math skills, in which teachers can work more closely with
smaller groups of students at more differentiated levels.
- A break for snack and some free exploration
& playtime.
- A special (art, music, gym, library or computer lab).
- A mid-day lunch and recess, followed by a relaxing
read-aloud and some rest-time.
- The second part of the afternoon provides a chance
for some additional activities- often science, social studies and/or
our Open Circle (Social Skills) curriculum, some additional recess time
to stretch their bodies and re-energize.
School Supplies and
Classroom Needs - Pencils, crayons, paper,
etc.
are provided by the school & shared by the children so there is
no need to purchase any to send in. However, there are several items
that we go through quickly and will need throughout the year,
such
as:
- Antibacterial wipes
- Plastic storage bags (gallon & snack sized)
- Bags/boxes of snacks (pretzels, saltines, etc)
Climb
aboard for learning, fun & friends at Brophy School
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