Welcome to Kindergarten

2012-2013 Parent Questionnaire

According to David Elkind, the early grades pose special challenges because that's when children's attitudes toward school and learning are shaped. The main goal of our Kindergarten program is to foster a lifelong love of learning. Everything should be done to ensure that children go on developing their love of learning, expanding their general knowledge base, their ability to get along, and their interest in reaching out to the world all through the Kindergarten year. We have a true commitment to integration across the curriculum, to meeting the Core Curriculum Standards and to infusing technology wherever possible.

Kindergarteners are eager to master. They are curious, have a growing command of language, learn best by actively figuring things out for themselves, are becoming increasingly in control of their own behavior, and use their large and small muscles with greater skill then they used to. They believe that grown-ups know best and are motivated to please us. They are noisy, silly, and sensitive.

As Kindergarten educators, we believe that the ultimate purpose of kindergarten is to promote children's development and learning. Kindergarten children are unique in the way that they see the world, act, and have different skills than children of other ages. In no way is it helpful to push or rush a Kindergarten child through theprocess of maturing. In order to provide the child with a reasonable expectation for success, instructional content and methods must be based on the characteristics of five year olds. The primary goal of the kindergarten program must be that every child should experience success. SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS.

Ages and Stages in Kindergarten

Is your five-year-old on track? Below are some general development milestones to help you understand your child's progress over the school year. Keep in mind that every child is different and may not fit perfectly into this framework.

Where They Are

The average five-year-old:

• Is good, helpful, and conforming.
• Attempts only things he/she knows he/she can do.
• Needs attention, affection, and praise.
• Is energetic and fidgety.
• Has a short attention span.
• May show opposite extremes of behavior.
• May become less well-behaved as the school year progresses.

Where They're Going

School isn't just academics: Your child's teachers are also helping him/her grow socially. At five-years-old, your child is learning to understand him/herself. You can help by encouraging him/her as he/she:

• Develops a positive, realistic self-image.
• Learns to respect him/herself.
• Begins to understand his/her own uniqueness.
• Gains awareness of his/her feelings.
• Learns to express feelings.
• Learns how to participate in groups.
• Begins to learn from his/her mistakes.

Brought to you by the American School Counselor Association