Kindergarten Curriculum
A child’s Kindergarten experience at RAA provides the foundation upon which formal education is built. Students become seekers and sharers of knowledge. Learning takes place individually, at centers, in small groups, and large groups. In addition, opportunities to use technology in learning are provided with online websites available at school and at home.
Bible
Kindergarten learn stories from the Bible. Teachers select Old Testament stories that illustrate choices beginning with Creation and ending with Moses and the Israelites. New Testament stories include the miracles, the parables, and the life of Jesus.
Literacy
The Lucy Calkins Units of Study curriculum seamlessly integrates writing, reading, and phonics for a balanced literacy program. Students discover the joy of written communication both by reading what others have written and by sharing their own stories. In reading, teachers expose students to a variety of fiction and non-fiction literature, providing comprehension strategies to increase understanding. When writing, students are encouraged first to draw, then to begin to write words that record stories from their own lives and from their imaginations. In developmentally appropriate steps, reading, phonics, and writing skills grow within each student as they are ready, and the Kindergarten teacher create a classroom environment where literacy is valued and celebrated.
Math
Math is learned and understood through hands-on exploration, manipulation of concrete objects, and real-life experiences. Students learn how to represent their experiences with pictures and models before moving to the abstract process of using number symbols and operation signs, like 2 + 2 = 4, to communicate their mathematical understanding. RAA's Kindergarten classrooms use the Eureka Math curriculum from GreatMinds.org because it allows students to explore math concepts the way that research confirms children learn math best.
Science & Social Studies Units
Kindergarten students learn about science and social studies through hands-on activities that incorporate art, field trips, and developmentally appropriate exploration.
First-semester units: Safety, Body, Multicultural, and Christmas.
Second-semester units: Space, Desert, Weather, Growing Things, and Ocean.