Prekindergarten

The Giddens School prekindergarten program helps four-year-old's develop the skills of our 3 pillars (academic excellence and learning, social and emotional development, social justice and equity) in ways that are developmentally appropriate. Our program provides a rich foundation for future schooling, while emphasizing the importance of learning through play. Children of this age often begin to see themselves as learners, coming to school full of purpose and intention. Teachers work to respond to each child, observing and inquiring to adapt a program that will be responsive to the child’s innate curiosity while assuring they have the foundational skills to support their success in kindergarten. This includes social and emotional learning, as well as academic growth. In prekindergarten, learning opportunities are provided in community contexts, including small group instruction. This helps children learn from one another and apply their knowledge to a variety of scenarios.

Prekindergarten Curriculum

Literacy

Prekindergarten students explore the question, “what do readers and writers do?”

Phonemic awareness, sound play, rhyming, word families
What languages are spoken in your family, what writing is displayed in your family? Considering a variety of languages and alphabets.
How does your family use reading and writing at home?
Writing words that have to do with their names for family members. Add Phonics lessons associated with family members’ names (titles).
The sounds of language
Reading and writing
Some stories are made up and some are true
Characters grow and change, we grow; we change

Math

Prekindergarten mathematicians eagerly make connections between new knowledge they are gaining and math in the world around them. Mathematical ideas are presented in real world contexts with students quickly understanding why math matters. Children deepen their connection with the number system, as well as geometric constructs and early algebraic thinking through hands-on play experiences. Whether building a block town, organizing animals in a pet shop, or counting out crackers at snack time, prekindergarten students are learning to:

Counting to five and ten
Shapes
Length, weight, capacity, and numerals to five
Addition and subtraction stories and counting to 20

Specialists

PE

Prekindergarten students continue to develop their locomotor skills and are also introduced to more manipulative skills-building activities focusing on rolling, throwing, kicking, and striking.

Music

Pre-K students use rhythm instruments, bodies, voices, and imaginations to practice steady beat, using a light high singing voice, and playing games and instruments as part of a group.

Library

Prekindergarten students will participate in Read Alouds, songs related to behavior in the library and have time to explore books on their own or with peers.

Spanish

While playing games and singing songs in Spanish, students learn basic vocabulary including colors, numbers, feelings, and parts of the body.

Social Emotional Learning

Giddens pulls from several research-based SEL resources, including Zones of Regulation, Restorative Justice Circles, Second Step, Positive Discipline, and Responsive Classroom in our SEL curriculum:

Skills for learning routines
School skills (what does it mean to be in a learning community?)
What do students do? (connecting to self and others) what is a family, family diversity in the world, diverse family structures
Why are families important, what do we need from our family, How do families change, grow, shrink? What are the roles we fulfill in a family?
Empathy
Emotion management
Friendship skills and problem-solving
Transitioning to kindergarten