Kindergarten
Wornick's program is designed to inspire young children and foster their natural love of learning. We provide a curriculum comprised of developmentally appropriate experiences that are stimulating and thought provoking. Our goal is to create an environment where all students feel safe allowing the most powerful, resonant and enduring learning to take place.
GROWTH AND CHANGE
How do we parallel the patterns of nature as we grow and change?
Our thematic units all speak to the subjects of growth and change. As kindergartners become immersed in a theme, they are able to approach and synthesize many disciplines: science, math, writing, and reading through hands-on experiences such as art, music, drama, literature, cooking and gardening while still only focusing on “one” thing. This way, the children learn about life as it is: rich, complex, interconnected and multi-faceted. Our focus within each of the themes is informed by one or two essential questions which lead to an enduring understanding which we hope each child will take away from each unit. Examples of these for our fall thematic units are given below.
Specific academic skills are addressed within the context of each theme
Reading
Development of reading skills takes place every day. The foundation of this work is the SIPPS reading program which puts equal emphasis on sight-words, phonics, and phonemic awareness. Many games and activities from the Words Their Way program also help provide practice in phonemic awareness and word patterning.
Writing
Each theme will be filled with opportunities to practice writing - we begin the year teaching letter formation with the Handwriting without Tears program and progress to “best guess” spelling. Meanwhile, through journal entries and other dictated writing activities, we will practice creative writing and examine other uses for written expression.
Mathematics
We begin with patterns, a subject which interconnects easily with life-cycles and other patterns in nature. Through the use of manipulatives, we will explore graphing, odds and evens, measurement, geometry, skip counting, number concepts including simple addition and subtraction and an introduction to money.
Science
We begin with observation, discovery and inquiry. Many of our themes are science-based and will give way to a natural tendency for children to wonder, inquire and investigate through hands-on activities designed to teach and practice the scientific process.
Hebrew
Research demonstrates that learning a second language at an early stage is beneficial for many aspects of learning and for the ability to analyze and utilize one’s own language to in a more enhanced manner. The joy of learning and speaking another language begins with the first day of Hebrew class.
At Wornick, we begin our study of a second language in kindergarten. Students begin with oral comprehension and spoken language. Within the Hebrew class, we take the immersion approach that is Ivrit b”Ivrit, that is we only speak Hebrew during this time. Typical units comprise vocabulary about the classroom, common directions, family relationships, numbers, greetings, animals, colors, and weather.
Students are encouraged to converse in Hebrew and are taught core vocabulary. Students learn the alephbet (alphabet) and instruction is primarily oral and through basic introduction to the language. By the end of the year, the students can write their names and follow simple classroom directions in Hebrew.
Art projects, music, games and kinesthetic activities are a means of reinforcing the Hebrew language program. We use Chalav U’Dvash (Milk and Honey) that was created in Israel by the Jewish Agency.
Judaic Studies
Kindergartners experience the warmth and the beauty of the Jewish community. They learn about the holiday cycle, including in depth units about Shabbat. The children celebrate Shabbat each Friday with challot, grape juice and song. Methodology for teaching Judaic Studies includes games, artwork, songs and stories. A core of our school program is an education based on values and ethics. We begin in kindergarten by expressing gratitude for the world we live in. The students recite brachot (blessings) over food and for the various holidays including Shabbat.
Stories from the Bible are read and introduced. Themes that are presented include creation of the world, welcoming strangers, journeys, families, and peace among people.
In morning Tefillah, we sing and learn many prayers. We build a strong understanding of the traditions that we follow. Students share their own practices, connections and growing idea with one another.
