In Baldwin’s kindergarten program, girls begin to learn in groups in a warm, supportive and non-competitive atmosphere. Each girl is encouraged to be creative and to grow individually in all areas of her development. She is viewed as an individual with her own strengths and weaknesses, her own personality and interests and her own learning style. The goals are to develop a love of learning, an appreciation of oneself, the confidence to take risks, and a caring for others. A typical kindergarten day includes instruction in math, language arts, social studies, recreational recess and a period of free choice during which a girl may choose from a variety of activities to develop her large and fine motor skills. Board games, dress-up, puzzles, block building, tangrams, geo-boards, painting as well as plant care are among the free choice activities available to the young student. Time is set aside for quiet rest and reflection during the school day.
Language Arts: The language arts program utilizes a variety of approaches to introduce reading and literacy skills to the kindergartner. These include systematic instruction in phonics, building a basic sight vocabulary, whole language strategies, incorporation of big books, trade books, and leveled readers. Students receive whole class, small group, and individual instruction according to their needs. The kindergarten teachers along with the lower school language arts specialist, the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit reading teacher and the lower school resource teachers, provide flexible small group instruction for all the girls. Activities and literature from several language arts series are integral to the program. Poetry, storytelling, dramatic play, games, films, opportunities to create their own books, and use of a quiet reading area, all enhance the program. A highlight of the language arts program is journal writing, a practice that continues throughout a girl’s education at Baldwin. The girls are encouraged to draw and use inventive spelling. As girls become more knowledgeable about letter sounds and phonics rules their spelling of words becomes more conventional. Handwriting sessions teach the students how to form all letters and numbers properly, and students are encouraged to use their own inventive methods of spelling. The Wilson Fundations approach to letter formation , letter sound associations, and spelling is incorporated in the curriculum. It is an exciting moment when a young girl writes her first imaginative story or her first account of an experience.
Mathematics: A math specialist works with all LS teachers in developing and supporting the mathematics program. Students gain exposure to numeration and place value, counting (forward, backward, and skip counting), ordinal numbers, comparisons, estimation, patterns, shapes, attributes, time, money, measurement, data collection and graphing, equivalence, equal sharing, elementary addition and subtraction, and number stories. Math activities use many manipulative materials (counters, blocks, rods, cubes, money), tools (rulers and yard sticks, templates, thermometers, clocks, calculators), and games. Students learn mathematical concepts by using manipulative materials such as counters, blocks, Cuisenaire rods, flannel boards, games, money, measuring rods, and calculators. Computers are used for logic games and skill reinforcement.
Social Studies: Social studies revolve around the seasons, holidays, current events, world cultures and other timely themes. The thematic approach to curriculum enables students to see how the different subject areas connect to each other. The girls have early exposure to different languages via classroom units of study in literature, social studies, visual arts, and music. These units incorporate greetings, songs and vocabulary from a variety of nations, many of them represented by the diverse families of our school. Kindergarten girls study Japan and are introduced to basic Japanese songs and phrases. A unit on famous artists culminates in a Kindergarten Art Show, during which the girls become "docents" and share their art work and their knowledge of the artists with their parents.
Field trips relate to the curriculum and provide the students with an opportunity to see and experience many aspects of their community. Baldwin’s Specialists in School (SIS) Team come into the classroom at various times throughout the year to work with the girls on developing life skills. Self-discipline, good judgment, responsibility, and getting along with others, are discussed, role-played, and reinforced during these sessions. Classroom routines and expectations, as well as participation in the larger community of the school, help girls build good citizenship skills. Baldwin's core values of Learning, Respect, Responsibility, Honesty and Compassion are the cornerstone of our life skills curriculum.
Science: “Everything changes” is a cornerstone of kindergarten science. Students explore their immediate natural and physical world practicing their observation, classification, and communication skills through hands-on activities and manipulatives. The properties of matter, plant and organism life cycles, sequences in changes, and the nature of forces are investigated by students. Some kindergarten topics are: air, water, lunar cycles, shadows, and insect metamorphosis.
Foreign Languages: Early language experiences are integrated into Baldwin’s rich and vibrant Social Studies curriculum; hence, homeroom teachers work together with our foreign language teachers to implement age appropriate activities. In the fall kindergarten students meet weekly with the French teacher and with the Mandarin teacher during the winter. The goal is to help our young students develop an ear for languages and foster an appreciation for multiple cultures, through age appropriate, diverse exposure.
View a French lesson on Baldwin's YouTube Channel.
Art: In the art room, kindergarteners are introduced to a wide variety of age-appropriate materials and techniques with an emphasis on working creatively. An appreciation of arts from different cultures and eras is introduced and interwoven throughout many projects. Some projects are inspired by the work the students are doing in Social Studies and Science, often combined with a new skill or use of a new material. The students explore the arts of the Far East and create works of art inspired by the artists in those regions. As a group, the Kindergartners design and paint murals on a large scale, strengthening their cooperative learning skills and collaboration of ideas.
Music: Children learn melodic and rhythmic skills through singing and clapping exercises, playing instruments, simple dance, games, and creative activities. Echo singing, matching pitches to other voices, and playing instruments are part of the music program. The girls learn to feel, read, and write steady beat patterns. Movement and group activities are age appropriate. Students work cooperatively in various musical performances throughout the year.
Physical Education: Activities that the girls participate in include the development of basic movement concepts, motor skills, manipulation of objects, cooperative games, individual exploration, guided discover, and creative problem solving. Specific motor patterns for throwing, catching and kicking are taught. Weekly swimming lessons are incorporated into the program at this level. Students learn water comfort, water safety and a basic freestyle stroke.
Parent Participation: Parents are encouraged to volunteer in kindergarten. They may help the girls prepare a craft relating to the phonics “lettr of the week” or the thematic study. On swimming days in the fall, kindergarten mothers volunteer on a rotating basis to assist the girls in getting changed before and after swim classes at the pool. Holiday celebrations, the annual making of gingerbread houses and a Japanese Luncheon are also times when parent volunteers are appreciated. Parents are welcomed to come share their interests, read stories and participate in a variety of other activities.