Curriculum Nite

by

L. Sue Wright

Welcome to Mt. Vernon Elementary, and especially, to Mt. Vernon Kindergarten! We're excited about the new school year, and happy to have you here. We hope you'll enjoy the presentation, and find the information useful and relevant. If you have questions, please save them till the end.

At Mt. Vernon, we strive to maintain a "balanced"curriculum, educating the "total" child. All instruction is meant to facilitate that aim. You may be familiar with our reading program, Reading Mastery. It is a structured phonetic approach enabling children to decode and develop early reading skills. We have had great success in using it. Your child is receiving instruction in a small group, based on ability to recognize and say letter sounds, and blend those sounds together.

Our writing program is newly revised. After careful study, we added more creative writing to the entire literary experience. What will that look like? We will work to hold our pencil the best way, and practice forming D'Nealian letters, those with tails, as we recognize and write our first names. Singing songs and chanting rhymes, we will have fun with language, as well as listening and responding to read aloud stories. Each week your child will bring home a book of poems for "magical mystery reading." Please listen and enjoy these with your child.

We hope to "write" each and every day. Some children may be ready to write with letters, whereas others may need a lot of encouragement to draw even a picture, or dictate to a scribing adult. Each child's written work will be saved in a personal writing portfolio. We want you, and your child, to see the changes in his writing.

How can you help your child? When purposeful writing opportunities come up at home, make your child aware of the process. An example might be a necessary trip to the grocery store. How will you remember everything you need? Talk with your child about the usefulness of making a list, and how you might do so. A thank you note to a friend or relative is another example of writing for a purpose. Even though you may do all the writing at this point, the process of talking through the entire procedure, from the letters you write to make words, to the addressing of the envelope, is helpful. You can be as detailed as your child's interest allows. These types of experiences can greatly benefit your child's understanding.

We mentioned earlier that we would be listening to a great many books. Please continue to read aloud to your child at home, or, consider establishing the habit now. It's a wonderful chance to share time with your child, and also helps greatly in learning how to read and write.  Encourage discussion about the books, i.e. the story, characters, pictures, the rhyming words. Conversing also enhances your child's literary development. When engaged in conversation, direct eye contact should be the rule. It is so often the little things that we do and say everyday that makes such a difference.

We hope to provide your child with a well-rounded education in a safe and comfortable environment. From the moment he/she walks in the door "dressed for success," in proper uniform, our goal is to develop respectful, responsible, and safe individuals trying to do their best.  We want to work in partnership with you, the parent. We value your support and look forward to the year ahead.

Mt. Vernon Kindergarten Staff