Around the World
Around The World takes children on a journey around the world throughout the year. We “visit” countries such as Iceland, Japan, and Africa; just to name a few. During each of our “trips”, we learn about customs, foods, climate, and interesting places to visit. Since we will be “traveling” around the world, children will make their own passports, postcards after each trip, and a scrapbook memorializing their yearlong journey. Because the world is at our fingertips with the Internet and wonderful books, this journey comes alive and is completed without leaving our classroom.
While we are exploring the world, Science and Math is at the center of our curriculum. We believe in focusing on these subjects because children learn the two most important skills they will need and use for the rest of their lives: critical thinking and problem solving. The best part is that children are learning these skills without even knowing it and during the course of a normal school day! We will do Science three days a week.
Around The World also places an emphasis on the Literacy component: Reading, Writing, and Talking/Listening.
Finally, we believe in hands-on learning! As such, the majority of worksheets are generated by children and their learning goes to a whole new level. Because it is their work, there is a certain sense of pride and a greater understanding of the concepts we want them to learn.
If you're looking for a Kindergarten that gives our child a solid foundation and lifelong memories of the first year in school, please join us on our travels Around The World.
About The Teacher
Ernie Batson, M.A. is a licensed teacher in Colorado and has over 25 years of experience teaching Kindergarten, First Grade, and in a one room schoolhouse. He earned his Undergraduate Degree from Illinois State University in Elementary Education and a Masters' Degree from the University of Northern Colorado in Early Childhood and Special Education. Ernie has been recognized by the Colorado Department of Education for exemplary program development. Along with his teaching, Ernie is a national speaker and author. For more information about Ernie, please visit the About Us page in this website.
By the end of Kindergarten, children will know the following:
Math
Reading
While we are exploring the world, Science and Math is at the center of our curriculum. We believe in focusing on these subjects because children learn the two most important skills they will need and use for the rest of their lives: critical thinking and problem solving. The best part is that children are learning these skills without even knowing it and during the course of a normal school day! We will do Science three days a week.
Around The World also places an emphasis on the Literacy component: Reading, Writing, and Talking/Listening.
- Our Reading program is very phonetic and allows children to excel at their own level. We use a combination of skills practice, games and age appropriate readers to prepare children to read. Every effort is made to get children reading by the end of Kindergarten and we also realize there is a developmental piece that is unique to each child. If a child is not reading by the end of Kindergarten, they will have the basics and reading will soon begin.
- Our writing program consists of stories written by individual children and those written collectively by the class. We use the D’Nealian style of handwriting because it emphasizes neatness and the transition to cursive is much easier.
- The Talking/Listening component of Literacy comes through during Show and Tell, sharing stories children have written, the Science we do,and the conversations we have during class.
Finally, we believe in hands-on learning! As such, the majority of worksheets are generated by children and their learning goes to a whole new level. Because it is their work, there is a certain sense of pride and a greater understanding of the concepts we want them to learn.
If you're looking for a Kindergarten that gives our child a solid foundation and lifelong memories of the first year in school, please join us on our travels Around The World.
About The Teacher
Ernie Batson, M.A. is a licensed teacher in Colorado and has over 25 years of experience teaching Kindergarten, First Grade, and in a one room schoolhouse. He earned his Undergraduate Degree from Illinois State University in Elementary Education and a Masters' Degree from the University of Northern Colorado in Early Childhood and Special Education. Ernie has been recognized by the Colorado Department of Education for exemplary program development. Along with his teaching, Ernie is a national speaker and author. For more information about Ernie, please visit the About Us page in this website.
By the end of Kindergarten, children will know the following:
Math
- Write 1-30
- Count 1-30 both by rote and one-to-one correspondence
- Greater than/less than and =
- Write, solve and understand simple Math Sentences
- Create and replicate patterns using a variety of objects
- Recognize/identify circle, square, triangle, rectangle, hexagon, trapezoid
- Tell time to the hour and ½ hour
- Sorting objects according to sets of rules
- Measuring using inches, liters, feet
- Calculator use to solve simple math problems
- Group by 10’s
- Understand fractions ½, 1/3, ¼
Reading
- Read simple sight words according to child’s development
- Use phonics skills to decode words
- Use contextual clues to define words
- Read with expression
- Know the sounds of each consonant and the short vowel sound
- Identify consonants and vowels
- Identify letters, words, sentences
- Identify statement vs. question
- Write ABC’s; both capital and lower case using D’Nealian method
- Write, illustrate, and read a self written story
- Write for recreation, factual, and fiction
- Look people in the eye when talking
- Speak in complete sentences
- Usage of correct speech
- Speaking loudly and clearly
- Recognize that people around the world have similarities and differences
- Know that there are continents
- Learn about customs, foods, art of people around the world
- Identify flags of different countries
- Locate countries on the map
- Appropriate usage of materials
- Ask questions and make predictions
- Record their discoveries
- Identify where they see Science in the real world
- Use deductive reasoning to solve problems
- Identify places to go and resources to get for research of topic