Children and the Curriculum: The Kindergarten
Program
If we have
cultivated the art
of play
early in
our
lives, we
are likely
to hold
onto our
self-initiating
behaviours,
our capacity
for risk
taking,
our inventiveness
as adults.
Reprinted by permission of the publisher from Wasserman, S., SERIOUS
PLAYERS IN THE PRIMARY CLASSROOM, (New York: Teachers College Press,
(c) 1990 by Teachers College, Columbia University, All rights reserved.
), pp. 19.
Context for Learning
A Kindergarten student well prepared for Grade 1, can:
- make fine visual discriminations, scanning and categorizing new
materials or symbols
- locate objects and events in time and space
- talk comfortably with adults and use language for learning
- use examples as a way of learning new concepts and ask
questions to gather new information
- initiate and attend to tasks with concentration, resist
distractions, focus on appropriate details, and persist until a
task is completed.
The needs and interests of the children serve as the focal point
around which daily and weekly activities are planned. However, as
teachers design experiences and activities to meet the
developmental needs of children, they should also provide
opportunities for children to acquire the knowledge, processes,
skills, abilities and values which constitute the foundation for
learning in each Required Area of Study. Elementary level
curricula for each Required Area of Study are additional resources
for Kindergarten teachers. Teachers' planning should result in a
challenging "match" between children's needs and abilities and the
foundational objectives to be achieved. Within a carefully
designed environment the teacher plans learning experiences that
will enable children to accomplish Kindergarten program
objectives.
As illustrated in the diagram below, the Kindergarten program
advocates development of the whole child--socio-emotionally,
physically and intellectually.
The following pages outline foundational and specific objectives
for socio-emotional, physical and intellectual development. In
addition, it is important that Kindergarten students participate in
developmentally appropriate activities designed to achieve the
foundational objectives related to the Required Areas of Study and
the Common Essential Learnings .
