Learn More About Kindergarten
Children who feel known and cared for feel safe to take academic risks and to let their curiosity take flight. Kindergarten should be the place where children develop a lifelong love of learning.
"The culture of our Kindergarten classrooms reflects the mission of Canterbury to develop the whole child. We use hands-on educational opportunities and have a focus on social-emotional learning. In Kindergarten, learning how to read is just as important as learning about your feelings and how to cope with those feelings. We believe each child is unique, but all children deserve a nurturing environment where they are safe to make mistakes and encouraged to try again," notes Kindergarten teacher Lacy Castellano.
Lessons are developmentally designed – for example, research-based math and writing instruction created by an occupational therapist. Kindergarten-age children also need plenty of play, movement, and creative exploration, so Canterbury kindergarteners don’t sit at their desks for more than about 10 minutes at a time. Academic time is interspersed with moving, yoga, and stretching, plus two recesses each day. Several times a week, kindergarteners also have time in the library and Spanish, art, music, PE, and spiritual development classes with specialized teachers.
Canterbury kindergarteners are encouraged to do a lot of wondering. For example, the teacher may read a book but stop before the last page and encourage the children to think and talk about what might happen next.
Kindergarten teacher, Shannon Dupree, also notes, "We meet the children where they are. We recognize that children learn at different rates and in different ways. We celebrate those differences and find great joy in seeing each child grow throughout the year. Each day is enhanced by a variety of experiences. Children are able to learn through small group and whole group activities in the classroom, combined with free choice activities and specials. Our lessons are designed to spark curiosity and encourage conversation while deepening students' understanding of the topic."
Parents often want to know how they can help a child get ready for kindergarten. Canterbury teachers suggest these activities the summer before:
- Help foster independence by giving children small chores
- Buy a lunchbox and practice unpacking and setting up lunch, then packing it back up
- Let children practice opening applesauce, yogurt, and other food packages
- Work on hand strength (to prepare for writing with a pencil) by letting children play with kitchen tongs, tweezers, droppers, clay, sand, and Legos
- To lay the groundwork for reading, read rhyming books to your child
- Encourage outside play to develop strength and coordination