The Meadows School

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Beginning School Curriculum

Three-Year-Old Program

Language Arts

Reading

Introduction to letters and sounds–multi-sensory approach
Literature appreciation–teacher introduction of reading materials
Vocabulary expansion
Development of listening skills

English/Speech

Development of listening skills
Introduction to nursery rhymes, poetry, finger plays
Vocabulary expansion
Encouragement of good speech habits
Encouragement of using complete sentences
Introduction to speaking before a group–programs, show and tell, etc.

Writing

Introduction to writing instruments–correct grip
Air writing to integrate formation, sound of letters
Development of letter formation using finger, hand control
Introduction to writing of first names
Introduction of straight and curved lines using a crayon

Library

Introduction to care of books
Introduction to front/back of books
Introduction to turning pages
Introduction to left-to-right orientation of print
Introduction of illustrations as reading cues
Literature appreciation–listening to teacher read books and stories
Development of listening skills

Mathematics

Counting to 50
Classification, sorting
Identification of basic shapes
One-to-one correspondence to ten
Recognizing and creating patterns
Number relationships–comparing
Math manipulatives
Reading numbers to 20
Introduction to the calendar–days of the week, months
Introduction to graphing
Measurement–length, weight using non-standard units of measurement
Directional concepts
Numeration–order and sequence
Size–small, medium, large

Science

Social Studies

Physical Education and Health

Music

Art

Spanish

Four-Year-Old Program

Language Arts

Reading

Identification and blending of letters and sounds
Formal reading according to readiness and ability
Comprehension
Phonetic introduction to reading using multi-sensory approach
- Initial, ending sounds
- Rhyming sounds and words
- Word families
- Sight words
- Short and long vowels
- Literature enrichment

Writing

Introduction to writing of first and last names
Introduction to letter formation with a pencil, with and without a grip
Air writing to integrate formation and sound of letters
Writing simple sentences–statements, questions, exclamations
Introduction to basic punctuation–period, question mark, exclamation mark
Writing numbers

English/Speech

Acting out rhymes and stories
Vocabulary expansion
Memorization of simple verse
- Nursery rhymes, poetry, finger plays
Development of communication skills and good speech habits
Continued development of public speaking skills–programs, show and tell, etc.

Library

Development of book skills
Development of left-to-right orientation of print
Awareness of author, illustrator
Continued reinforcement of illustrations as reading cues
Literature appreciation–listening to teacher read books, stories, poetry
Development of listening skills

Mathematics

Counting to 100 by ones, fives, and tens
Classification and sorting
One-to-one correspondence to 20
Patterning and sequencing
Math manipulatives–geo-boards, pattern blocks, etc.
Number relationships–comparisons
Introduction to problem solving
Reading numbers to 100
Continued calendar work–days, weeks, months, seasons
Introduction to money–pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters

Measurement–length, width, height
Introduction to deductive reasoning
Basic addition, subtraction
Tangrams
Attribute blocks
Time to hour/half hour
Continued graphing skills
Continued color and shape recognition–geometric shapes
Using a recipe
Writing numbers to 30

Science

Gardening–planting seeds, bulbs, plants
Parts of plants, trees, flowers
The four seasons
The five senses
Development of awareness of the characteristics of:

Animals
Reptiles
Birds
Insects

Animal habits and animal families
The desert
Introduction to the human body
Science experiments as appropriate with topics listed
Basic introduction to maps, globes
Introduction to research
Magnet exploration

Social Studies

Physical Education and Health

Music

Art

Spanish

Young-Five-Year-Old Program
The Young-Five curriculum includes all of the regular four-year-old areas in addition to the following

Language Arts

Mathematics

Science

Social Studies

Physical Education and Health

Music

Art

Spanish