Curriculum Guides & Resource Book
Kindergarten

The Christina School District Kindergarten English Language Arts Curriculum was developed by a core group of district kindergarten teachers.  The foundation of the curriculum is six critical areas: 

1. Teacher Read Aloud
   Every day the teacher reads rich literature that compliments the theme.
   
   The purpose of the Teacher Read Aloud is to:

   • Build interest and motivation for reading and learning to read

   • Introduce the concepts of

     • Title

     • Author

     • Illustrator

     • Title Page

     • Dedication page

   • Develop a sense of story

     • Character

     • Setting

     • Problem/solution

     • Sequence

   • Develop and extend listening/reading comprehension

     • Retelling

     • Predicting

     • Cause and effect

     • Compare and contrast

   • Distinguishing

     • Fact/fantasy

     • Real/make-believe

     • Fiction/non-fiction

   • Build language and background knowledge
      

2. Shared Reading
   The goal of shared reading is to communicate to children the concept that print is the reliable conveyor of the text's message.  These books are used primarily to give children experience with print and to build their confidence in being able to read.
   
   The purpose of Shared Reading is to:

   • Build familiarity with print

     • Letter names

     • Letter sounds

     • Concepts of print

   • Build phonological awareness

     • Rhyme

     • Beginning/medical/ending sounds

   • Teach beginning reading skills

     • Phonics

     • High frequency words

     • Strategies

   • Provide an interesting and motivating reading experience

   • Develop comprehension strategies

   • Allow each child to experience success reading
      

3. Independent Reading
   
   Every day children should spend 5-10 minutes reading independently.  A wide variety of materials including teacher read aloud books, class-made books, magazines, and shared reading books that have been read aloud by the teacher should be available for the students to read.  The teacher should be rotating among the students and conferencing.

   The purpose of Independent Reading is to:

   • Develop in students a self concept as readers

   • Build motivation for reading

   • Establish the habit of reading in school

   • Allow practice of book handling skills

   • Encourage beginning reading
      

4. Shared Writing
   During shared writing the teacher is in charge of the pen and is modeling conventional writing.  The teacher acts as a recorder of the children's ideas.  It is important for the teacher to think aloud while writing so the students can understand the process.  Shared writing activities include:

   • Daily message

   • Labeling

   • Chart stories

   • Lists

   The purpose of Shared Writing is to demonstrate:

   • Writers communicate ideas and thought on paper

   • Thought processes occur as you write

   • Writers use strategies

   • Writing can be changed

   • Writers need to understand the concepts of print

   • Strategies help determine correct spelling
      

5. Independent Writing
   Time should be included in the kindergarten routine to allow all children to write daily or at least several times a week.  Initially, they may not have the necessary letter formation and spelling skills to write in a conventional sense.  Drawing and scribbling are forms of writing that are developmentally appropriate.  Students will progress through several developmental stages before they are able to write in a conventional sense.  Writers' Workshops is used to incorporate independent writing into the daily routine.  A brief lesson on a writing procedure or skill is introduced to the students during a mini lesson.  This is followed by an independent writing time during which the teacher circulates to gives students encouragement or help as needed.  Follow the independent writing session, there is a time for students to share their work.

   The purpose of independent writing is to:

   • Develop a concept of writing as a form of communication

   • Build the self concept of being a writer

   • Reinforce and extend concepts of print

   • Reinforce letter formation

   • Encourage the application of phonic skills to phonetic spelling
      

6. Language Activities
   Children need to develop an understanding of the language and how it works.  They need to to able to play with it and manipulate it as they learn to read and write.  Therefore, a time for such activities should be provided in the daily routine.

   These activities should include work with:

   • Letter recognition

   • Listening

   • Rhyming

   • Syllabication

   • Initial/final sounds

   • Blending and segmenting sounds in words

   • Adding, deleting, and substituting sounds

In order to implement a successful reading program in kindergarten, these six critical areas should be woven into the daily schedule, in a seamless fashion, complimenting and building upon each other.