KG 1

The first year of Kindergarten serves as an introduction for your child into the world of education. A space where they can explore and learn at their own pace.

Phonics

Serving as an introduction to the language, your child will be learning how to produce the sounds of each letter.
This is essential at an early age to improve their ability to read and write more easily in the future.
We utilize a program called Jolly Phonics, which takes a practical and hands-on approach using songs (nursery rhymes and fingerplay) and games they participate in to make the experience more enjoyable.
They will also be assessed based on observation and work samples that will assist in maintaining their progress.

Reading

We strive to improve our students reading and comprehension skills. We do so by creating a print-rich environment, in which they can interact with many forms of print (posters, diagrams, pictures with descriptions, etc.).
Such an environment is essential in providing as many opportunities as possible for your child to garner interest in words and their related meanings or images.
They will also improve their reading skills by learning how to retell familiar stories, answer questions through basic comprehension tasks, draw pictures about what they read, and even possibly their own writing of words or phrases that relate to the content provided.

Writing

Creating a foundation for writing, they will learn how to hold writing (pens and pencils) and drawing (crayons, markers, brushes) instruments and use them properly.
They will also be introduced to letters, focusing on mastering their shapes and sizes.

This will all prepare them for word and sentence formation in the second year of Kindergarten.

Mathematics

In the first year of Kindergarten, students will be introduced to the numbers 0-10, learning how to count objects and assess whether a number is greater than or less than another.
They will do this using simple techniques such as number lines, tens frames, and tally marks.
They will also be taught basic geometry, learning to recognize the four main shapes; triangles, rectangles, circles, and squares.

In these classes, students shall be introduced to basic social and science-based concepts.

In terms of social studies:

Students will be learning about concepts such as:

Right and wrong
How to express emotions
Family structure
Places they visit

In science class:

The focus will be on:

Observing natural patterns
Understanding more about their bodies
Temperature and weather
The time of day
How things are built
Healthy vs unhealthy
How things grow
Buoyancy (floating and sinking)
Different animals and the products we get from them

The program is a simple introduction to the world both socially and scientifically.

Fine Motor Skills

Utilizing hands-on learning does not only help them master their fine motor skills
(hand-eye coordination) but also serves as a way to capture their attention. This is done by introducing them to arts and crafts, and other educational activities that involve them physically using their hands. This creates a more immersive experience where they can both improve their ability to use their hands and assigned tools (scissors, colors, glue, and so on), gaining knowledge along the way.

Arabic

Students will start off their introduction to Arabic through storytelling and other activities. They will mainly focus on identifying a set amount of letters and numbers from then on. This will serve as preparation for the year after, where they will shift more towards reading and writing.

French and German

These classes will focus on introducing a foreign language to students through relatable topics such as; greetings, numbers, colors, different food, parts of the body, animals, family members, and more.

Special Subjects provide your children with a more comprehensive base of education. They will also participate in the following classes:

Physical Education

We hope to instill enjoyment of physical activity, as well as an understanding of the importance of maintaining physical fitness through various activities that are mostly fun but also present them with a slight challenge.

Library

Reading is of much importance to your child’s development and future comprehension abilities. Library classes provide KG students with an allocated time where reading is their sole focus. In this first year of school, they will be learning mostly through storytelling, creating interest in different books and related topics.

Art

Utilizing the “Learning to look and create” program by Kay Alexander, students will be introduced to basic artistic expression. They will do so using simple tools and undertaking formative tasks such as; drawing lines and shapes, coloring, painting, and more.

Music

In this class, students will be introduced to the beginnings of musical theory, the use of instruments, singing, and ultimately practicing for and executing a performance.

We would also like to highlight a couple of concepts we focus on to make your child’s experience more enjoyable and beneficial:

Social and Emotional Development – Seeking to guide students onto a path towards becoming considerate and helpful individuals, our teachers help them learn how to communicate healthily. Behavioral choices are explained to them as green(go) and red(stop), this places the emphasis on giving students opportunities to self-correct and change their behavior. It is important for them to grasp the idea of communicating positively about how they feel rather than reacting in a negative fashion as it will assist in their further development.

Creativity and Hands-On Learning – We believe in encouraging students to think about what they learn and apply it in different ways that might relate to them more. Whether that is through arts and crafts, songs that incorporate the lesson or just utilizing their powerful imaginations. The more interesting and relatable the information they are being taught about is, the more likely it is that they will retain it.