As your child transitions from preschool to kindergarten,
they will experience many changes in the classroom. One of the biggest changes
is a full day of learning and more structured learning. When your child attends
a kindergarten program, a school will follow several academic guidelines.
In the state of Indiana, the board of education and other
leaders have developed academic standards that apply to kindergarten children.
Classrooms that follow these standards allow a child to thrive and prosper.
Learn about the standards and ways to help your child grow through their early
school years.
Standard Subjects
A kindergarten classroom may not follow the rigorous
schedule and set times of other grades, but classrooms will still focus on
specific subjects as laid out by the Indiana Kindergarten Academic Standards.
The subjects include English, math, social studies, and science. Additional
subjects include health science.
Each subject offers a broad overview of the topics. Unlike
higher grades where specific topics are needed, kindergarten classrooms have
flexibility to introduce concepts and ideas. Children will not have to complete
standardized tests to get through the learning process.
Each group of standards is broken down into different
levels. Each student will follow their own path and timeline to reach specific
levels and goals.
Reading Goals
Reading builds the foundation for every other subject. Once
a child begins to read, they can explore more topics on their own and expand
their vocabulary. The Indiana standards for kindergarten students put a lot of
emphasis on students. The basic concepts include early reading elements.
For example, classrooms that follow the state's standards
will teach a child how to read from left to right on the page. A child will
understand the basic concept of words and the function of a sentence. One of
the earliest goals is to master both uppercase and lowercase letters of the
alphabet. By the time a child is finished with kindergarten, they should
recognize every letter.
The reading element also includes verbal learning. Children
will learn how to sound out words and use the concept of rhyming to help their
word development. Along with the classroom, children can expand their knowledge
with reading at home and daily reading routines.
Math Goals
The state-wide math standards offer achievable goals that
set a foundation for a child to learn and thrive in math. A core part of a math
curriculum will focus on number recognition. Children will learn how to count
from 1 to 100 through their learning. The counting process is mainly verbal at
first.
On paper, students will learn how to write up to the number
20 and learn how to fully out write out numbers as words. For example, a child
will learn how to write 5
and five. Of course, the set goals are
just basic guidelines, and students who excel can move beyond the typical
standards.
Math standards expand to include counting objects and basic
addition and subtraction skills up to the number 10.
Social Studies Goals
The social studies standards include a basic introduction to
the government and an overall look at families, heritages, and the way people
live. Most learning through social studies is done through books and stories
that can visually showcase different lifestyles.
Science Goals
The science standards in Indiana offers a hands-on approach.
Children can learn science basics through outdoor activities and exploration.
Children will learn how to identify objects and various materials like stones
and metals. Space science may focus on the Earth, sun, and early concepts of
our solar system.
Life science goals include learning about basic plants and
animals. Classrooms may focus on the goals through various themes. For example,
a theme on bats could discuss the various species, the places bats live, and
the vegetation bats like to eat.
When your child attends
Riviera Daycare & Preschool, the
classroom will immerse them into the learning goals and structure set forward
by the state. By the end of the school year, your child can often excel and
have an educational foundation ideal for first grade and beyond. Call today.
