Students attend school between the hours of 7:30 am. and 12:45 pm. Each period is 30 minutes in length, with a total of 9 periods per day

Students are encouraged to attend school daily. In the event of an excused absence, students are expected to return to school with verifiable documentation.

INSTRUCTIONAL CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

In the Kindergarten department, core subjects are taught by the home-based teacher following thematic units. Thematic Learning is a 21st Century instructional method of teaching which integrates a range of subjects together in order to link student learning across the subjects for a greater depth of understanding. Students receive learning through all areas of development: intellectual, language, physical, and social emotional within an appropriate early childhood environment. This integrated curriculum focuses on all areas such as literacy, numeracy, science, social studies and the arts.

In addition, time is set daily for learning through play. Children learn to express themselves through play either by themselves, or as a means of interaction with teachers, other children or adults. Play can improve and build their language skills so that they can communicate and listen effectively.

In Kindergarten we incorporate structure and positive routines to help students develop school behaviors that support a positive learning environment. School behaviors include working with others in small groups, listening as another is speaking, making choices, taking turns, problem-solving and building peer relationships.

Students learn in different ways. Some are visual learners, some auditory, and some kinesthetic learners. The approach in KG meets the students' individual learning needs and styles.

ELA COURSE OVERVIEW

The ELA curriculum in KG1 follows the Pennsylvania State progression of standards and the Common Core State Standards in KG2. Students receive structured lessons on readiness skills through emphasis on phonics, language skills, literature, and handwriting to help develop comprehension, build vocabulary, and promote a lifelong interest in reading. The foundational standards are directed toward fostering students’ understanding and working knowledge of concepts of print, the alphabetic principle, and other basic conventions of the English writing system. Students gain a firm foundation of the letter sounds and shapes. They learn uppercase letters and letter names, and how to apply them to text. Students learn how to blend sounds, and spell high frequency words in order to develop a mastery in speaking, listening and writing.

MATH COURSE OVERVIEW

The Math curriculum in KG1 follows the Pennsylvania State progression of standards and the Common Core State Standards in KG2. Students practice math everyday through a variety of structured activities such as, the calendar, whole group lessons, and games. KG math lessons focus on number sense to 100. Students will focus on counting one to one correspondence, writing numbers, sequence of events, exploring basic addition and subtraction through literature and songs, spatial reasoning skills, sorting, patterns, and basic shapes. KG2 students are introduced to a more formal approach using the McGraw Hill Reveal Math coursebook.

The science skills in KG are explored through the biweekly themes which gives students hands-on experiences that build their curiosity of the world and helps them explore the world around them. These themes are introduced through centers, experiments, and play. Currently the themes include:

• ● Families / All About Me
• ● Colors
• ● Seeds and Plants
• ● Seasons and Weatherli>
• ● Five Senses
• ● Recycling
• ● Wild / Zoo Animals
• ● Transportation
• ● Apple/Dates
• ● Bugs / Birds
• ● Space
• ● Oceans / Water

The Early Childhood department embeds social studies into the teaching themes that are spread across the year. Students are exposed to a variety of the social sciences such as, geography, history, civics, government, economics, culture, lifestyle, and beliefs. They are taught across the following themes:

• ● Starting School / Friends at School
• ● Families / All About Me
• ● Children Around the World
• ● All About Kuwait
• ● Community Helpers / Jobs People Do
• ● In the Neighborhood
• ● On the Go
• ● Summertime

• These subjects are part of a sequence of courses following the Kuwait Ministry of Education curriculum for Arabic and Islamic. Both Arabic and Islamic are taught on a daily basis.

• Physical education in KG focuses on the body and health of each student to develop their general well-being and fitness. Students will be exposed to a wide variety of age appropriate sports activities and games to develop basic skills and enable them to successfully interact with their peers.

• Music in KG is taught formally during Music classes with a specialist teacher as well as throughout the school day with their class teacher. It includes the experiences of singing, moving, listening and performing. Students participate in weekly assemblies and other musical events such as National and Liberation Day Celebrations, International Week.

Art in KG is taught formally during Art classes with a specialist teacher as well as throughout the school day with their class teacher. Students will learn to use tools and materials safely and to express themselves in a unique and creative way within a safe learning environment. The course enables them to identify colors and shapes in their world. They will understand how line is used to create shapes and forms. Students will be exposed to the following Art Forms:

• ● Drawing/sketching
• ● Paint and Colour
• ● Construction materials such as paper, straws, wire, pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks etc

• Students learn self-awareness and management techniques as part of their daily routine. They learn to manage social relationships and interactions with others in class and under the umbrella of the Living Values and Etiquette programs. Kelso’s Choices is a supplementary program used for building conflict resolution skills.