CURRICULUM
Websites, APPS & Resources!
The Fundations program is new to Clough this year. It provides systematic and explicit phonics instruction to teach reading and spelling. Click for the Fundations info packet for parents. Feel free to download and print for home use with your kindergartner. Click here to learn how you can "coach" your child to better support their learning while helping to develop their oral expression and vocabulary.
Wonders is our language arts program. It is designed to foster a love of reading in all children. Through exploration of texts and daily development of their skills as readers, writers, speakers, and active listeners, students experience the power of literacy. Our focus on teaching the whole child – and every child – prepares students to be lifelong learners and critical thinkers.
ST Math games include more than 35,000 puzzles with interactive representations of math topics that align to all state standards, with learning objectives that target key grade-level concepts and skills. See the ST Math family letter here.
Lexia Reading Core5 is a fun computer-based program that has been implemented in our kindergarten classroom. It focuses on developing reading skills in six areas: phonological awareness, phonics, structural analysis, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Your child begins Core5 at a starting point that fits his or her needs and works in online activities that include direct instruction and feedback as your child learns new skills. Each student's personalized username and password have been sent home so that they can practice logging in at home and are able to use the program at home as well. Also, check out the video explanation here.
Mystery Science along with Inspire Science are our core science programs. We also love Mystery Doug to help prompt great science discussions. Our kindergartners learn about weather, weather patterns, severe weather, the seasons, sunlight and warmth, plant and animal needs and lifecycles, force and motion/pushes and pulls, protecting our Earth, saving natural resources, pollution, and reduce, reuse, and recycle.
Bridges in Mathematics is a comprehensive and rigorous program that addresses the new math standards in a way that is enjoyable and accessible to all learners. The curriculum focuses on developing in students a deep understanding of math concepts, proficiency with key skills, and the ability to solve new and complex problems. Learning activities tap into the intelligence and strengths all students have by presenting mathematically powerful material alive with language, pictures, and movement. Students in a Bridges classroom talk about math, describe observations, explain methods, and ask questions. They are encouraged to find multiple ways to solve problems and show different ways of thinking. This is a vital way to help students build more flexible and efficient ways to solve increasingly complex problems. Hands-on activities engage them in exploring, developing, testing, discussing, and applying mathematical concepts. Click here to read the complete Bridges Family Orientation Letter. Or for more information click on the Bridges logo.
IXL offers hundreds of kindergarten math skills and games to explore and learn! These 256 skills are organized into categories such as counting on the hundreds chart, skip counting by tens, subtract - numbers up to ten, addition up to ten, comparing, patterns, measurement, data and graphs, probability, money, 2-dimensional shapes, 3-dimensional shapes, place value with teens, and much more. IXL tracks your child's progress, and the questions will automatically increase in difficulty as your child improves!
The Kindergarten History and Social Sciences topics that will be taught this year include: civics - classroom citizenship (ie. rules, respect, responsibilities, national symbols), geography - connections among places (ie. describe locations with description words (such as up, down, behind, next to) elements of physical address, and basic map skills), history - shared traditions (ie. civic holidays, compare and contrast traditions and celebrations of peoples with diverse cultural backgrounds, sequential order, chronology and time), and economics - work and commerce (ie. describe work inside and outside of the home, buying, selling, trading, goods and services. Click on the Social Studies icon for MA History and Science Frameworks.
"A Sentence A Day" by Empowering Writers (our writing program)
As young children learn to write, there are many varied skills they need. They need to recognize letters, learn sound-symbol connections, and begin to express their thoughts, memories, and intentions on paper. At the same time, they begin to learn the basic pattern of a story. In 10 minutes a day, student learn how sentences are constructed, recognize the parts of simple sentences, while reinforcing the basic characteristics of story. Each week has a theme, with a story that is read, in short daily installments. The story ends with a question that, in a predictable way, inspires a simple sentence.
As young children learn to write, there are many varied skills they need. They need to recognize letters, learn sound-symbol connections, and begin to express their thoughts, memories, and intentions on paper. At the same time, they begin to learn the basic pattern of a story. In 10 minutes a day, student learn how sentences are constructed, recognize the parts of simple sentences, while reinforcing the basic characteristics of story. Each week has a theme, with a story that is read, in short daily installments. The story ends with a question that, in a predictable way, inspires a simple sentence.
What is Seesaw?
Seesaw is an online digital portfolio of your child's work.
Seesaw allows us to capture student learning with voice recordings, photos and videos of their work, or by adding digital creations. Everything gets organized in one place and is accessible to teachers and parents from any device. Parents receive automated updates when an item is added to their child's online portfolio.
Student work can be shared with parents. Seesaw gives students a real audience for their work and offers parents a personalized window into their child's learning. Click on the logo to learn more. To sign up, download the Seesaw Family app, choose "Create a Family Account" and scan the QR code that was sent home with your child. Now you can easily view what we are working on in the classroom in real life time and leave comments for me to share with your child.. My students love knowing that their parents can see what we are doing in class!
Seesaw is an online digital portfolio of your child's work.
Seesaw allows us to capture student learning with voice recordings, photos and videos of their work, or by adding digital creations. Everything gets organized in one place and is accessible to teachers and parents from any device. Parents receive automated updates when an item is added to their child's online portfolio.
Student work can be shared with parents. Seesaw gives students a real audience for their work and offers parents a personalized window into their child's learning. Click on the logo to learn more. To sign up, download the Seesaw Family app, choose "Create a Family Account" and scan the QR code that was sent home with your child. Now you can easily view what we are working on in the classroom in real life time and leave comments for me to share with your child.. My students love knowing that their parents can see what we are doing in class!
Extras! Extras!
This year our class is using (and loving!) GoNoodle — a fun and free website that helps get the wiggles out. GoNoodle.com has hundreds of movement games and videos that get kids dancing, running, jumping, stretching, deep breathing, and more. After the kids take a quick activity break with GoNoodle, they’re able to really focus on learning. If you’re looking for ways to channel your child’s energy, try GoNoodle at home! You can use GoNoodle at home to...
• energize your kids before school • stop the squirmies to help them focus on homework • keep kids actively and safely engaged as you prepare dinner • calm down before bedtime • exercise your whole family… together!
• energize your kids before school • stop the squirmies to help them focus on homework • keep kids actively and safely engaged as you prepare dinner • calm down before bedtime • exercise your whole family… together!
Starfall has been teaching children to read with phonics for well over a decade. Our systematic approach, in conjunction with audiovisual interactivity is perfect for preschool, kindergarten, first grade, second grade, special education, homeschool, and English language development. Starfall is an educational alternative to other entertainment choices for children." Click on the logo to interact with the ABC's, Learn to Read, It's Fun to Read, and I'm Reading.