Kindergarten
Philosophy
At our kindergarten, we believe that every child possesses a natural curiosity and potential to learn. Our all-English classroom brings together students from many different countries, fostering a shared language and sense of community. We are dedicated to creating a rich and engaging curriculum that aligns with the Common Core (CC), C3 Framework, and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), preparing students for their educational journey ahead.
To meet our learning objectives, we employ a variety of teaching methods, including hands-on activities, collaborative projects, and individualized instruction, to cater to different learning styles. Guided by Vygotsgy’s Zone of Proximal Development, we emphasize peer interaction and collaborative learning. Our teachers provide scaffolding to support students in developing new skills and concepts. This comprehensive approach not only develops English language proficiency but also ensures students are well-prepared for first grade, both academically and socially.
Program Goals
- We aim to equip our students in HCAS Kindergarten with the skills as follows:
- ● Socio-emotional Skills
- Research has indicated that prosocial behaviors and emotional stability positively correlate to students’ future academic achievement. As kindergarten is the first environment where young children acquire social skills, children in HCAS Kindergarten will spend time learning and practicing social behaviors through a mixture of cooperative play and collaborative learning.
- ● Life Skills
- Teaching children to gain independence and begin to take more responsibility in their daily life is an important aspect in Early Childhood Education. In the HCAS Kindergarten, teachers help students to develop and practice different problem-solving life skills that are appropriate in the development of their ability to manage their own personal affairs.
- ● Cognitive Skills
- Teachers help students develop cognitive skills that are critical in children’s early ages, including executive functions (problem-solving, self-control, reasoning, attentional skills, self-monitoring, etc.) and academic concepts.
Curriculum
Our curriculum centers on eight different themes that change every 4-5 weeks. These themes develop student understanding of big ideas such as Staying Healthy, How Things Work and Taking Care of the Earth. Within these themes, students develop Math, English, Science and Social Studies skills following the American standards mapped to our curriculum. Learning is often directed by the questions and interests of the children with the goal of encouraging project-based discovery of big ideas within the themes we are learning about. In a project-based classroom, children are considered as active learners and are directly involved in the process of learning to encourage curiosity and develop thinking skills. Teachers act as guides who facilitate the process of learning together.
The use of learning center stations in the classroom builds upon these ideas by providing the students with opportunities to explore and develop content knowledge related to their own interests, skills, and in their unique proximal zone of development. Learning center stations change regularly and are targeted to the curriculum standards tied to specific themes to ensure that students are developing subject skills and thinking skills simultaneously.
In addition to the curriculum goals that children explore together with their homeroom teachers, our students keep their education well-rounded by engaging in Chinese, music, art, drama, dance, and physical education classes with teachers within our school community.
- School Hours: Monday - Friday from 0800 - 17:00
- No. 189, Gaotie 2nd Rd., Zhubei City, Hsinchu County, 302
- Tel: 03-550-6780 | E-mail: info@hcas.com.tw
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