Kindergarten
Our 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 Vygotsky’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.
Our Goal for Kindergarten Students
- Our goal is to allow the HCAS kindergarten students to possess the following skills:
- ● Social Emotional Skills
- Research has shown that pro-social behavior and emotional stability are positively correlated with students' future academic performance. Since kindergarten is the first learning environment for children to acquire social skills, children at HCAS Kindergarten will learn and practice social behaviors through a combination of cooperative play and collaborative learning.
- ● Life Skills
- Teaching children to gain independence and begin to take more responsibility in their daily lives is an important aspect of early childhood education. At HCAS Preschool, teachers help students develop and practice different problem-solving life skills that are appropriate for developing their ability to manage their own personal affairs.
- ● Cognitive Skills
- Our kindergarten teachers help students to develop cognitive skills critical to early childhood, including executive functioning (Ex. problem solving, self-control, reasoning, development of attention skills, self-reflection...etc.) and constructing academic cognition.
Kindergarten Curriculum
Our curriculum centers on 8 different themes that change every 4 to 5 weeks. These themes develop students’ understanding of important concepts such as staying healthy, how things work, and caring for the earth. Within these themes, students develop math, English, science, and social studies skills according to the U.S. standards for our program.
Learning is often guided by children’s questions & interests, with the goal of encouraging students to develop important ideas within the topics they are learning. In a project-based learning classroom, children are viewed as active learners and are directly involved in the learning process to foster curiosity and develop thinking skills. The teacher serves as a facilitator and facilitates the learning process together.
The use of Learning Centers in the classroom builds on these ideas, providing students with opportunities to explore and develop content related to their own interests and skills. Learning centers are changed regularly and target curriculum standards related to specific topics to ensure that students develop both academic and thinking skills.
In addition to the curriculum goals that the children explore with their instructors, our students maintain their overall educational development by participating in Chinese language, music, art, drama, dance, and physical education classes with our school teachers.
