The Kindergarten Program: Math and Literacy Behaviours

The New Program

Demonstrating Math and Literacy Behaviours

This week I will be focusing on the frame, Demonstrating Math and Literacy Behaviours. This frame aims to develop children's early math abilities (including spatial skills, numeracy, and patterning) and language skills (including phonics, text awareness, reading, writing, and comprehension). 

This student has demonstrated his spatial awareness through constructing a larger shape out of the shapes given to him.

Two students are reading together at the book centre.

One child has counted coloured buttons to match the "shopping list" he was given.

Students work on their spatial skills through a shape puzzle.

 Student co-created a number line by painting the background and then gluing on the right number of items.

Ms McConnell

The Kindergarten Program: Problem-Solving and Innovating

The New Program

Problem-Solving and Innovating

The frame I will be talking about this week is Problem-Solving and Innovating. This frame focuses on the problem-solving abilities of the children, their awareness of the natural environment, and their ability to communicate their thoughts and ideas. 


Here we have three students working together to build a structure that contains the ball when it goes off the ramp. They continue to test and refine their creation until it works the way they want. 

 The are learning about water, where it lives, and how it can be and look different. We visited the valley and collected water from the river.

The children reflect on their previous learning which we have documented.

The children represent their understanding of nature through their building with blocks, sticks, animals, felt, and blue stones representing water.

Ms McConnell

The Kindergarten Program: Self-Regulation and Well-Being

The New Program

Self-Regulation and Well-Being

The updated Full Day Kindergarten Program separates organizes the program expectations into four frames. The second frame I will be discussing is Self-Regulation and Well-Being. This frame focuses on teaching children to be aware of their own health and the needs of their bodies (for example, eating, needing to take a break from a situation, having strategies to calm down, etc.); to be active and move their bodies in different ways (for example, dancing, playing outside, etc.) and learning to problem solve by talking to each other. 

Below we have two examples of children being aware of their own needs.

In this image one student is using a tool to help himself relax. 

Here we see many students aware of their hunger and having a snack together.

Below the children are using their bodies to move and dance together

In this last image three children are working through a disagreement using their words and problem solving knowledge.

Ms. McConnell

The Kindergarten Program: Belonging and Contributing

The New Program

Belonging and Contributing

The updated Full Day Kindergarten Program separates organises the program expectations into four frames. One of these frames is Belonging and Contributing. This frame includes working together with others in the classroom, demonstrating social skills in many areas including play, and expressing themselves through the arts.

Here we can see the children working together to roll a big snowball to use as the bottom of a snowman.

The children are learning to take turns using the train track. 

Below the children are expressing their knowledge of dinosaurs and volcanoes using plasticine to build them together. Building together also requires the children to use social skills to cooperate in creating the shared product.

Ms. McConnell