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Kindergarten Experience

Children grow and learn in CID kindergarten. We prepare each child for success in a general education environment by providing individualized instruction to develop listening, language and speech while focusing on all areas of academic development based on Missouri Common Core Standards.

As children begin formal education, the CID kindergarten provides a language- and literacy-rich environment fostered by play and social skill development. Teachers keep a busy schedule that includes auditory learning, language, speech, reading, math, science, social studies, music, gym, computers and art. The daily schedule is designed to provide a series of instructional settings for language development. Structured settings focus on intensive instruction of listening, language, speech, reading and writing skills. In science, social studies and math lessons, children practice conversational skills revolving around specific kindergarten concepts. In addition, during a centers-based language period, the students practice using their listening, language and speech skills in a larger group as they engage in play-based activities to explore kindergarten concepts.

Listening, language, speech and reading are the foundation for our students’ later academic success. The CID kindergarten program emphasizes the development of listening, language and speech skills necessary for achieving literacy.

All of the kindergarteners receive instruction from master’s level teachers of the deaf and an early childhood educator in a loving and respectful environment. Teachers are supervised by a department coordinator who is a master teacher with many years of experience teaching children who are deaf and hard or hearing to listen and talk. The teachers work together with expert on-site audiologists, speech-language pathologists and an occupational therapist to ensure an optimal learning situation for each child. A state-of-the-art computer SmartBoard in every kindergarten classroom helps our teachers foster early computer skills and provides unlimited additional interactive learning opportunities for children.

Parents are, of course, our teachers’ most important partners in their children’s education. Parents are invited to observe and participate in the classroom and to communicate often with the teachers and department coordinator.

A TYPICAL DAY IN KINDERGARTEN

8:30–8:40am Welcome & Device Check
Teachers begin the day by welcoming the children and parents and taking attendance. The children unpack their lunches and put away their belongings while the teachers check their devices to ensure optimal access to sound. Each child engages in a brief morning activity such as independent reading, a puzzle, a journal or a math activity.

8:30–9 Circle Time
The children and teachers welcome one another with a song and prepare for a great day at school. During the calendar activity, the teachers integrate areas of reading, writing, technology, math, science and social studies. The class discusses weather, days of the week, months of the year, patterning, odd and even numbers, counting by ones and tens, weather and temperature.

9–10:15 Literacy
Reading ability is highly correlated with success in school and success in life. Kindergarten literacy instruction is targeted in a 75-minute reading/language arts block as well as throughout the school day. The students receive direct instruction in the five crucial areas of literacy: phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension. The CID kindergarten reading curriculum is based on the Missouri Common Core Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy. This is composed of the following categories: reading standards for literature, reading standards for informational text, reading standards for foundational skills, writing standards, speaking and listening standards and language standards.

10:15–10:30 Recess
The children run, jump, climb, play with balls and engage in group games and activities to develop physically and socially and to build confidence.

10:30–11 Structured Language
The children gather in small, ability-based groups where they practice understanding and using specific vocabulary, phrases and sentences. Vocabulary is selected from all areas of the kindergarten curriculum, including literacy, math, science and social studies. Teachers use games and age-appropriate activities to promote language development.

11–11:30 Written Language
In addition to receiving written language opportunities during the literacy period, CID kindergarten students receive 30 minutes of intensive instruction to help them achieve the Missouri Common Core Writing Standards. Students learn “What I can say, I can write, and what I can write, I can read.”

11:30–noon Special Activities
The children engage in activities to develop the whole child, including gym class, arts classes and social skills activities.

noon–12:45pm Lunch & Recess
The children are supervised by Washington University School of Medicine graduate students. After lunch, the children run, jump, climb, play with balls and engage in group games and activities to develop physically and socially and to build confidence.

12:45–1:30 Centers
The relationships among language, cognition, play and literacy are well-documented in educational research. The language and cognitive skills developed through play lead to higher achievement in literacy. During this large-group centers time, children engage in creative dramatic play activities fostering listening, language, speech, social skills and cognitive development. Through pretend play, the children develop memory skills, theory of mind and complex language. Children also participate in centers that provide practice for academic standards including phonics, reading, writing and math.

1:30–1:40 Music
The children sing and move to music and play with musical instruments.

1:40–2:05 Speech & Auditory Training
The children move into classrooms in small groups for targeted work to develop speech and listening skills.

2:05–2:30 Math
The children engage in language-focused lessons with emphasis on Missouri Common Core Standards for math.

2:30–3 Thematics
The children engage in language-focused lessons with emphasis on Missouri Grade Level Equivalent standards for science and social studies.