Open House

Our Transitional Kindergarten (TK) serves as a bridge between Preschool classes and Kindergarten. Taught by certified teachers, the curriculum vertically aligns with our Kindergarten program, state standards, and is both age and developmentally appropriate.
 

Learning is fun in TK! From field trips to cooking to special guests, TK offers a wide variety of enjoyable learning opportunities. Because of small class sizes, students can learn and develop skills through both large and small group lessons, as well as valuable one-on-one time with their teachers. Kids improve skills and increase their knowledge with fun and engaging hands-on activities designed to achieve state and school objectives across the curriculum in Bible, Math, Science, Literacy and Social Skills. Students are also able to attend the Elementary weekly Encore classes (as available) which include Library, Technology, Music/Band, Art, and Spanish. Every day, students learn through songs, movement, poetry, games, and both free and structured play. Students rotate daily through challenging and meaningful Literacy, Math, Science, and Social Studies Learning Centers that are planned by teachers for the development of fine motor skills and specific skills that align with state standards. Students also spend time each day in Free Centers such as Dramatic Play, Science, Puzzles, Blocks, Art, Music, Reading, Math, and various fine motor activities. Our TK students also attend Physical Education every day in the gym with certified PE teachers for 30 minutes of large motor skill development through structured active play in addition to our daily afternoon recess. All TK students have the chance to enjoy a snack and 45-60 minutes of rest time at the end of the day, per state requirements.  
 

TK often takes their learning on the road (and hallways) with fun field trips during the year as well as visits to various classrooms throughout the school such as high school Band and Chorus rooms, high school Science Lab, and Big Chapel on Fridays. TK students love guests and often have guest speakers who read to them and tell about their experiences or jobs. TK students also participate in collaborative learning through STEM challenges with the other grades in the elementary!
 

Bible

• Old and New Testament stories
• Prayer and Singing
• Mission work
• Memory work

Literary Arts

• Reading and questioning skills
• Engaging daily literacy centers
• Phonemic/Phonological Awareness and Phonics
• Rhyming words

Writing

• Gross and Fine motor activities using a variety of hands-on and manipulatives
• TK students become young authors through collaboration on class books

Math

• Counting
• Recognizing and writing numerals
• Graphing
• Sorting
• Patterns
• Estimating
• Measuring
• Recognizing shapes
• Adding
• Calendar activities
   

Science

• Experiments
• Plants
• Metamorphosis
• Predicting and recording data
• Weather activities
• Animals
• Nature walks and outdoor activities
• STEM challenges

Social Skills

• Getting along with others
• Following rules and instructions
• Sharing
• Manners
• Respect for authority and one another
   

Technology

• SMARTBoard to enhance classroom curriculum

Our kindergarten program is designed to effectively implement a developmentally appropriate curriculum that instills a love for learning by challenging the whole child. Kindergarten is a continuation of the skills your child has learned at home and the foundation for a lifelong process of learning. The goal is not only to teach facts and figures but also higher-level thinking and problem- solving skills that create a love of learning.

Our kindergarten classes are always busy. Young children learn by doing. Your child will develop his Mind, Heart, Body, and Soul as he/she is provided multiple opportunities to play, collaborate, explore, and discover. Our curriculum aligns with academic standards that span all grades at MHBS.

Kindergarten Bible classes are taught each day in the classroom. Lessons are taken directly from the Bible. Memory verses, along with Bible facts, are learned and practiced daily. Bible is also incorporated into every subject. Kindergarten students attend chapel each Friday for spiritual enhancement.

Our Language Arts curriculum focuses on phonics, verbal comprehension, listening, vocabulary development, reading comprehension, journal writing, grammar, and other Language Arts skills by integrating age-appropriate concepts within literature and thematic units of study.

The kindergarten math curriculum is standard based to provide a readiness and love of math for curious minds. Daily lessons include fluency practice, new concept introduction, whole group exploration time, and student application and share time. Hands-on manipulatives, math centers, and SMARTBoard lessons are also integrated to provide math across the curriculum.

Students are exposed to science and social studies through weekly thematic units of study. Students are encouraged to develop critical thinking skills through investigation, exploration, and experiments.

Encore classes are available daily to provide students with additional enrichment. Students will attend library, computer lab, art, music and Spanish each week.

Certified teachers teach Physical Education daily. Recess is also provided in the afternoon so that “kinders” can experience free play, social development, creativity, and movement.

As we strive for excellence in our program, our effectiveness can be attributed to several things:

Christian teachers are certified in Early Childhood Education, with a strong commitment to excel.

Parental involvement is an essential factor in the strength of our program. We have parents who volunteer as helpers in the classroom for various projects.

All kindergarten rooms are very spacious and attractive. Each one is arranged in learning center style. There are centers for literacy, math, writing, puzzles, and games. Technology is exhibited in the classrooms with iPads and interactive SMARTBoards.

Kindergarten is a year of enjoyment with fun-filled activities that develop the whole child. We believe that our kindergarten program provides a love for learning as well as a solid foundation for first grade.