The Kindergarten class is taught by Mrs. Tamara Whitaker. Mrs. Whitaker, an Oklahoma native, is in her fourth year of teaching at Christ Lutheran School. Mrs. Whitaker, who has an Associates of Arts degree from Oklahoma City Community College and a Bachelor of Science and Education degree from Oklahoma Baptist University, taught Kindergarten for seven years at the now closed Grace Christian Academy in Oklahoma City, before coming to Christ. Mrs. Whitaker lives in Oklahoma City with her husband, Tim, and two children, Katelyn, 13, and Landon, 10. When she's not teaching, Mrs. Whitaker keeps busy taking her kids to all their extra-curricular activities.
Goals and Objectives of Kindergarten
The Bible is out main textbook and the basis for all that is taught. In Old Testament times, God directed His people to instruct children in the Word, to teach the words God has commanded them.."diligently to your children..talk of them when you sit in your hose and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise," Deuteronomy 6:7.
This command continues to be valid and our Kindergarten program provides opportunities for students to learn God's Word , to know and love their Savior, Jesus Christ and to daily work and play in a Christian atmosphere.
Bible Overview:
In the story of creation in Genesis, God's diversity, magnificence and individuality will be emphasized. After Adam and Eve's fall into sin in the Garden of Eden, God's great love for us and his plan for redemption is shown in the story of Jesus' death on the cross and His resurrection.
Through stories of God's great leaders, such as Abraham, Moses, Joseph, and David, character qualities such as "obedience", "patience", "wisdom" and "diligence" will be learned.
Memory work will include scripture verses, Books of the Bible, the 10 Commandments and the Lord's Prayer.
Reading Readiness:
Understanding that an important reason for learning to read is to be able to someday read the Bible to oneself.
- learning to recognize and write our names
- recognizing capital and lower case letters.
- writing capital and lower case letters
- associating letters with sounds
- distinguishing words that begin with the same sounds.end sounds
- blending of vowels and consonants to form words
- enjoy and promoting a love for literature through listening experiences and being exposed to a wide variety of stories and poems
- telling pictures-story in sequence
- establishing left to right progression
- working with the meaning of opposites
Language Arts:
- developing oral language competency
- taking part in class discussions
- gaining confidence in leading and speaking to a group by leading flag salutes, songs, sharing experiences verbally.
- expressing ideas clearly and accurately in a pleasant voice, using complete sentences.
- using the calendar.discussing birthdays and upcoming events and holidays, naming days of the week
- dramatizing stories and poems.
-History:
- studying character qualities of national heroes like George Washington, Abe Lincoln, Johnny Appleseed, Christopher Columbus and the Pilgrims
- learning about our constitution and important symbols of our country - US flag, the liberty bell, the great seal, statue of Liberty and Uncle Sam
Math:
"And the evening and morning were the first day".Genesis 1:5, "So teach us to remember our days..."..Psalm 90:12
- assembling "Counting with Creation" books
- naming shapes.circle, square, triangle, rectangle, oval and diamond
- comparing sizes - large/small; tall/short
- counting objects
- recognizing numerals from 1-100
- counting by 1's, 5's and 10's to 100
- counting by 2's to 20.
- placing numerals in sequence
- writing numerals correctly
- repeating patterns
- telling time on the hour and half hour
- working simple addition and subtraction and solving of problems through materials and experiences
Science:
"All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made.".John 1:3
- encouraging first-hand observations for increasing the awareness of the wonders of God's World (nature walks, zoo trip)
- providing opportunities to gain answers to questions through experiments and problem solving.
- stimulating curiosity about science through a variety of experiences which lead to discoveries.
Motor Skills:
"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might."
"For bodily exercise profited a little"..I Timothy 4:8
Fine Muscles
- tracing lines and patterns
- controlling scissors well
- holding pencils and crayons correctly
- coloring in side lines
- writing first and last names
- fastening buttons, zipping and tying shoes
- using Tinkertoys, tiles, sewing cards and blocks
- completing puzzles
Large Muscles
- running, jumping and climbing
- hopping on one foot
- catching, bouncing, and throwing a ball
- skipping
- jumping a rope
- developing large muscles and motor control with use of playground equipment and games.
Art:
- developing perception by assembling art projects
- using art media- painting, pasting, cutting and coloring
- drawing pictures
- clay modeling
Music
"O come let us sing until the Lord"..Psalm 95:1
- encouraging the enjoyment of music
- individual and group singing
- listening experiences
- clapping and other rhythmic expression
- providing opportunities for physical movement to music
- using musical instruments
Personal and Social Adjustment
- respecting the rights and property of others
- developing self-government and dependability
- being courteous and considerate of others
- sharing and taking turns
- respecting authority
- being able to work independently, without disturbing others.
"Study to be quiet, and do your own business and to work with your own hands.".I Thessalonians 4:11
- using time wisely
- listening and following directions
- putting materials away.
- knowing their birth dates and ages
- learning their addresses and phone numbers
- adjusting well to the school environment
- taking responsibility for weekly delegated jobs in the classroom.
