Freedom Hill Elementary School

1945 Lord Fairfax Rd, Vienna, VA 22182
Main Office 703-506-7800 | Fax 703-506-7897
Attendance Line 703-506-7878 | Clinic 703-506-7810

Principal: Tim Stanley
Assistant Principal: Jessica Lewis

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Kindergarten Team

Focuses on oral language development as the basis for writing, reading, and thinking.
Builds on, improves, and increases the knowledge skills that children bring to school.
Promotes an appreciation of the similarities and differences among people.
Incorporates active learning through body movement activities, manipulation of learning materials, and interaction with others.
Uses ongoing performance assessment to observe, document, and analyze children's learning behavior in the areas of language arts, math/science, and fine and gross motor skills.
Encourages a love of learning.

Children learn, grow, and develop at different rates. Differences can be observed in children of the same age who may vary in their ability to perform certain physical, social, or intellectual tasks. The Fairfax County Public Schools' early childhood curriculum takes into consideration these differences in young children. Through individualization of the instruction , all students will progress at their own rates of development. Each student is given the opportunity to experience success, and build a positive self-concept.

In the elementary years, a sound foundation in speaking, writing, reading, and mathematics prepares students for academic success in later years. Wherever possible, concrete objects and manipulative introduce concepts to students. Activities that include learning experiences using real objects help students to understand concepts and ideas prior to the introduction of abstract symbols.

Language Arts
Children learn about reading and writing from hearing stories read aloud; seeing others read and write; reading and writing with the teacher; and having opportunities to interact with books, writing materials, and other forms of print. These learning experiences occur daily. When reading and writing, the children are encouraged to draw on background experiences and pictures, use meaning, language structure, and phonics (letter-sound) cues. Big books (books with large print and pictures) class books, and stories or poems with rhyme, rhythm, or repetitive patterns are appealing to kindergarten children and are used daily in the classroom.

Development of letter-sound relationships occurs within the framework of stories the children read and write. This specific instruction is always tied to meaning. Foundations for reading and writing are built on what children already know and by expanding and enriching their language through experiences that encourage listening, thinking, and speaking.

Mathematics
In kindergarten mathematics, children begin by using concrete objects to represent numbers, compare quantities (such as many, few,none,same, and different) represent and extend patterns, match and identify shapes, and sort objects. Problem-solving skills are encouraged and developed throughout the year as children make up their own math stories, solve and illustrate simple story problems, and share their thinking about how a problem is solved.

Science
In science, children investigate and understand simple patterns in their daily lives by recognizing classroom routines, and observing and discussing daily weather patterns and seasonal changes. Children begin to investigate and understand the needs and life processes of plants and animals. Activities with shapes, magnets, sand, and water encourage further discovery, investigation, and problem solving.

Social Studies
Children examine a variety of picture books, information books, and other materials to acquire additional knowledge about themselves as individuals, and as part of a family and a community. Children share family traditions and celebrations, observe changes within the community, and explore American traditions, leaders and historical events. In geography, children begin to learn basic term and skills, and locate areas of land and water on maps and globes. Differences between economic needs and wants are included in the social studies program. Children participate in music, art, writing, technology, poetry, and dramatic representation activities as part of these learning experiences.

Music and Movement
The Music and Movement strand provides students with integrated activities in music and movement. Children are involved in activities that emphasize the development of motor skills, physical fitness, coordination, musical skills, and creative expression. Children use balls, plastic hoops, and musical instruments to help develop these skills.

The kindergarten program utilizes a variety of learning centers for small group and individual learning. Center activities incorporate skills used in different areas of the kindergarten program. These centers include blocks, art, math, science, listening, dramatic play, and beginning reading and writing centers. Centers may change to meet the needs of a particular unit of study.

Technology
Kindergarten students in Fairfax County are involved in computer on-line and off-line activities. These activities give students a basic introduction to the computer, mouse, keyboard and the use of appropriate software that supports the instructional program.