Kindergarten Curriculum: What to Expect

Kindergarten is a crucial milestone in a child's life, marking their first steps into formal education. Understanding what to expect from a kindergarten curriculum can help parents prepare their children for this exciting new journey.

Core Subjects:

• Literacy:
  • Phonemic awareness: Recognizing and manipulating sounds in words.
  • Phonics: Connecting sounds with letters to decode words.
  • Reading comprehension: Understanding the meaning of written text.
  • Writing: Developing handwriting, spelling, and sentence structure.
• Mathematics:
  • Number sense: Understanding quantity and relationships between numbers.
  • Basic operations: Addition, subtraction, counting, and basic multiplication and division concepts.
  • Shapes and patterns: Recognizing geometric forms and sequences.
  • Measurement: Understanding length, weight, capacity, and time.
• Science:
  • Observation and exploration: Investigating the natural world through experiments and observations.
  • Life cycles: Understanding the stages of growth in plants and animals.
  • Weather and seasons: Learning about climate patterns and changes.
  • Matter and energy: Exploring the properties of objects and the concept of energy.

Beyond the Basics:

• Social-Emotional Learning (SEL):
  • Developing self-awareness, self-regulation, social skills, and responsible decision-making.
  • Building relationships with peers and teachers.
  • Managing emotions and resolving conflicts.
  • Understanding and respecting diversity.
• Creative Arts:
  • Exploring music, art, and drama.
  • Developing creativity, self-expression, and imagination.
  • Appreciating different cultures and art forms.
• Physical Education:
  • Engaging in physical activities to promote health, fitness, and coordination.
  • Learning basic motor skills and sportsmanship.
  • Developing a positive attitude towards physical activity.

Kindergarten Philosophy:

• Child-centered approach: Focusing on the individual needs and interests of each child.
• Play-based learning: Incorporating play and hands-on activities to facilitate learning.
• Holistic development: Promoting the growth of the whole child, including cognitive, social, emotional, and physical aspects.
• Differentiated instruction: Adapting teaching methods to meet the diverse learning needs of all students.

Tips for Parents:

• Communicate with teachers: Regularly discuss your child's progress and any concerns.
• Support learning at home: Encourage reading, writing, and counting activities.
• Foster a love of learning: Create a positive and stimulating environment for your child.
• Help your child develop essential life skills: Teach them basic self-care, problem-solving, and decision-making.

Common Kindergarten Activities:

• Storytelling and reading: Sharing books and stories with the class.
• Art projects: Creating paintings, drawings, and crafts.
• Music activities: Singing songs, playing instruments, and dancing.
• Outdoor play: Exploring the playground, playing games, and gardening.
• Dramatic play: Pretending to be different characters and acting out scenarios.
• Math games and puzzles: Solving problems and practicing basic math skills.
• Science experiments: Conducting simple experiments to explore the world around them.

By understanding the typical kindergarten curriculum and actively supporting your child's learning, you can help them develop a strong foundation for future academic success. Remember, every child learns at their own pace, and the most important thing is to create a positive and supportive learning environment.

Mulberry House International Kindergarten is a bilingual (English-Mandarin) Kindergarten in Hong Kong with campuses in Pak Shek Kok, Tai Po and Southside.