In our kindergarten program, children develop basic skills through creative play and social interaction. They also begin to develop as a whole child and unique individual while exploring a wide range of materials; learning to make independent choices and participating in small group project work. In this environment, children actively investigate their interests, discover new ideas and develop their own theories.

Each morning begins with a meeting, during which children and teachers plan their day together. The value placed on meeting time emphasizes listening to others, developing lines of inquiry, problem solving and investigating and planning small-group work. After the meeting, children can choose from a variety of initiatives, such as working in our sunny art studio, acting out plays in the puppet theater or taking a neighborhood trip with a teacher or parent to do research. Some may dictate stories or write messages to friends in the communication area, while others conduct a science experiment or cook in our kitchen.

We want to develop in each kindergartner a well-rounded love of language, from listening and speaking to reading and writing. Each day, teachers and children read or write together. Big books may be used, or the children may write a story together about a shared experience. Literacy activities throughout the year provide pre-reading skills necessary for the coming grades.

Children are given a foundation in early math skills such as counting, grouping and recognizing patterns in experiences that are relevant to their lives. Preparing snacks, taking attendance, measuring for cooking and science activities, building a block replica of a neighborhood scene and graphing the number of letters in their names are just a few ways that children will gain an understanding of numbers and mathematical reasoning.

We value and support the relationships that children are forming with both their classroom peers and their families. The children’s study of community and culture begins by looking at what each child and his or her family bring to the group. As a result, the children learn to appreciate and take care of each other and the classroom community that they share.

Each day, children develop their motor skills by participating in a wide range of physical activities, including yoga, ball work, obstacle courses, daily walks to neighborhood playgrounds and small group work in our soft room. During outdoor playtime, with the guidance of a teacher, kindergartners can create their own rules for newly invented and traditional games. They have access to a variety of sporting equipment and every student is encouraged to have a role, gain skills and contribute equally to the outcome.

Children experience music every day in the classroom, in addition to weekly classes with a music specialist. In music class, they drum, sing, play Blue Man-made instruments and write songs. Following a tour of the Blue Man recording studio, they will record the songs they have composed. Our language specialist taps into the fun of music and songs, as well as children’s interests in other curricular areas, to teach foreign languages.

Kindergartners also work in our community garden and collaborate with the 3s/4s class in finding plants to grow and foods to make with their produce. Guiding the younger children in these activities helps the kindergartners learn responsibility and emphasizes the importance we place on how we care for one another and the world at large.

As in our early childhood program, parents actively participate in the classroom. They help teachers bring the Blue Man Creativity Center’s Values to life in the classroom with documentation projects, reading and dictation; serving as guest artists-in-residence; and acting as lunch partners. We believe this type parent participation helps strengthen the connection between children and families, school life and home life.