Fun Fact  Each classroom is named for a sea creature. Our Kindergarten Class is designated as The Sea Turtles, also featured in our school logo.

 

 

 

Kindergarten

“Our goal is to respond to the needs of children as developing, thinking individuals by focusing on the process of learning.”

 

Preparing Your Child for Elementary School and Beyond

The Kindergarten Program at Daniel Island Academy is built upon three standards:

• A child-centered curriculum that educates the ‘whole child’ with attention to the intellectual, physical, and social/emotional development of each child

• An environment rich in direct experiences that are meaningful to the child upon which knowledge, skills, and positive attitudes toward schooling are achieved

• One-on-one instruction with a low child-to-teacher ratio, coupled with a small class size

Download Kindergarten Flyer

 

Play Based Learning

Our view is that play is fundamental to children's learning, growth, and development, enabling them to develop and clarify concepts, roles, and ideas by testing and evaluating them through the use of open ended materials and role-enactment. Play further enables children to develop fine and gross motor skills, to learn to share with others, to learn to see others' points of view, and to be in control of their thoughts and feelings.

SmartBoard® Instruction

Kindergarten Curriculum

Our curriculum was developed through extensive study of programs of excellence specially designed for Kindergarten students. In addition to meeting the South Carolina Academic Standards for mathematics, English language arts, science, and social studies for Kindergarten, our curriculum includes foreign language, music, creative arts, and foreign language components, as follows: Everyday Mathematics is a research-based PreK-6 curriculum that builds mathematical knowledge from the basics to higher-order thinking and critical problem solving. Children gain strong math skills through hands-on activities instead of relying on worksheets and rote memorization.

 

Lucy Calkins’ Writers Workshop for Kindergarten provides fun and easy to follow lessons for children to learn early writing skills.
Rigby-Literacy By Design materials are utilized to teach vocabulary, comprehension, fluency, phonemic awareness, and phoneme segmentation.


Expresate’ (Spanish) is taught by a native speaking Spanish teacher in a total immersion format in conjunction with normal school activities, such as play, stories, songs, games, and arts & crafts. Two 45-minute sessions are held weekly.


Handwriting Without Tears (HWT) is an award winning Get Set for School™ program that uses music and playful activities to help young children learn about letters, numbers, and sequencing in a fun, engaging manner. Miss Wendy’s Music Class is a creative extension of the daily learning environment. Children learn classroom lessons in many ways and music is a proven medium through which they acquire early math and reading skills.


Miss Becky’s Literacy Adventure is taught weekly by the school’s Librarian. Each session is interwoven with the classroom’s lesson plan, and includes storytime, music and movement, and dramatic play for learning and understanding books and stories.

 

Science and Social Studies are taught through experience and exploration in and outside of the classroom. Field Trips are an important part of our science and social studies curriculum to enhance the learning experience, teach children about the world around them, and provide for stimulating classroom discussions. Recent excursions have included: Daniel Island Fire Station, Palmetto Park, Discovery Ice Cream, Etiwan Park, Center Park, and a performance of Ferdinand the Bull at the Sottile in Historic Charleston.


Nutrition and Health lessons teach children the importance of building strong minds and bodies through proper nutrition. This is a central component of every classroom throughout the school. Our full time chef prepares all snacks and lunches to the highest nutrition standard and assists teachers with classroom cooking projects.


Gardens are planted and maintained by each class throughout the year with harvested produce prepared for a special treat or used in cooking projects.


Physical Education is centered on the progression of gross and fine motor skills as a critical part of each child’s development. The school’s playground and multi-purpose room are equipped to provide a fun and challenging environment for all skill levels.

 

Supplemental Enrichment Programs, such as dance, science, music, art, and tumbling are offered outside of the regular classroom. These programs encourage children to explore their interests and develop new skills. Your child’s teacher and school staff are available to help plan an Enrichment Program schedule that will benefit your child’s continued development and interests.

Daily Schedule
Our Kindergarten instructional day is scheduled for 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Before and after school care is included at no additional cost, limited to a maximum of 10 hours daily. Two snacks daily and lunch are included in tuition cost.