Welcome to the
Crestwood Kindergarten Program

 

The Kindergarten year is recognised as an important and formative year for young children as they begin to explore more pre-academic skills, knowledge and dispositions towards ongoing learning. It is an exciting time for the children, parents and staff as the children develop skills, sense of inquiry and capacity to investigate the world around them. In order to fully support this age group Crestwood Child Care Centre has developed a Kindergarten curriculum that addresses key foundation learning areas to encourage your child intellectually, socially, physically and academically. The curriculum embraces national and international research that supports that appropriately learning for children in this age group as should be facilitated through a play based curriculum.

 
 

Parent Involvement and Information

We are committed to parent involvement in the program. During the time that your child is enrolled in our Kindergarten area there will be a number of formal and informal opportunities for you to join the children and staff to observe first hand the exciting work that takes place in our program. There will also be time organised with your child’s teacher to discuss your child’s experiences, education and development. Research supports that parent involvement in children’s education is a powerful influence, as such we encourage and welcome you to visit us, keep regular contact with us and enjoy the coming year with your child in the Crestwood Kindergarten program.

 
 

The Crestwood Kindergarten Program

  • The Crestwood Kindergarten Curriculum Program incorporates the following key curriculum areas:
  • Integrated literacy program.
  • Integrated numeracy program.
  • School readiness.
  • Cultural Learning.
  • Projects and investigations for Kindergarteners. [Geography, science and active learning]
  • Personal, social and emotional resilience program.
  • Health, Safety and a well-being program.
  • Physical education.
  • Visual and creative arts program.
  • Multimodal technologies program.

Following are some details of the types of content that each curriculum area contains within the Crestwood Kindergarten Program. For further information, please contact your child’s teacher or Caroline the Service Supervisor.

1.    Integrated literacy program

  • Show and tell program:  Where your child will be invited to share with others items of interest.
  • Words for rhyme, rhythm and pattern:  To support pre reading and writing skills and oral language development.
  • Alphabet tree: Explores pre-literacy and phonic awareness.
  • Journaling program: Supports pre-writing skills including reading behaviours and skills.
  • Jolly Phonics: Explores phonemic awareness and pre-reading skills.

Linked to Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guideline 5:  Communicating:  Exploring and expanding ways to use language.  Exploring and engaging with literacy in personally meaningful ways.

2.    Integrated numeracy program:

  • Number:  Exploring number, counting, patterns, seriation and classifying.
  • Space:  Exploring shape, volume and labels.
  • Measurement:  Exploring length, height, width, circumference, whole and part.
  • Time:  Exploring time progression, measured time, o’clock concepts.
  • Spatial awareness:  Exploring positioning labels: e.g. behind, beside, near, far, under, over etc.

Linked to Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guideline 5:  Communicating:  Exploring and engaging with numeracy in personally meaningful ways.

3.    School readiness:
Working within time constraints: exploring room routines and working with others.

  • Attending to task:  supporting focused attention and sustained engagement in activities.
  • Managing routines:  supporting the development and recognition of self-help skills and independence.
  • Managing beginning structure:  working towards coping with direction and class expectations.
  • Coping with new challenges:  encouraging a sense of inquiry for new experiences and change.
  • Safe risk taking:  making safe choices, considering consequences, supporting initiative and independence.

Linked to Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guideline 1:  Identity:  Building a sense of security and trust.    Acts with increasing independence and perseverance.  Building a confident identity.

4.    Cultural Learning:

  • Multicultural perspectives:  Exploring cultural diversity.
  • Home culture:  Celebrating the child’s own culture and celebrations.
  • Indigenous cultural celebrations:  Exploring indigenous culture.
  • Connecting family and centre/class:  Exploring the meaningful personal connections of young children.
  • Me Myself and I:  Exploring self-concepts, self-esteem and self-efficacy for young children.

Linked to Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guideline 2:  Connectedness:  Building positive relationships with others.  Showing increasing respect for diversity.

5.    Projects and investigations for Kindergarteners: 
(Geography, science and active learning):

(a) Being aware of the world:  exploring the world around us and making personal connections;

  • Australia
  • Flags
  • Special events and celebrations
  • Personal Experiences

(b) Sustainable environments:  Exploring aspects of sustainability and making connections to the Kindergarten environment:

  • Garden program
  • Recycling
  • Composting
  • Conservation

(c) Projects and investigations:  Exploring and thinking about phenomenon, concepts and events that are relevant to young children through the following skills.

  • Describing
  • Hypothesizing
  • Observing
  • Discussing
  • Testing
  • Problem solving
  • Researching

Linked to Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guideline 2 and 4:  Connectedness:  Showing increasing respect for environment.  Building positive dispositions and approaches towards learning.  Showing increasing confidence and involvement in learning.

6.    Personal, social and emotional resilience program:

(a)  Supporting emotional literacy and a range of emotional responses:

  • Separating
  • Assertive language
  • Initiative
  • Confidence
  • Recognition of emotional state

(b) Self-help skills program supporting the development of independence:

  • Managing and recognising belongings
  • Working independently
  • Asking for help
  • Individual expectations

(c) Supporting the development of social competence, confidence and social success:

  • Personal responsibility
  • Rules
  • Goal Setting
  • Dealing with Conflict
  • Taking care of belongings
  • Coping with challenges
  • Self-regulation skills
  • Impulse
  • Control
  • Making choices
  • Turn taking / sharing
  • Making and sustaining friendships
  • Accepting differences

Linked to Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guideline 3:  Well-being:  Building a sense of autonomy and wellbeing.  Exploring ways to show care, concern and interact positively with others.

7.     Health and Safety and well-being program:  
to support healthy attitudes, knowledge and dispositions towards healthy lifestyles.

  • Healthy eating:  Exploring food choices and nutrition.
  • Hygiene awareness:  Exploring personal hygiene and hygiene in groups.
  • Dental program:  Awareness of dental hygiene,
  • Germ Busters:  Explores simple self-protective hygiene concepts such as hand washing.
  • Sun smart:  Explores sun safety.
  • Protective behaviours “000”:  Explores the role of emergency services and safety.

Linked to Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guideline 3:  Well-being:   Exploring ways to promote own and others health and safety.

8.    Physical education:

  • Games with rules:  Explores simple structures within games.
  • Skill development:  Explores learning physical skills to assist in overall physical development e.g. kicking a stationery ball/working with clay to strengthen cutting skills.
  • Spatial awareness:  Exploring movement through a wide range of activities to enhance balance and control.
  • Sensory motor experiences:  Explores the tactile experience of the senses.
  • Balance, strength and coordination experiences through a wide range of experiences to challenge and extend children’s skills and development.

Linked to Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guideline 3:  Well-being:  Exploring ways to promote physical well-being.

9.    Visual and creative arts program.

  • Dance and drama program:  Explores dance and drama as a mode of communication and enjoyment.
  • Storytelling:  Supports oral language development and enjoyment.
  • Music:  Explores a range of concepts including singing, instruments and concepts such as rhythm and tempo.
  • Creative art:  Explores visual arts as a medium for communication and enjoyment.

Linked to Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guideline 4:  Active Learning:  Building positive dispositions and approaches towards learning.  Showing increasing confidence and involvement in learning.

10.    Multimodal technologies:
Explores a range of technologies in meaningful and integrated ways:

  • Using computers
  • Accessing the internet
  • Communicating via technology
  • Using a range of technology

Linked to Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guideline 4:  Active Learning:  Exploring tools, technologies, information and communication technology.

 
 

Conclusion

The year ahead will be a busy and exciting one for your child and your family. We aim to make it an enjoyable and memorable one for you. 

Our staff are dedicated to young children’s education and have committed on ongoing professional development in this area to ensure that the program that your child engages in remains at the forefront of the highest quality and standard of early education. 

We encourage and support your involvement in this process and recognise that as your child’s parent in your educational journey.  Should you have any questions, suggestions or seek clarity about this document of the Crestwood Kindergarten Program please feel free to make contact with either your child’s teacher or Caroline the Service Supervisor.

Sincerely yours in care and education,

Caroline Spencer    
Service Administrator
Crestwood Child Care Centre