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Welcome to 
Kindergarten
Links:
Mouse Skills
Headsprout
Hit
the Dot
Language Arts
Rhymes
Bookshelf
Giggle Poetry
Rebus
Rhymes
Sight
Words
Sight
Word with Samson
Rhyming Words
Jan
Brett
Build Words
Teddy
Bear Picnic
Paw Park
Starfall
Literacy
Center
Math
Splat
Squares
Match
the Coins
Harcourt
Math
Curriculum:
The Gwinnett County
Kindergarten program is designed to meet the academic and developmental
needs of five and six year olds in school. Since the kindergarten year is
one that builds an attitudinal foundation for the school years ahead, the
program must accommodate and encourage the needs of the young child to
experience his environment first hand. Our kindergarten program provides the
child with daily opportunities for personal, physical, and cognitive growth.
It is our goal to provide a total curriculum that fosters the growth of the
total child. Children are encouraged to discover and explore through the use
of hands-on experiences. Such experiences should be based on the Gwinnett
County Academic Knowledge and Skills objectives for kindergarten.
To see some of the specific
examples of how language arts is integrated with math, science, and social
studies; please click on the Big Projects section.
Big Projects:
Teachers choose different units to teach the AKS for kindergarten. Examples of projects your child may participate in are the following:
Georgia
Students will learn about Georgia as part of the kindergarten social studies curriculum. The students learn to recognize the symbols for our state, including the Brown Thrasher, Cherokee Rose, and the Live Oak. They also use cardinal directions
on maps and globes to learn about the many wonderful places Georgia has to offer. They study the mountains, beaches, beautiful gardens, historic sites and swamps, as well as our capital, Atlanta. They have loads of fun learning about Georgia.
Long Ago
Around Thanksgiving students learn about communities Long Ago. They learn what life
used to be like for adults and children. They use big books, centers and many other hands -on activities to help them understand the similarities and differences in families long ago and today. They make butter, toys, hornbooks and samplers to understand how children worked, played and
learned.
Looking at the Sky
Looking at the Sky is one of the four major science units. The students spend time focusing on the night sky. They explore stars and constellations, the moon and its phases,
the path of the sun, and how we feel in the dark. As with all studies, science is never an isolated subject but an integral part of an interwoven look at the whole universe
through math, social studies, and language arts.
5 Senses
Students do a variety of activities involving each of their
senses. This unit focuses on the science AKS, including asking questions about the world, and using senses to observe the world, as well as many other
objectives. The students have fun with this unit and extend their
discovery of the 5 senses every day.
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Apples |
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Students do many activities involving apples. In
language arts they read books about apples, sequence the stages of growing an apple from a seed, read apple words around the room and write about apples. In
math they measure apples, graph different kinds of apples, count apples and sort apples. In
science they learn about the life cycle of an apple tree, learn about apple trees in different seasons
as well as the basic needs of an apple tree.
Nocturnal Animals
In the month of October, they learn many facts about bats, owls, and raccoons by reading non-fiction and fiction books. They write
their own non-fiction books using these facts. In math the students practice counting, graphing, and comparing sets of objects using
nocturnal animals. In science, they ask questions and make sketches of nocturnal animals.
Additionally, the students complete many art projects to practice fine motor skills
through following directions and creative exploration.
Leaves
In the fall, students learn about leaves, trees, and the changing of seasons. They take a “leaf walk” to collect
varieties of fallen leaves. The leaves collected are used in many activities such as sorting, graphing, patterning, name writing, and writing a leaf book.
My Body
Students learn about their bodies. They use
the knowledge of basic needs of food, water, and air to determine appropriate ways to care for
their bodies. They recognize that humans grow and change as part of their life cycle. They use
their senses to observe their environment. They identify practices that help maintain and prevent illnesses or diseases.
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Living and Non-Living
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Students complete a unit on living and nonliving things. The class begins by discussing characteristics of both living and nonliving things.
They use a microscope to analyze everyday items and place them into these two categories. The children then
plant their own plants and flowers. The class tracks the plant growth and compares this data to that of non-living specimens.
Bear
Bits about our teachers:
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Peg Gonzalez returned to Gwynedd Mercy College to complete her
teaching degree after the birth of her fourth child. She began teaching
in Pennsylvania in 1990 where she taught for 13 years. She earned her MA
in Education from Gratz College while still in Pennsylvania. She began
teaching in Gwinnett County in 2003 after moving to Dunwoody with her
family. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, gardening and
walking her Westiepoo, Cali.
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Sharon Hickmon
started teaching in 1993. She has a B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Brenau College. She has taught kindergarten,
SIA, and 1st
grade.
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Nicole London is originally from New York but has
lived in Atlanta for over 20 years. She has a Bachelors in Early
Childhood Education and a Masters in Instructional Technology
both from the University of Georgia and is a big DAWG fan. Ms.
London also completed a Specialist degree in Curriculum and
Instruction from Piedmont College. She has been teaching since
1997. She has taught first, second, and preschool. She enjoys
watching sports, camping, reading a good book, and the beach.
Ms. London enjoys teaching and wants to help her students enjoy
and appreciate the learning process.
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Debbie Lutchen is
originally from Statesboro, Georgia. She has lived in the Atlanta area
since graduating from UGA ( GO DAWGS!!!) in 1992. She later received a
masters degree in Early Childhood Education from Mercer University in
2001. She has taught Pre K and Kindergarten since 1993 and enjoys
inspiring beginning readers and writers. She lives in Alpharetta with
her husband and 3 yr. old son and enjoys baking chocolate chip cookies.
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Melissa Page
is a former student of Berkeley Lake and is honored to be returning to
the Bear Nation. She is a recent graduate of Georgia Southern University
with a degree in Early Childhood Education. Needless to say, this has
made her a huge GSU football fan, GO EAGLES! Ms. Page loves animals,
especially her dog Honey. Honey is probably one of the most spoiled dogs
on the planet. She also enjoys jogging, rock climbing, painting,
reading, and cooking.
Webpage
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Alison Pennington
is a native of Atlanta and grew up in Marietta just down the street from
the “Big Chicken”. She attended Young Harris College and Berry College
for her undergraduate degrees. Alison taught kindergarten and first
grade in North Carolina from 1996-2005. During that time, she received
her M.A. Ed. from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. She has
taught kindergarten and first grade for 3 years in Georgia. Alison
joined the Berkeley Lake staff in 2005. She enjoys sewing and spending
time with her family of 2 nieces and 2 cats.
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Lynette Rigg
is originally from Ohio. Georgia has been her home since 1982. She
graduated from The Ohio State University. Go Buckeyes! She has three
children of her own, the oldest two are Berkeley Lake graduates. She has
taught preschool, kindergarten, and also has worked with special
education students. She looks forward to many years of teaching at
Berkeley Lake.
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Paula Smith
is originally from Carbondale, Illinois. She attended college at the
University of Illinois and Southern Illinois University where she
completed both her B.S. and M.S. degrees. Peachtree Corners has been her
family's home since 1988. She is married and has a daughter at GSU, who
attended BLES and a son at GCSU. She was a licensed daycare provider
working with pre-schoolers while her own children were at home for 14
years and worked at Simpson Elementary for 3 years before coming to BLES
in 2006. She loves teaching and helping young children learn!
Paula is currently in graduate school at Mercer University in Education.
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Maricruz
Sosa is
originally from Los Angeles, California. She arrived in Atlanta in 1986,
after graduating from Riverdale High School. She graduated from Brenau
University in 1996 with a B.S. in Early Childhood Education. She has
enjoyed teaching kindergarten for 8 years in DeKalb County. Maricruz is
very excited about being at BLES, and looks forward to many wonderful
years in the Gwinnett County School System.
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Ann Tiberghien
is a native of Duluth, Georgia. She is a die-hard "Dawgs" fan and has
her BS in Early Childhood Education from the University of Georgia. She
taught in Forsyth County from 1990 to 2003 and has experience in K, 1st,
2nd, and 3rd grade. In fall of 2003, she joined the staff at Berkeley
Lake Elementary. She loves teaching and looks forward to learning and
laughing with her students each day!
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