Our Transitional Kindergarten/Kindergarten program starts in August on the same day GCPS kindergarten classes begin, for the 2024-25 school year the first day is August 5, 2024. Our TK/K is an excellent program for those who want a small class (ratio of 12:1) and individualized attention and preparation for first grade, or for those who are looking to give their young 5 child a gift of another year to grow and mature. Our goal is to foster growth academically, socially, developmentally, and spiritually. Because of our small class size, we can differentiate instruction to each student and provide them with the small group and one to one instruction that will help them to best achieve their individual goals.
The curriculum for TK/K at BPWS was created to address every aspect (and more!) of the Gwinnett County Public Schools curriculum for kindergarten. Below is a glimpse of our approach to each curriculum subject area:
- Language Arts: Our language arts curriculum is the focus of the school day. It is comprised of phonics, guided reading groups, and writing.
- Math: Kindergarteners love math! We work on number sense, adding and subtracting, story problems, place value, collecting and organizing data through graphs, geometry, nonstandard measurement, time, and money.
- Social Studies: Social Studies in kindergarten typically consists of holidays celebrated through the year: Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day etc. as well as learning the difference between today and long ago, families and homes, maps, and US symbols.
- Science: Science is another subject that is integrated into the day. To name a few subjects we learn about in kindergarten: space, ocean life, polar animals, magnets, simple machines and light and shadow. An example of how this would look in the classroom would be: while studying space we create a book about the planets in the correct order. Students get to weigh and measure “moon rocks”. We use moon rocks to drop in moon dough to observe how craters are made then students record their findings with drawings and words. For creative writing, they will write about a fictional planet they would like to live on and tell why.
- STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math): we love doing STEM challenges in class to encourage critical thinking and problem solving skills. An example would be: in a unit on hibernation we will learn why and how animals hibernate. For a culminating activity, they get to bring in stuffed bears and build hibernation caves with partners for their bears. They are given a variety of materials, they create a plan, and start building. These challenges are a favorite of the kids!
- Art: Each week we have opportunities to create free art as well as more directed art projects to go along with our units of study. Throughout the year, students get to work with a variety of materials to create amazing works of art.
Social/Emotional Development is a key component and focus of TK/K at BPWS. We are more than a class of students and a teacher. We quickly become a team and a family. Students are encouraged to consider others’ feelings and needs. We work on communicating with each other to keep our room a happy and productive place.
Independence and confidence are bolstered in our small class size setting. Even the shyest of students learn to share their thoughts and ideas with the group once they have grown familiar and comfortable in our safe space. Kindergarteners like to have jobs and responsibilities and it is a great joy to witness their prides as they become more capable each day.
TK/K students at BPWS attend specials such as Music & Movement, Play & Pray, Literacy and Chapel. Our students perform in a Christmas program and a spring program.
Lastly and importantly, TK/K at BPWS is lots and lots of FUN! Our classroom is an exciting place full of learning and laughter. It isn’t uncommon to hear someone say on a Friday afternoon “I wish we had school tomorrow too!” and sometimes it is the teacher!
