We believe that PLAY is the WORK of children – and our environment is rich in play opportunity, both in the classroom and outdoors on our private playground, especially designed for young children. The play space is organized into various activity areas that invite and encourage exploration and discovery. Teaching staff support children’s development of friendships and provide opportunities for children to play with and learn from each other. Staff support children as they practice social skills by helping them enter into, sustain, and enhance play, and practice cooperation skills as they learn to share, take turns, negotiate, and compromise.
We want children who graduate from KINS to be ready to learn. Since each child is developmentally unique, and learns at a different pace and in a different style, formal planning to meet individual needs takes place on a weekly basis. Our staff devotes Wednesday afternoons to curriculum planning, assessment of each child’s growth, and individualizing the program. This has proven to be of enormous benefit to each child. A child psychologist and a speech language pathologist consult to our teachers. Both specialists help staff develop the most appropriate learning environment for individual children.
Our broad-based curriculum includes: literacy, music, drama, creative movement, art, science, math, social studies, technology, Judaica, problem solving, creative thinking, social and moral development, and fine motor and large skill oriented motor activities. Parents receive two written progress reports and one scheduled parent teacher conference. Staff are always available to meet parents and to answer phone calls.
Two early childhood specialists enhance our curriculum with a music program and a creative movement program. In creative movement class, space, time, and force are explored through moving body parts alone and together, experimenting with working together as a group, and practicing large motor skills. In the music class the children listen, sing, play instruments, move/dance, and discuss music. Body and voice are being developed during the critical years to build the necessary foundation for future participation in music.
Judaica is an integral part of our curriculum. Principles of Judaism are integrated into the secular curriculum while all domains of learning, including math and science, are integrated into the Judaic curriculum. Children learn about Judaism, Shabbat, Israel, and holidays through direct and concrete experiences. The Jewish holidays are presented through stories, music, art, drama, and movement. Hebrew language is introduced through blessings and songs. Values are included in the KINS program and the children are introduced to holiday Mitzvot (values and obligations to lead a moral and religious life). The more often a child comes into contact with Jewish ritual objects, symbols, and experiences, the stronger will be the emotional and intellectual ties.
Shabbat is a rich weekly occurrence at KINS with the synagogue Rabbis often joining our class celebrations. The children give tzedakah, learn the blessings, Shabbat songs are sung, sing Shabbat songs and listen to bible stories. Children participate by being the Shabbat helper and bringing the challah or grape juice and inviting their families to visit and enjoy the Shabbat celebration with the class.
Parents also are invited to participate in family breakfasts and in family education programs sponsored by the synagogue. Many times during the school year, the entire school gathers together for a “Shabbat Sing.” Rabbi Emma Kippley-Ogman leads us in singing our favorite Shabbat songs and teaches us new ones as well.
