Mandalay School Students' beginning experiences with reading are supported by both the classroom teacher and the reading specialist. As part of our program, the reading specialist works collaboratively in the classroom with the teacher by working with small groups of students to reinforce the language arts and reading strategies introduced at this early age. Students are encouraged to use pre-writing skills. The use of invented spellings, called kidspell that encourages students to write stories and to practice the phonics skills taught.
Students learn initial and final consonant sounds. Most students learn to read ten basic sight-words. Kindergarten students learn the study strategy of responsibility. This is emphasized by asking the children to remember to give notices to parents and to teachers. Science builds upon the young child’s natural curiosity about the world and provides opportunities to develop thinking and problem-solving skills. Often science lessons occur informally as the result of a student’s question or observation.
