Kindergarten at Valley Charter Elementary School
A joyful, developmentally-appropriate foundation for lifelong learning
Social-Emotional Learning: Building a Classroom Community
Kindergarten is about more than academics. It’s where children learn how to be part of a classroom and a broader community. At VCES, our social-emotional learning (SEL) program teaches kindergarten students how to:- Work together and follow shared rules and routines
- Build friendships and resolve conflicts
- Develop perseverance and collaboration skills through group projects and daily routines
Balanced Literacy in Kindergarten
Daily Phonics Instruction
We use a research-based, Orton-Gillingham-aligned curriculum called UFLI (University of Florida Literacy Institute) to explicitly teach sound-letter correspondence. In the classroom, students:- Use magnetic letters to explore and change sounds
- Segment, chop, and blend words
- Practice letter formation and sentence construction on whiteboards
Reading Comprehension
Kindergartners develop comprehension skills that help them become confident, thoughtful readers who enjoy reading. They participate in whole-group instruction and also read independently in genres that interest them. Instruction focuses on:
- Partner reading and listening to teacher read-alouds
- Discussing characters, events, and story details (thinking about "who, what, when, why")
- Learning concepts of print: holding a book correctly, turning pages and reading left to right
Writing
Students work on sentence structure, picture labeling, and applying phonics skills independently. They explore narrative, opinion, and expository writing. Examples include:
- How to Make a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich (Expository)
- Would You Rather… (Opinion)
- My Favorite Vacation (Narrative)
Kindergarten Math at VCES
Kindergartners working on number bonds.
- 1:1 correspondence and number relationships
- Hands-on use of manipulatives and visual models
- Written problem-solving and explanation of thinking
- Foundational counting skills
Project-Based Learning (PBL)
PBL brings science and social studies to life through hands-on, collaborative learning. Highlights include:
- Community Helpers: Guest speakers + field trip to fire station
- Push and Pull: Exploration of physical science and teamwork
- Me-Seum: One of our favorite kindergarten projects! Students practice public speaking by sharing items or photos that tell their personal stories. Presentations are shared with classmates, 5th grade buddies, and families, building community and language skills in a supportive, age-appropriate setting.
Students presenting their stories to their 5th grade buddies during the Me-Seum project.
Specialists and Enrichment
- PE and Music: Twice per week
- Yoga: Once per week
- Art: Once a month
- Play Workshop: Daily dedicated play-based learning time
Play Workshop: Learning Through Play
Play is essential for early learning. Students engage in daily play-based activities that build fine motor skills, social skills, and creativity.
- Freedom of choice within teacher-curated stations
- Real-time SEL guidance from teachers
- Community-building through meaningful play
Kindergarten Community Highlights
- Each VCES classroom has a dedicated full-time teaching assistant
- Class sizes remain small beyond kindergarten (24 students per classroom, 2 classrooms per grade through 5th grade)
- Dedicated TK/K play yard and TK/K-only lunch
- 5th grade buddies program builds cross-grade relationships
- Summer community-building: playdates and TK/K parent/guardian orientation
- Homework mostly consists of 10-15 minute daily reading and a short (should be able to be completed in 5 minutes or less) math sheet.
A Day in the Life of a VCES Kindergartner
Sample daily schedule:
- Morning meeting
- Math
- P.E.
- Snack
- Phonics instruction
- Reading comprehension instruction
- Lunch
- Writing workshop
- PBL (project-based learning)
- Play workshop
- Clean up / pack up
- Dismissal
Our kindergarten program helps students develop the skills, confidence, and curiosity they’ll carry with them throughout their education.
If you're considering Valley Charter for your child, you can submit your application here.
Not ready to apply? Learn more about the application process . Or, visit VCES and see our classrooms in action: Sign up for a group tour .