Our Pre-Kindergarten Program follows the "We Learn as We Play" method of teaching. Play is the medium of learning. The children play in a happy environment that is imbued with the Armenian spirit. Nurturing, experienced teachers help prepare the Pre-Kindergarten students, through a variety of active learning experiences, for enrollment in Kindergarten. The Pre-K students are immersed in the Armenian language with periodic exposure to English language activities.

The program is based upon the High - Scope active learning curriculum. It emphasizes a child-centered approach where the child is encouraged to start individual activity and then evaluate his/her experiences with the teachers and his/her peers. Planned learning activities and materials appropriate to the child's age are combined with a positive, warm, healthy and safe environment. The number of teachers and aides exceed the minimum requirements, and they are able to respond to each child's needs. Nutritious snacks and some meals are provided.

Children can be registered in Pre-Kindergarten at any time during the year. They may be registered on a full-time or a part-time Armenian School is licensed to operate a Pre-Kindergarten Program by the California Department of Social Services (License # 380505320).

Teacher: Mrs. Mary Karpanian

KZV Kindergarten is a place where students begin to learn the importance of responsibility and structure relating to their school participation. For many a new experience, students are required to arrive to school before 8:20 a.m., in order to prepare for the school's daily opening assembly. They also have simple homework assignments, which begin gradually as the school year starts off, and progress to include both English and Armenian language homework on most days. As important as the assignment is the responsibility given to the student to pack his/her textbooks, review the assignment, re-pack the textbooks and remember to take them to school the following day. Later in the semester, the students also receive weekly assignments, which the student completes at his/her own pace by the end of the week.

The primary language of instruction in Kindergarten is Armenian, as a necessary base for acquiring fluency for subsequent years where its instruction is limited to Armenian language and history courses. English language instruction takes place nine periods per week. In addition to the English and Armenian language instruction, students are also administered the basics of Mathematics, Science, and Social Science. Aside from their daily outdoor playtime, students also receive structured physical education periods twice per week. On a monthly basis, students have "kitchen time," learning about foods and meal preparation.

The Kindergarteners prepare and perform several performances ("Hantes") throughout the school year for holidays and community gatherings. Basic etiquette, manners, simple Armenian religious practices, and appropriate social behavior are imparted to the students daily during their individual and group activities. The Kindergarten class also takes several field trips per year.

Overview of Armenian Language Arts Program for Kindergarten:

Armenian language lessons are scheduled daily for a 45-minute period, wherein the new lesson is introduced, and oral reading/writing assessments are conducted.
 

The goals of the Armenian Language Arts Program for Kindergarten are: recognition of the Armenian alphabet and ability to print all letters; ability to read words, and later, complete sentences; writing complete sentences; differentiation between syllables and words, and combining syllables for word formation.

Students are taught proper annunciation, vocabulary, fluency, and articulation of thoughts through complete sentence formation. Time is spent on written exercises to strengthen student's memory and visual abilities with respect to writing standards.

"Mer Lezoon" ("Our Language") is the Armenian textbook used in Kindergarten. The book is comprised of 12 booklets, and is based on introducing and strengthening letter recognition, vocabulary, reading skills, and writing.

Students are assigned daily homework and are expected to practice reading the assigned passages until fluent, as they will be asked to read some or all of the assignment in class following day.

Overview of the English Language Arts Program for Kindergarten:

Students receive seven full periods of English language instruction in Kindergarten, prepared and administered by Siran Nahabedian. Each day the students will have at least one period of English, and twice per week, they'll have two periods of English.

The concepts and themes covered during the day with the primary Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Karpanian, will often be covered again in the English periods. In this manner, students hear lessons and vocabulary in both languages and benefit from the repetition of ideas. Students are encouraged to listen carefully to details, do their best work, and express themselves in their oral and written work/presentations.

In order to absorb a language, students must hear it spoken regularly. Mrs. Nahabedian reads a variety of stories and poems to the class almost every day. The language will be practiced through discussion about the themes of the stories, important words and ideas, and students will do a related activity based on the story or poem they've heard. The class will also learn rhymes, color pictures, cut and paste different language projects, and create art relating to the letters they're learning or the stories read to them. Their work will relate to various themes such as birthdays, weather, sharing, the circus, etc.

Students are encouraged to express themselves in full sentences, ask questions, learn about action words, cause and affect, identify colors, learn left from right, etc. The English alphabet is taught on all levels (learning how to say the letters, how to write the letters properly, and how to make the sounds that go with the letters), with the goal reading short words and sentences by the end of the year. Students will receive English homework 3-4 times per week, in order to reinforce the lessons taught in class.
 

Houghton-Mifflin's English for Kindergarten and Modern Curriculum Press/ Phonics for Kindergarten. Mrs. Nahabedian also uses storybooks, magazines, videos, posters, and other visual and written materials to help the students learn. English Language Arts for Kindergarten gives children good familiarity with the English language, as they listen and practice the language in a friendly environment. By the end of Kindergarten, students feel more comfortable in using heir English language skills and knowledge in and out of the classroom.

Students' work is evaluated based on their participation, effort, neatness and promptness, as well as on their general understanding of the material covered. Sometimes, unfinished or messy work is sent home to be completed or corrected. A star on a paper means that the work is very good; a smiley face means that it is acceptable, with some mistakes, and a check minus means that the work is not satisfactory, and that the child needs more help in this area. Students are reminded to do their best and to work neatly and quietly. Students who choose not to listen or cooperate will have a time out for a few minutes, as needed. Parents will be notified if their child has difficulty following the rules of the classroom/school. Mrs. Nahabedian may request a meeting with a parent/parents to discuss the behavior or progress of that child, and similarly, parents should feel free to write her a note, e-mail make an appointment, or visit her in her 4th grade homeroom classroom on the 2nd floor.
 

Overview of the Mathematics Program for Kindergarten:

The goals of Kindergarten Mathematics are for students to:

Recognize, write, and count from 0 to 50 (By the end of the year, most students will be able to count to 100 or higher); Recognize, compare, and match geometric shapes; Recognize and classify a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors Recognize three mathematical signs at minimum (addition, subtraction, and equal signs); Computation, in the form of addition and subtraction between single digits.

Textbook: Math (Addion-Wesley)

Overview of the Science Program for Kindergarten:

Kindergarten instruction incorporates an ample number of scientific experiments. Students are also introduced to the basic scientific method of formulating a question, a hypothesis, and conducting an experiment to reach a conclusion. In addition to discovering natural phenomenon like air, water, land, plants and animals, the topics of cleanliness, well being, emotions and feelings are also introduced. Text: Science (Harcourt Publishers)
 

Overview of the Social Science Program for Kindergarten:

Kindergarten students will be able to:

Share stories and re-tell favorite story-books Know the significance of holidays Identify the seasons and their characteristics Recognize whether fluctuations Know the days of the week, months of the year, and parts of the day (morning, noon, afternoon, evening)

Students learn the importance of treating one another the way they would like to be treated, politeness, kindness, and respect. They are taught that they all perform to the best of their abilities by cooperating with one another, listening to the teacher and to each other, following directions, and sharing.