Kindergarten

Kindergarten is the first year of most children’s formal education. A lot of time is spent on learning routines and getting used to being in school. It is a big adjustment for many children, and can sometimes be difficult. Syracuse Academy provides a warm, caring environment where all children can feel welcome and comfortable. 

Kindergarten is a time when children learn many of the skills and concepts that they will need throughout their education. They will learn the basics of phonics, writing, reading, and reading comprehension as well as mathematical concepts. English Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science are all part of our daily schedule. They are essential components of our curriculum and are often interrelated. 

In addition to academics, kindergarten students have three specials classes: Art, Music, and Physical Education. Each afternoon, kindergarteners recess and snack time. Play is an important part of the day for young children and we make sure to set aside some time for play each day. It provides them with an opportunity to form strong social relationships, engage in dramatic play, and explore new materials. Our four rules are Be Responsible, Be Kind, Be Respectful, and Be Safe. Our students are expected to follow these four rules and to treat each other as they would want to be treated themselves. Students are encouraged to take an active role in the creation of a learning environment that is caring, welcoming, respectful, and diverse.

Students will learn about themselves as individuals and part of a group; about their families and community and about the world around them. All kindergarteners participate in two field trips a month. This is a very exciting time for our Little Atoms, as they have the opportunity to complement class learnings with hands-on, real-life experience. 

So much happens in kindergarten! Because of this, parents as well as children may have some apprehensions about what will happen. It is extremely important to keep in mind that we all build on small successes. Each child will progress at his/her own rate, acquiring skills as he/she is developmentally ready. Maintaining each child's self-esteem and building a secure foundation for future growth will always remain a priority in our class. 

Some ways that you can help make your child's year a success are:

• Celebrate your child's success, no matter how small it may seem. This will keep your child enthusiastic about learning and proud of their work! This will also help your child to continue to try his/her best in all areas of learning.
• Read to and with your child everyday. The more your child is exposed to language, the easier it will be for him/her to incorporate new skills in reading and writing in the classroom.
• Check your child's folder every day for important notes and help them with their homework. This will show your child that you are interested in what he/she is doing in school and that homework is also an important part of learning.
• Keep open communication with your child, your child's teacher, and the school. Any questions or concerns can only be addressed when we talk openly.

Kindergarten Supply List 

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First Grade

Welcome to first Grade! We work rigorously on the four basic components of education, including Common Core English Language Arts (ELA), Common Core Math, Science, and Social Studies. 

In first grade we have 5 rules that we follow in our classrooms.  They include: Keeping our hands to ourselves, Being kind and polite to all, remembering to raise our polite hands, always handling problems is a calm manner and having fun while being safe! 

In English Language Arts, there is a strong emphasis on developing reading strategies, such as: chunking, blending, fluent reading and reading with expression. First graders work on the importance of parts of a story, such as setting, main idea, characters, and plot. Additionally, first graders analyze a variety of texts in order to create an understanding of how different pieces relate to one another. They also begin to work on finding spelling patterns, while becoming familiar with blends and digraphs. 

In math, students make sense of problems and persevere in solving them! They work on adding and subtracting within 100 and becoming fluent in adding or subtracting ten from any number.  Additionally, students will understand that a 2 digit number represents a certain number of tens and ones.  First graders learn to distinguish shapes based on attributes and how to create new shapes from a composite shape. Lastly, in first grade students begin to learn about money and time. 

During social studies, students focus a great deal on character traits and becoming positive, well- mannered citizens within our community. They have numerous opportunities to work with peers and further develop their social skills.

During science, students focus on inquiry and observations. They learn about these two ideas through a variety of topics including: technology, animals, plants, habitats, weather, and energy. Students are developing into inquisitive scientists within our classrooms!

Throughout the year, students have different specials during the day including Physical Education, Music, and Art. We have a daily dedicated time for recess and snack as well. There are multiple opportunities for field trips throughout the school year at our school! The first grade team plans two per month! 

First Grade Supply List 

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Second Grade

Second grade is an exciting year in elementary education! It is the year that students begin to master all of the skills they learned in previous grades.

English Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies are all a part of our daily schedule. In English Language Arts, second grade students are beginning to read more complicated texts, become fluent readers at their own levels and begin to write more complex sentences and paragraphs. In Math, second grade students are exploring numbers through place value, addition, and subtraction. By the end of the year, our students will be working on measurements, geometry, and fractions! Throughout the school year, second graders will learn about their communities, government and character traits in Social Studies, while studying the world around them in Science. A cross-curriculum approach is emphasized in an effort to support student learning as we move through each subject area.

In addition to our core curriculum, second graders have one or two special classes each day. These include Art, Music, Physical Education, and Computer. We also set aside time for recess each day so that our students may continue to build social relationships with their classmates, engage in new materials and simply let their bodies move!

Our school expectations are:

• Follow directions the first time
• Keeps hands, feet, and objects to yourself
• Use positive language such as "please", "thank you", excuse me"
• Walk in the class and school
• Raise your hand to be called on.

Second grade students are held to a high standard but are also rewarded with various forms of positive reinforcement in each classroom. Students will be engaged in learning in a fun, safe and respectful environment!

We look forward to seeing our second graders learn and grow!

Second Grade Supply List

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Third Grade

Third grade is an exciting year in elementary education! It is the year that students begin to master all of the skills they learned in previous grades.

Third Grade Supply List

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Fourth Grade

Third grade is an exciting year in elementary education! It is the year that students begin to master all of the skills they learned in previous grades.

Fourth Grade Supply List

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Fifth Grade

Third grade is an exciting year in elementary education! It is the year that students begin to master all of the skills they learned in previous grades.

Fifth Grade Supply List

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