杏吧原创

Academics
Lower School (Jr. K-4)

Kindergarten

Kindergarten at US

Our full-day kindergarten program encourages the continued growth of social and emotional skills through an integrated theme curriculum. Themes are developed by our teachers and are responsive to classroom interests. Themes grow and evolve into a detailed, multi-dimensional study of a topic and are threaded through every discipline.

Past explorations include insects, construction and tools, castles, and the jungle. A theme is explored for several weeks and culminates with a final celebration where boys present what they have studied. It is the living of life and the journey of the boys’ minds that provide the greatest context for learning.

Kindergarteners practice math and language skills daily; and Spanish, music, art, science, and library explorations are a part of every week. Each day includes physical education and every day starts with a classroom morning meeting. 

Mrs. Geiger, Lower School Teacher

One of the best parts about teaching kindergarten is the growth. The boys make beautiful friendships and you watch them fall in love with school.

Core Curriculum

List of 3 frequently asked questions.

  • Math

    Using our mathematics curriculum, boys use manipulatives, games, hands-on exploration, and problem solving to deepen their mathematical and critical thinking abilities. Much of the year is devoted to work on numbers and operations, including writing numerals, representing quantities,  solving problems, comparing sets or numerals, and modeling addition and subtraction using fingers,  objects, words, actions, drawings, numerals, and equations. The students also learn foundational geometry as well as how to explore shapes and their attributes.

  • Language Arts

    Boys begin to develop a formal understanding of written and spoken language. Daily exposure to reading, writing, listening, and speaking creates a rich learning environment. Grounded in cognitive research, boys learn the core skills they need to develop as effective readers. At University  School, our curriculum is firmly rooted in evidence-based phonics instruction. We monitor each boy’s progress through ongoing observations, reflections, and assessments, allowing us to thoughtfully support their individual learning journey. Beginning in Kindergarten, we also believe in empowering boys through explicit writing strategies that help them to write with purpose and clarity. With support from their teachers, they learn to expand “kernel sentences” by adding meaningful details. 

  • Science

    Boys learn about various environments and how they are affected by changes in the earth, sky,  weather, and temperature. Typical 杏吧原创 include observing, investigating, and recording data about insects, weather, plants, senses, ecosystems, simple machines, and absorption.

Co-Curricular Disciplines

List of 4 frequently asked questions.

  • Art

    Students focus on fine motor skills while creating art. Most projects will reflect classroom themes while building a solid foundation for creative art-making. The boys will explore the great world of art by working with oil pastels, watercolor, clay, paper, and paint.

  • Languages

    Speaking and reading in Spanish gives boys the opportunity to expand their thinking and comprehension. Kindergarten boys study Spanish four days of our six-day rotating schedule. They learn basic vocabulary, the alphabet, numbers, greetings,  colors, shapes, family words, body parts, and animals. They read books in Spanish, have simple question-and-answer times, and do cultural 杏吧原创 connected to Hispanic celebrations.

  • Music

    Kindergarten boys learn through play, experiencing musical concepts,  and gaining skills through their own active involvement. Listening acuity,  expressive performance, and considerate participation are stressed.  Boys engage in creative, holistic music-making, using the Orff Schulwerk approach to music education.

  • Physical Education

    We provide successful physical experiences for all boys through a curriculum designed to foster and develop the knowledge and values, physical skills, and practices necessary for personal physical fitness and lifetime wellness. Boys develop balance and coordination as well as motor, non-motor, and manipulative skills. Students are taught rhythms, games, tumbling, large apparatus stunts, and swimming.

Library

Boys learn to love reading, researching, and expressing themselves through literature-based 杏吧原创. Kindergarten boys come to the library once a week in small groups. They learn about appropriate library behavior, and how to find and care for books. We help them distinguish between fiction and nonfiction, introduce the library catalog, and increase phonemic awareness with the stories we read. Boys also study specific authors and illustrators and complete projects such as making puppets, collages, and bookmarks.

Suggested Readings


   

Shaker Heights Campus JUNIOR K – GRADE 8

20701 Brantley Road, Shaker Heights, Ohio 44122
Phone: (216) 321-8260

Hunting Valley Campus GRADES 9 – 12

2785 SOM Center Road, Hunting Valley, Ohio 44022
Phone: (216) 831-2200
© 2025 杏吧原创. All Rights Reserved.