Whales
Grade R is a pivotal time in the development of learners during the pre-school years. It is considered part of the Foundation Phase although is still not officially compulsory. It is the year in which school readiness is generally determined and concepts needed for Grade 1 are learnt, reinforced and consolidated. Each child is completely different with different talents and different challenges. It is our job to help make sure they are well balanced and happy individuals with all the tools they need to go to big school, along with the sound academic foundation needed to be successful in a Grade 1 class.
The way in which we teach and learn in Grade R is made up of three main areas. These areas are covered in a fun, play –based and incidental way without a heavy emphasis on formal instruction. The three main areas are Language, Numeracy and Life Skills.
Language in Grade R consists primarily of concepts needed in order for the children to learn to read and write. These include phonics, expressive language, listening skills, visual perception, auditory perception, emergent writing (fine motor skills). We cover these areas by doing art, playing games, singing, class discussions and language rings, drama, show and tell, week-end news, working in our phonics books, reading stories and asking questions, sequencing events and stories and just generally having fun!
Numeracy in Grade R consists of consolidating and further developing the concepts already learned in previous years such as number concepts, number recognition, counting, patterns, space and shape, measurement and data handling. Critical thinking skills are developed, and children are encouraged to think ‘out the box’. We often work in smaller groups with the children to give them more one on one attention. We also have an interactive white board on which we play lots of maths games.
Life Skills in Grade R is an area where a lot of attention is paid to the emotional and social development of the children. It is important that your child can handle and respond appropriately to situations not only with their peers but their teachers alike. That they are able to concentrate when required to and listen effectively to instructions given; that they show empathy and concern for their peers; that they can work and participate in group situations, that they show perseverance during challenging tasks and that they can show self-control when needed.
Fine Motor and Gross motor skills are also covered in this area. It is important that children the develop stamina needed for the more formal class setting. They need to be able to sit on a chair at their table and on the mat without slouching and falling over, they should be able to skip, hop, run, balance, crawl and cross their mid-lines (important for reading and writing). They should be able to throw and catch a ball (hand eye co-ordination). Participating in group physical activities helps develop their confidence. Healthy body = healthy mind. In saying all the above, we absolutely do not advocate or agree that every child needs to be at the same level by the end of Grade R. So much happens at this age and some areas develop quicker than others.
