Learning in Kindergarten

In Kindergarten, your child will have many opportunities to learn, build skills, develop social relationships and become familiar with the routines of school. The Kindergarten program includes four frames: Belonging and Contributing, Self-Regulation and Well-Being, Demonstrating Literacy and Mathematics Behaviours, and Problem Solving and Innovating. These four frames align with the way children’s learning naturally occurs and focuses on aspects of learning that are critical to young children’s development.

TVO has created the learning activities within each frame to ensure that all of the overall expectations are addressed. Within the kindergarten program, some expectations appear in more than one frame. There is recognition that various aspects and areas of learning are interconnected. The four frames are intentionally broad areas of learning to support the integrated way in which learning occurs in children’s play and inquiry. TVO has committed to ensuring that all specific expectations appear in at least one of the four frames.

The Four Frames

In Kindergarten, learning expectations are connected with four "frames": Belonging and Contributing, Self-Regulation and Well-Being, Demonstrating Literacy and Mathematics Behaviours, and Problem Solving and Innovating. Children's key learning and growth in learning in these four areas are evaluated and described in communication to families. This communication includes the following information:

Belonging and Contributing focuses on children's:
  • sense of connectedness to others;
  • ability to form relationships and make contributions as part of a group, a community, and the natural world;
  • developing understanding of how people relate to one another and to the world around them.

What children learn in connection with this frame provides them with a sense of being personally connected to various groups and communities and lays the foundation for developing the traits and attitudes required for responsible citizenship.

Self-Regulation and Well-Being focuses on children's:
  • ability to understand their own thoughts and feelings, to see that others may have different thoughts and feelings, and to respect those differences;
  • ability to understand and manage their emotions and impulses, find ways to deal with distractions, and be aware that their actions have consequences;
  • awareness of their physical and mental health and wellness. What children learn in connection with this frame allows them to focus, to learn, to respect themselves and others, and to promote well-being in themselves and others.

Demonstrating Literacy and Mathematics Behaviours focuses on children's:
  • ability to communicate their thoughts and feelings in various ways, using their bodies, words, symbols, images, constructions, and/or other forms of expression;
  • "literacy behaviours" – the various ways in which children use language, images, and materials to express ideas and emotions as they respond to words and stories, begin to think critically, and begin to read and write;
  • "mathematics behaviours" – the various ways in which children use concepts of number and pattern during play and inquiry; process various kinds of information; and begin to grasp mathematical relationships, concepts, skills, and processes;
  • curiosity about literacy and mathematics and love of learning in general, as they develop the habit of learning for life. What children learn in connection with this frame develops their capacity to think critically, to understand and respect many different perspectives, and to process various kinds of information.

Problem Solving and Innovating focuses on children's:
  • desire to explore the world out of natural curiosity, which develops their minds, their senses, and their bodies;
  • desire to make meaning of their world by asking questions, testing theories, solving problems, and using creative and analytical thinking;
  • confidence to explore the innovative thoughts and activities that naturally arise with an active curiosity, and to apply those ideas as they interact with others and with the world.

What children learn in connection with this frame will help them develop the habit of applying creative, analytical, and critical-thinking skills in all aspects of their lives. What children learn in connection with all four frames lays the foundation for developing traits and attitudes they will need to become active, contributing, responsible citizens and healthy, engaged individuals who take responsibility for their own and others' well-being.

From: “The Kindergarten Communication of Learning” (Ontario Ministry of Education, 2016)
Source: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/document/forms/report/card/3046_en.pdf