German/ Kindergarten is an exciting time full of learning and fun!
ISR has opened an English speaking Kindergarten in Düsseldorf, on Niederkasseler Kirchweg 36! This brand new Kindergarten was completed in August 2020 with a capacity for educating over 100 boys and girls aged three and above.
Essential aspects of the educational philosophy practiced at ISR in Neuss have been implemented at our new location. For example, English is solely taught by native speakers and German 
lessons are be mandatory. Apart from the multi-lingual lessons, the ISR pre-schoolers also familiarize themselves with numbers and letters to be ready for primary school. A team consisting of one fully trained Early Years Educators and one to two teaching assistants are responsible for a group of maximum 20 children. This enables a very individualised and comprehensive care for each child.
If you are interested in applying to join our new Kindergarten, please fill out the form at the bottom of this page.
Are you curious about what a day in Kindergarten is like?
Click here and scroll down to have a peek!
A Typical Day in Kindergarten
Kindergarten Starters
Our K-Starter children (3-year-olds) and Early Years Educators begin their day by putting their belongings away and putting on their house shoes for morning playtime. A morning song indicates it is time to tidy up and wash hands. All the children enjoy a healthy morning snack together. Afterwards, they join the morning circle. This includes singing, listening to stories and looking at the schedule for the day. We continue with circle times in English, numeracy, and German. After our circle times, we have both indoor and outdoor playtime.
We place a big emphasis on developing the children’s social and emotional skills, which help the children communicate their needs and form relationships with their peers. We read books, sing songs, and play games to reinforce these soft skills. We also incorporate centres into our day, to aid in developing specific skills. Developing self-management skills is also encouraged, we spent time on practising putting on our shoes, coats and rain pants.
We also enjoy Music as well as Mindful & Motoric Movement lessons by a specialised external team.
We eat lunch with our friends in the classroom. Here children practice setting and clearing the table, using utensils and developing their table manners. After lunch, our quiet time begins, during which children can rest their bodies and sleep. Our afternoons are filled with music, dancing, games, arts and crafts, a second snack time and indoor/ outdoor playtime.
KG1
Our KG1 children (4-year-olds) begin their day by independently putting on their house shoes and washing their hands for a healthy morning snack together. After breakfast, we start our morning circle time. This includes updating our class calendar, singing and reviewing what we learned the day before. We continue with lessons in English, Math and German, which consist of a 10-15 minutes circle time and optional centres afterwards. After lessons, we enjoy outdoor playtime with our friends.
Additionally, we take part in Music and Mindful & Motoric Movement sessions, which both take place in the movement room by external experts.
We eat lunch with our friends in the classroom. All children are helping to set and clear the table, practise using utensils, and learn about healthy food. After lunch, our quiet time period begins, where children lay down on mats to rest or read a story. In the afternoons, we enjoy listening and making music, dancing, playing games and creating beautiful art pieces. In between, we enjoy playing outside and eat out our second snack.
KG 2
Our KG2 children (5-year-olds) begin their day by independently walking to their group room, putting on their house shoes and washing their hands. Everybody helps to set up breakfast and all children enjoy a healthy snack together. After breakfast, we start our morning circle time. This includes updating our calendar and reviewing the letter and number of the week. We continue with lessons in English, Math and German. During these lessons, children engage in a circle time together, have the opportunity to choose centres they would like to complete and spend small group focused time with their Early Years Educator. Once the sessions are finished, we get ready for outside and play with our friends on the playground.
Once a week, we take part in Music as well as Mindful & Motoric Movement lessons, which are hosted by a music and sports teacher.
Lunch is eaten in the group rooms. Children practice setting and clearing the table, using utensils, and developing their table manners. After lunch, our quiet time period begins, where children engage in quiet activities such as a table game, Storytime or puzzles. We continue our academic day in the afternoon through reinforcing what we learned in the morning with crafts, games and songs. Furthermore, in the afternoon we eat a second snack and enjoy to play inside and outside the group room.
KG Language and Reading Programs
Our K Starter classes use our K Starter program, which has been developed in-house. This program has been specifically designed to suit our community’s needs and allows children to learn through sensory experiences and themed topics. Within those topics children take part in a variety of learning experiences such as Social Emotional Lessons, baking and nature explorations.
The KG1 and KG2 team incorporate programs developed by the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Educational Team into the children’s daily lessons. Through the guided instruction of phonics, letter shapes, and more complex letter blends later, these essential components lead to a solid foundation in reading skills. KG1 incorporates the HMH On our Way to English program into the lessons, which focuses on English language development and the foundational skills of phonics and letter shapes. KG2 moves on to the HMH Into Reading program, which builds on the foundations of the On our Way to English program and introduces letter blends through targeted guided reading practise and themed picture book investigations.
Both KG1 and KG2 use the HMH Math Expressions program to support numeracy and number skills in the group room.
German
Welcome to our German Department! From “A” like Apfel to “Z” like Zebra, our Kindergarteners learn German letters and words in a fun and playful way. We work together on pronouncing sounds, correct letter formations, and using our creativity to make a small piece of artwork that goes with each letter.
In a child-friendly and playful environment, we learn numbers, colors and extend our vocabulary. In addition, to the traditional German songs, rhymes, and games, we also learn about the regional celebrations in Germany.
In German class, native German speakers are mixed with children from different countries so that we all can learn with each other and from each other.
German Language Screening of 4-year-olds
In keeping with the annual German language screening of 4-year-olds (“Spracherhebung der Vierjährigen”) prescribed by the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, the team of kindergarten teachers continues to do an outstanding job of preparing children with the language skills they need for formal schooling.
Reporting Child Progress
Parents receive one report per term consisting of comments on the skills the child is developing, but no grades. There are two terms in the academic year, each lasting approximately 18 weeks.
The end-of-year report is an in-depth record of chilld performance over the whole academic year.
Parent-Teacher Communication
Education is a partnership between home and Kindergarten. We value parent involvement at every level and encourage open communication with parents. We will send parent communication, weekly class updates, and reminders by email or hard copy.
Preparation for Grade 1
By the time Kindergarteners approach the time to start Grade 1, they already are used to the ISR spirit, behaviour guidelines and speaking English and German. They are excited to be joining the big children in Primary School.
A special visit day for KG2 children is organized in May. The children get to sit beside their new Grade 1 friends and take part in a Grade 1 lesson. This helps the children to become familiar with their new teachers and school environment.
Our experience has shown that this has greatly assisted in creating a smooth transition from Kindergarten to Primary School.
On the first day of Grade 1, the children and their families can join the traditional German Erster Schultag (first day of school) ceremony, where they are given candy and school supplies in a big, decorated paper cone called a Schultüte. They will meet their teachers and be taken to their new classrooms.
Enrolment Ages
Acceptance into KStarter is determined by age. Children must be 3 years old by the 30th of June of the year of enrolment. Children born after the 30th of June of the enrolment year must first be assessed, in person, for their individual “readiness” before acceptance can be decided. KStarter children are typically 3 years old.
KG1 and KG2 acceptance is determined by similar criteria as those used for KStarter, except that the children must be one year older; that is, 4 years old by the 30th of June of the year of enrolment. KG1 children are typically 4 years old and KG2 children are typically 5–6 years old.
Arrival and Departure Procedures
- Children may arrive anytime between 07:30 and 08:30am.
- Parents are asked to check-in their child(ren) immediately upon arrival with an educator at a designated area near the entrance.
- It is recommended that all Kindergarten children be present for breakfast, which starts at 08:30. Please note that our facilities are not open to children or parents before 07:30am.
Children arriving at Kindergarten any time after 09:00 must first sign-in and will then be taken to their group room.
- Kindergarten classes end at 15:10. Parents may pick-up their child(ren) after 15:15. Kindergarten children may be picked up from the playground or from their group room when the weather is inclement.
- In the event of ‘wet’ weather, KG 1 and KG 2 children will remain in their group rooms until 16:00.
- Parents should sign-out their child with the educator in the group room and at the exit.
- Kindergarten supervision begins at 15:15 and ends at 16:15. Any child who is still in our care after 16:15 will remain in the Kindergarten for the Extended Care Program which ends at 18:00.
Parents should notify the kindergarten staff per e-mail info@isr-kindergarten.de, if there is a need for early departure.
KG News & Events
There is always something exciting happening in Kindergarten! Check your child’s home folder for our KG Times Newsletter, our website news, Weekly Update and bulletin boards for the latest news and events.
