Kindergarten is an exciting time full of learning and fun!
Our ISR Kindergarten offers children an enriching English-speaking academic program, which includes lessons in English, Mathematics, German, Music, Art, and Sports. At ISR, we emphasize social and emotional development by assisting children in expressing their needs and forming relationships with their peers. Our multilingual environment offers children the opportunity to familiarize themselves with different cultures and languages from an early age. This enables our kindergarten children to learn an understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity. We encourage parents to take an active part in their child’s educational experience and look forward to a successful and productive kindergarten time together.
Our goal is to truly know your child well and use this knowledge to guide, support, and motivate him or her. We believe that good teaching requires continual professional development, personal reflection, and collaboration.
A Typical Day in Kindergarten
Our K-Starter children (3-year-olds) and Early Years Educators begin the day by putting our belongings away and putting on our house shoes for morning playtime. A morning song indicates it is time to join our morning circle. This includes singing, dancing, and listening to some stories. After circle time, we enjoy a healthy morning snack together. We continue with circle times in English, numeracy, and German. After our circle time, 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. Not only that, but we also incorporate centers into our day, to aid in developing specific skills. Developing independence is also encouraged, and a lot of time is spent reinforcing the child’s confidence in completing tasks on their own.
We also enjoy Music as well as Mindful & Motoric Movement lessons. We attend Library where the Librarian reads us fun stories, and we complete some coloring activities based on these stories.
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 period begins, where children lay down on mats to rest. Our afternoons are filled with music, dancing, games, arts and crafts, a second snack time, and indoor/ outdoor playtime.
Our KG1 children (4-year-olds) and Early Years Educators begin our day with outside playtime in the mornings (weather permitting!). When the bell rings, the children come to line up. We put on our house shoes and wash our hands for morning circle time. This includes singing, dancing, and listening to some stories. After circle time, we enjoy a healthy morning snack together. We continue with lessons in English, Math, and German. After lessons, we have both indoor and outdoor playtime.
We also enjoy Music as well as Mindful & Motoric Movement lessons. We attend our library, where the Librarian reads us fun stories, and we complete some coloring activities based on these stories.
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 period begins, where children lay down on mats to rest. Our afternoons are filled with music, dancing, games, arts and crafts, a second snack time, and indoor/outdoor playtime.
Our KG2 children (ages 5–6) and Early Years Educators begin the day with outside playtime in the mornings (weather permitting!). When the bell rings, the children come to line up. We put on our house shoes and wash our hands for morning circle time. This includes singing, dancing, and listening to some stories. After circle time, we enjoy a healthy morning snack together. We continue with lessons in English, Math, and German. After lessons, we have both indoor and outdoor playtime.
During the week, we enjoy Music as well as Mindful & Motoric Movement lessons. We also attend our library, where the Librarian reads us fun stories. KG2 children can check out a book from the library on a weekly basis.
We go to the cafeteria for lunch and after lunch, our quiet time period begins. Our afternoons are filled with learning, music, dancing, games, arts and crafts, a second snack time, and indoor/outdoor playtime.
KG Language and Reading Programs
The ISR Reading Program begins in our kindergarten classes. 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.
In addition, our kindergarteners visit the library once a week where they have an opportunity to build a lifetime habit of reading enjoyment by first listening to our librarian, who through magic storytelling skills, inspires our little ones to eagerly check out their own books to take home.
As the kindergarteners move into Primary School, children gain further experience through a guided reading program that includes the Class Readers and the Accelerated Reading (AR) Program. While the Reading program ensures the essential skills such as phonics recognition, word building skills, reading comprehension, and expression are developed, the AR Program exposes our budding readers to a wider variety of topics and reading practice.
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 the sounds, writing out the letters, and using our creativity to make a small piece of artwork that goes with each letter.
In a kid-friendly and playful way, we learn the numbers, colors, and other themes. 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 Early Years Educators continue 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, but no grades. There are three terms lasting approximately 12 weeks in each academic year.
The end-of-term report is an in-depth record of children’s performance over the whole term.
Parent-Teacher Communication
Education is a partnership between home and school. 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.
Your child will be given a bag. Please check these folders nightly and return them in the morning. All important papers and finished work will be sent home on Friday in this folder.
Individual parent-teacher conferences are held via pre-scheduled appointments twice each school year (in autumn and spring). Parents are encouraged to schedule appointments at other times with the Early Years Educators or year group leader during the school year if needed. Parents may also request a meeting with the Head of Kindergarten or School Director at any time at 02131 40388-0.
Please feel free to call or email the school if you have questions regarding your child. We are always happy to schedule a conference to discuss any issue or concern you have regarding your child.
- Parents may phone (Phone: 02131 40388-0) or e-mail (kindergarten@isr-school.de) the Kindergarten year group leader
- For illnesses or absences, please inform us at: absence@isr-school.de
- These are the preferred channels. We do not advise sending letters with students.
Preparation for Grade 1
By the time kindergarteners approach the time to start Grade 1, they already are used to the school building, behavior guidelines, and speaking English and German. They are usually quite excited to be joining the big kids in Primary School.
In addition, we begin preparing how to sit like Grade 1 students in Term 3 of KG2. This involves changing our tables from circle-shaped group tables to single rows. We also start using the main school playground in Term 3. 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 students and their families can join the traditional German Einschulungszeremonie (first day of school), 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.
Enrollment Ages
Acceptance into KStarter is determined by the age of your child and the results of their age-appropriate Readiness Check. Children must be 3 years old by the 30th of June of the year of enrollment. Children born after the 30th of June of the enrollment year must first be assessed, in person, for their individual “readiness” (diaper-free) before acceptance can be decided. KStarter children are typically 3 years old.
KG1 and KG2 acceptance is determined by similar criteria as 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 enrollment. 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 08:15 AM.
- Parents are asked to check in their child(ren) immediately upon arrival with a supervisor on the playground or to a designated indoor area when the weather is inclement.
- It is recommended that all kindergarten children be present for the opening activities, which are scheduled during the morning homeroom period starting at 08:20 AM. Please note that our facilities are not open to children or parents before 07:50 AM.
Children arriving at school any time after 08:20 AM must first sign in and obtain a ‘late pass’ (located at the table set up on the ground floor corridor outside of the cafeteria) which should be given to the Early Years Educator on entering the group.
- Kindergarten classes end at 3:20 PM. Parents may pick up their child (ren) after 3:20 PM. Kindergarten children may be picked up from the playground or from their classroom when the weather is inclement.
- In the event of ‘wet’ weather, KG 1 and KG 2 students will remain in their classrooms until 4:00 PM.
- Parents should sign out their child with the supervisor on the playground or in the classroom.
- Kindergarten supervision begins at 3:20 PM and ends at 4:15 PM. Any child who is still in our care after 4:15 PM will remain in the kindergarten for the Extended Care Program, which ends at 5:45 PM.
Parents should notify the kindergarten Early Years Educators by e-mail kindergarten@isr-school.de or absence@isr-school.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, ISR News, and bulletin boards for the latest news and events.
