List of 8 frequently asked questions.

• Inquiry-Based Learning

  Kindergarteners dive into big questions in social studies and science through hands-on, interdisciplinary learning that nurtures their growing independence and agency. Early in the year, they explore community, friendship, and conflict resolution—asking, What makes a good friend? How do friends solve conflicts? How can disagreements make a friendship stronger? 
  
  As budding scientists, they investigate pumpkins, animal adaptations, redwood forest ecosystems, and trout lifecycles, discovering how living things grow, change, and connect. Through these studies, they build ecoliteracy and recognize their ability to impact the environment. Kindergarteners continue to explore the idea of making a difference through inquiry-based studies of changemakers, like Martin Luther King Jr., Julia Butterfly Hill, and Wangari Maathai.

• Anti-Bias Curriculum

  We use an anti-bias curriculum to help young children develop a strong identity, value and understand difference and diversity, recognize unfairness, and take action. Kindergarteners explore identity, diversity, justice, and action as they engage meaningfully with their community. We intentionally discuss our similarities and differences through family shares, self-portraits, books, cultural celebrations, and more, fostering pride and belonging while encouraging curiosity, respect, and connection through both similarities and differences.

• Reading

  At the start of kindergarten, most students are learning how print works, connecting letters to sounds, and decoding simple text. As the year goes on, they learn to recognize high-frequency words and apply strategies to build independence. Students also engage in daily phonics instruction through the Fundations program, which builds foundational skills in phonemic awareness, phonics, handwriting, and spelling. They learn to read decodable texts, spell simple and commonly used words, and apply these skills across reading and writing activities. By year’s end, students can read and understand simple stories, read with expression, discuss books, and choose books of interest for independent reading. Teachers support this growth through direct instruction, small groups, and 1:1 coaching during daily literacy activities.

• Writing

  At CDS, kindergarteners learn to write through authentic, memorable experiences, discovering that we are all writers! Students progress from telling stories through pictures to more detailed written accounts as they discover how to form letters, build their vocabulary, and practice. By year’s end, they write with spaces, move left to right and top to bottom, match print to drawings, spell many words correctly, and compose messages, informational texts, and stories with growing independence. Teachers support this progress through direct instruction, small groups, and 1:1 coaching during daily literacy activities. By the end of the year, kindergarteners have written informational books related to their ecosystem studies, crafted how-tos, and used journaling to express thoughts and feelings.

• Math

  Kindergarteners begin the Bridges program, used across CDS's K-5 curriculum, to build foundational math skills and develop positive math identities. They learn to recognize and write numbers 1-20, count to 100 by 1’s, 5’s, and 10’s, add and subtract through 10, and explore 2D and 3D shapes. Through hands-on tools, Number Corner, and math talks, students practice applying skills, explaining their reasoning, and learning from peers. Teachers encourage multiple problem-solving strategies, foster collaboration, and help students develop problem-solving skills, conceptual understanding, and procedural fluency. Learn more about math at CDS.

• Spanish

  Kindergarten students have Spanish class twice a week with our dedicated Spanish teacher for Grades TK-4. In kindergarten, oral communication is our primary focus, with students developing listening and speaking skills through games, dialogue, puppet shows, and physical movement. Early learners build foundational vocabulary, including greetings, names, colors, numbers, physical descriptions, animals, and simple phrases, reinforced through storytelling and written exercises. Beyond language skills, students explore the heritage, history, traditions, and music of Spanish-speaking cultures. They learn about significant cultural events, such as the Day of the Dead, Las Posadas, and Cinco de Mayo, as well as key figures in Latino civil rights, like Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta.

• Farm & Garden

  Farm & Garden class takes place weekly in our on-campus garden and chicken coop, bringing science lessons to life and building students' connection to the natural world. Kindergarteners study the five senses using their Owl Eyes, Deer Ears, Coyote Nose, Lizard Tongue, and Raccoon Touch to explore the natural world. For example, they practice listening as they create a sound map, participate in a blindfolded taste test, go on a smelly scavenger hunt, learn how to mix and match colors and explore the different textures of our garden.

• Art & Music

  Weekly Art classes nurture creativity, encourage experimentation, and teach children how to problem-solve, collaborate, and express themselves. Art classes relate to what kindergarteners are learning in other subjects; for example, a ceramic pumpkin-making project times up with the students’ scientific study of pumpkins and life cycles. Kindergarteners read and analyze picture books, learning how illustrators create their artwork and gaining inspiration for their own pieces. Students also learn techniques through in-depth artist studies, discovering how activists have created art to inspire change.

  
  In weekly Music classes, kindergarteners approach the musical world with curiosity through imaginative play and exploration. Students experience the basic elements of music like rhythm, pitch, and meter through games, songs, and movement activities that build their skills in the listening, comprehension, and expression of music. Using a multicultural repertoire, students learn about the lives of others and their musical traditions.