SECTION 210:15-3-5. Overview

(a)   Kindergarten programs should be appropriate for the age and developmental level of each child. Teaching is based on the knowledge of how young children develop and learn. The learning environment fosters all areas of development: intellectual, language, physical and social; and provides the challenge for children to learn according to their individual growth patterns. Kindergarten programs should:

(1)   Provide an environment designed for the age group served and implemented with attention to the needs and differences of the individual children.

(2)   Provide units or themes of interest to children which integrate and teach all areas of the core curriculum (e.g., language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, the arts).

(3)   Provide an environment arranged in learning centers or learning areas (e.g., art center, science center, reading center, dramatic play center, block center). Each center will have a variety of activities for the children. This arrangement allows for a wide range of developmental interests and abilities within the same classroom.

(4)   Provide a balance of classroom activities that are teacher-directed and child-initiated. These activities may be active or quiet, performed individually or in large and small groups.

(5)   Provide a learning process which is active; one in which children interact with each other and materials while engaging in cooperative hands-on learning with day-to-day life experiences.

(6)   Provide curriculum which builds upon what children already know and are able to do to enable them to connect new concepts and skills.

(7)   Provide opportunities for exposure to a wide variety of information and literacy experiences and the use of technology through daily activities in the classroom and/or media center.

(b)   These PRIORITY ACADEMIC STUDENT SKILLS (PASS) are intended to be a minimum curriculum for children attending kindergarten in Oklahoma. Teachers trained in early childhood curriculum theories will provide an enriched curriculum including the following skills and many others.

[Source: Added at 20 Ok Reg 159, eff 10-10-02 (emergency); Added at 20 Ok Reg 821, eff 5-15-03]