What your child learns in Kindergarten in Alabama
Kindergarten in Alabama is a year of learning through play, stories and hands-on activities. Children learn letters and sounds, count to 100 by ones and tens, and start adding and taking away within 10. Science looks at pushes and pulls, living things and weather, and social studies covers family, school and community, rules and community helpers.
Kindergarten subjects in the Alabama Course of Study
Math
Focus areas
- Numbers and operations: counting to 100, numbers to 20, and adding and subtracting within 10
- Measurement, data and geometry: naming and comparing shapes, comparing lengths and weights, and sorting
- Student mathematical practices: making sense of problems and explaining reasoning
11 units, including Count to 10, Make 5 and 10, Add & Take Away, More, Less, Same.
English Language Arts
Focus areas
- Reading: letters and sounds, rhyming, sight words, and asking about stories
- Writing, speaking and listening: drawing and telling ideas, and taking turns in conversation
- Vocabulary and language: building word knowledge and using grammar, spelling and punctuation
12 units, including Letter Partners, First Sounds, Rhyme Time, Clap the Beat.
Science
Focus areas
- Pushes and pulls, plants and animals and their needs, weather and the sun's warmth
- Science and engineering practices: observing, sorting and asking questions
- Engineering design: solving real problems in Alabama and beyond
13 units, including Push & Pull, Make It Work, What Living Things Need, Living Things.
Social Studies
Focus areas
- Course: Living and Working Together in Family and Community
- Rules, responsibilities and community helpers
- Needs, wants, goods and services
13 units, including My Jobs, Rules & Leaders, Good Citizens, Families, Symbols & Holidays.
Printable Kindergarten sheets
One free practice sheet for each subject, with an answer key. Print them, or work through them on screen.
What to look for on the report card
Expect comments on letters and sounds, counting, following routines, getting along with classmates and how your child shares ideas.
Alabama has no statewide report-card scale in Kindergarten, so Gradelings describes practice in four steps: Beginning, Approaching, Meeting, Exceeding. See what each level means.
Alabama's learning practices apply in every grade. Read about Learning practices.
The four practice steps in Kindergarten
- Beginning
- Practice shows a first understanding of the content standards. Most answers still need a hint or a second try.
- At home: Just getting started with this idea. Short, regular practice with lots of support helps most.
- Approaching
- Practice shows a partial understanding of the content standards. Some answers are right on the first try.
- At home: Understands parts of it and is building confidence. Keep practicing the tricky parts.
- Meeting
- Practice shows a solid understanding of the content standards. Most answers are right on the first try.
- At home: Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
- Exceeding
- Practice shows a deep understanding of the content standards, including harder, unfamiliar questions.
- At home: Applies it confidently, even in new or harder situations. Try challenge mode and real-life problems.
Common questions
Kindergarten covers math, English language arts, science, social studies in the Alabama Course of Study. Kindergarten in Alabama is a year of learning through play, stories and hands-on activities. Children learn letters and sounds, count to 100 by ones and tens, and start adding and taking away within 10. Science looks at pushes and pulls, living things and weather, and social studies covers family, school and community, rules and community helpers.
Alabama has no statewide report-card scale in Kindergarten, so Gradelings describes practice in four steps: Beginning, Approaching, Meeting, Exceeding.
Practice shows a solid understanding of the content standards. Most answers are right on the first try. At home: Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
About 10 minutes a day of short practice works better than long sessions, on the skills your child's teacher flags. Count everyday things out loud: stairs, grapes, steps to the car. Read aloud every day and let your child finish familiar phrases. Praise effort, and stop on a success.
Practice Kindergarten skills with Gradelings
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