What your child learns in Kindergarten in Alaska
Kindergarten in Alaska is a year of learning through play, stories and hands-on activities. Children learn letters and sounds, count to 100 and start adding and taking away within 10. In social studies they learn about themselves, families, rules and jobs, and the places around them.
Kindergarten subjects in the Alaska content standards
Math
Focus areas
- Number and operations: counting to 100, numbers to 20, and adding and subtracting within 10
- Geometry: shapes, angles and the space around us
- Measurement and data: measuring, collecting data and reading what it shows
10 units, including Count to 10, Make 5 and 10, Add & Take Away, More, Less, Same.
English Language Arts
Focus areas
- Reading: letters, sounds and first words
- Writing: drawing and writing to share an idea
- Speaking and listening: sharing ideas and building on what others say
12 units, including Letter Partners, First Sounds, Rhyme Time, Clap the Beat.
Science
Focus areas
- Pushes and pulls
- Weather and climate
- What plants and animals need
8 units, including What Living Things Need, Push & Pull, Weather & Seasons, Care for Our Earth.
Social Studies
Focus areas
- Me, my family and my classroom
- Rules, leaders and getting along
- Needs, wants and the work people do
9 units, including All About Me, Families, Needs & Wants, Places Near Me.
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
Many Alaska districts use standards-based report cards. Expect comments on letters and sounds, counting, following routines, getting along with classmates and how your child shares ideas. Schools also check early reading skills a few times a year under the Alaska Reads Act.
Alaska has no statewide report-card scale in Kindergarten, so Gradelings describes practice in four steps: Beginning, Approaching, Meeting, Exceeding. See what each level means.
Alaska's Cultural Standards for Students apply in every grade and every subject. Read about Cultural Standards.
The four practice steps in Kindergarten
- Beginning
- Practice shows a first understanding of the learning 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 learning 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 learning 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 learning 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 Alaska content standards. Kindergarten in Alaska is a year of learning through play, stories and hands-on activities. Children learn letters and sounds, count to 100 and start adding and taking away within 10. In social studies they learn about themselves, families, rules and jobs, and the places around them.
Alaska 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 learning 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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