Kindergarten

Welcome to Kindergarten

InnovOak students are active participants in their own learning. Purposeful play, explicit instruction, carefully developed activities, and structured learning ensure that there is an academic focus to every part of the day.

Community engagement, educational field trips, guest speakers, and cultural appreciation are just a few of the ways InnovOak School elevates the learning experience for students.

Kindergarten Is More Than Play

  • We don’t wait for students to choose what, when, or how to learn. We continually introduce students to new concepts to broaden and deepen their understanding of the world around them

  • Literacy and Math are explicitly taught to build a solid foundation

  • Teachers differentiate instruction and give every child the individual attention they deserve

  • Learning is structured and continuous throughout the day

  • Skillful teachers turn student curiosity into focused inquiry and exploration with real-world connections

Confidence in Reading & Writing

  • Solidly rooted in the Science of Reading, InnovOak uses Heggerty and UFLI to teach phonics, phonemic awareness, and orthographic mapping

  • Fine motor skill development, proper letter formation and daily printing practice prepare students to be writers

  • Foundational skills, explicit instruction and daily practice accelerate the learning process and build student confidence

  • By the end of kindergarten, InnovOak students will be readers and writers

We SPEAK MATH

  • Math is a language all its own, requiring explicit instruction and daily practice to form a solid understanding

  • Our foundational approach teaches concepts and skills using tools designed to help students understand abstract concepts by manipulating concrete tools

  • Engaging Math activities are designed to build student confidence at an early age and prevent mathematical anxiety in later years

  • We build the foundation for successful, long-term, mathematical achievement

Accountability & Nurturing Excellence

  • Parents can expect to see measurable success even in Kindergarten

  • We engage in regular and transparent communication between home and school

  • Our teachers are approachable and knowledgeable about your child’s current level of learning and next steps

  • Kindergarten is the beginning of a journey that culminates with an InnovOak Upper School Graduation. We maintain high expectations and an academic focus throughout the journey, creating a culture of excellence

  • Our Student Success Team track student achievement and development beginning in Kindergarten

  • We use an enhanced learning curriculum that goes well beyond The Ontario Kindergarten Program to ensure students are academically prepared for Grade 1 and beyond

Expanding Student Perspectives

  • Community engagement, educational field trips, guest speakers and cultural appreciation broaden and deepen students’ understanding of the world around them

  • We use our Upper School resources to enhance the kindergarten experience with opportunities for integration and collaboration

  • Children can’t express interest in what they don’t know exists. We continually expose students to exciting new learning opportunities to expand their perspectives

Curiosity + Purposeful Play = A Dynamic Place to Learn

  • Our teachers ensure purposeful play is a priority in Kindergarten to establish a love of learning

  • Purposeful play allows students to explore their interests through carefully crafted activities designed to challenge and educate

  • Teachers skillfully teach foundational skills in ways that are engaging and fun for students

  • We encourage passion and exploration, a sense of wonder, and a love of learning

  • A bright welcoming classroom ensures students are excited to come to school each day

  • STEM activities inspire curiosity, creativity, and innovation

Individual Attention, Small Class Sizes, Differentiated Instruction

  • Maximum class sizes of 15 guarantees each student gets the attention they deserve

  • Teachers work with every child, every day

  • Learning without distraction. We have classes where teachers can teach and students can learn. Students respect each others right to learn

  • We meet students where they are and put them on a strategic path to success

  • Teachers use their knowledge of each student to differentiate instruction

Access To Play

Social interaction and adventure are keystones for the Kindergarten experience. The InnovOak campus is located steps from beautiful Victoria Park, with access to outdoor play structures and open environments where students can explore and broaden their experiences under the caring eye of our teachers. An upcoming addition of an indoor playground ensures that students have opportunities to run and play regularly without concerns for the weather

Montessori Inspired Learning

Inclusion of Montessori materials and environments into the Kindergarten classroom is InnovOak's development of a results driven education. Taking the best of traditional education in combination with Montessori manipulatives, InnovOak School's education experts have designed a program in which students develop fine motor skills and a deeper understanding of the basics of learning to exceed past traditional education standards.