The Kindergarten Literacy Program at Summit is comprised of two major components:  Writing Workshop and Reading Workshop. The children meet two hours twice a week for an intensive hands-on approach to learning to read and write. In the Writing Workshop, children and teacher engage in Shared Writing, Independent Writing, Handwriting and Nature Study. In Shared Writing teacher and children write together, with an opportunity for children to learn phonics, punctuation and the mechanics of writing.  Lessons are interactive with children being encouraged to write a word, and are reinforced as children read back their dictated sentences.

Independent Writing gives children an opportunity to write and practice what they learned. Handwriting practice involves forming letters correctly from top to bottom.  The Handwriting Without Tears Program is used. Nature Study demonstrates another process for writing. Children observe a process such as planting seeds and charting their growth or journaling the metamorphosis from tadpoles to frogs. In Reading Workshop a predictable amount of time is set aside to engage in and learn about all aspects of reading including Read Aloud, Guided Reading, Independent Reading, Listening, Shared Reading.