Art Expression
Art is designing, creating, and exploring. Your child will mix paints, pound and shape clay, build structures with blocks, boxes and Legos, dance, dramatize stories, clap rhythms, and sing chants and songs. He will experience all four components of The Arts including:
- Dance
- Music
- Theater or performing arts
- Visual arts
Technology
Technology is the study of tools, machines, materials, techniques, and sources of power that make work easier and that solve problems. How does this apply to a preschool classroom? Well, when your child sings songs into a tape recorder or creates colored lines on the screen by dragging a mouse, he is using tools. We view Technology from a broad perspective and we can see how technology can be integrated into all aspects of the preschool classroom. Your preschooler will become aware of technology, learn basic operations and concepts learn how to use technology tools and be introduced to people and technology. In addition, we stress social skills, such as working cooperatively with peers and using technology responsibly.
Literacy
Becoming literate does not just happen. Our teachers thoughtfully and purposefully interact with children and plan experiences that support emerging literacy. The secret to our success is that we have discovered that a print-rich environment that allows each child to practice literacy skills in real-life experiences, combined with explicit teaching of key concepts, is the foundation of literacy learning. We cover all seven of the components of literacy. Take a look.
- Increased vocabulary and language
- Phonological awareness
- Knowledge of print
- Letters and words
- Comprehension
- Understanding books and other texts
- Literacy as source of enjoyment
Sight Words
Sight words such as it, a, he, she, the, at, in, on, etc. are the most frequently used words in the English language. In each unit, teachers introduce 3 – 4 new Sight Words, so by the end of the year, your child will have reviewed more than 50 words.
Journals
Your child can draw or write in his personal journal once a week. Through journaling, your child is working on important learning objectives, such as printing the letters of his name, drawing pictures with 5 to 6 varying details and dictating writing to express thoughts.
Each journal entry is labeled and dated based on what your child said about his drawing. You are welcome to look through your child’s journal, at the end of the year, we hope you’ll take your child’s completed journals home as Pre-kindergarten keepsakes.
Mathematics
Multiple opportunities are used throughout the day to help your child build competence in math. Everyday experiences provide the context for your preschooler to progress in math. In addition, our teachers’ knowledge of the substance of math content provides fact and concepts needed to promote and extend your child’s mathematical thinking. The key components that our preschool program covers in mathematics include the following:
- Number concepts
- Patterns and relationships
- Geometry and spatial sense
- Measurement
- Data collection, organization, and representation
Handwriting – Zaner-Bloser
Once our teachers introduce handwriting they have a very important job. As with all emerging skills, what is learned right from the start will shape lifelong habits and abilities. We introduce writing to young children because writing is a skill that is used to express thoughts and communicate. A fundamental part of the writing process is the learning and forming of letters.
By age 3, children produce drawings that are composed of the same basic lines that constitute manuscript letters: vertical lines, horizontal lines and circles. Because of such early experiences, most 6 and 7 year olds can create these vertical and horizontal lines more easily than the relatively complicated connections associated with D’Nealian manuscript or cursive writing. Because Zaner-Bloser handwriting consists of vertical lines which are made with straight up-and-down motion and horizontal lines which are made with left-to-right motion, they rely predominantly on already acquired gross motor skills.
Homework
Our goal is to get your child school ready and that includes them being responsible and ready for class each day. Homework serves three purposes in our preschool, Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten classrooms. It provides a home-school connection, helps children learn responsibility and encourages review/repetition of previously learned lessons.
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