Curriculum

Art:: Children are encouraged to explore with various media such as: paints, paper, glue and colored tissue. They learn about space, color, pattern, shape and design. Each child's work is a special part of them. The process is more important than the finished product. Open-ended projects are often chosen since there is no one correct way to complete them.

"Everyday Mathmatics":: Our goal is for children to understand math ideas using concrete familiar objects. The children participate in making patterns (red, blue, red, blue), sorting (big and small), graphing, estimation, counting and number writing as well as recognition. Many area elementary schools have adopted this math program.

Language Arts:: We focus on pre-reading skills. Throughout the day children participate by communicating verbally. Alphabet letters and sounds are introduced. Your child will take home 1-2 poems/songs in a notebook each week. He/she will work one on one with a teacher on pre-reading skills weekly. Poems and songs are enjoyed as teachers point to the corresponding words. An early experience with writing may include a teacher writing a child's spoken words about something they have drawn. A child may copy words from their environment. Literature is introduced with stories, songs, poetry, drama, and flannel board figures. Class-shared journals can be brought home and read as a family.

Music and movement:: Exercise is crucial for children to be happy and healthy. Songs, movement, and finger plays allow children to experience active learning. Learning results when children recall the words to a favorite song or hold up their right hand as the song instructs. To aid in the development of pre-reading and writing skills, children will practice movements that help bodies to cross the midline. Research has proven that well-developed motor skills pave the way for reading and writing success. Movement is creative. When a musical instrument is added, children move to the rhythm, enhancing gross motor skills. Often non-competitive games are part of movement time.

Science:: Observation and active participation is encouraged in experiements with magnets, bubbles, colors, water, etc... Children can use their senses to see, touch, smell, hear, taste and make discoveries for themselves. Recording their experiences by drawing or asking a teacher to write down their thoughts shows just how much they were enriched by the activity. Weather reports are given each day by children. The children are exposed to units on insects, crystals, plants and animals. They measure and mix while cooking.

Social Studies:: Children learn about themselves and the world around them. Activities for developing self-awareness are implemented (feelings, families, manners, health habits and more). We expose the children to other countries and cultures. They talk to and even visit with community helpers.