Curriculum Continued

A PEEK INTO PRESCHOOL: The social dance of three year olds is unmatched by any other age. “You’re my friend, you’re not my friend” are common phrases in the Preschool room, often heard within a moment of each other. At this critical period for social relationships, when play turns from parallel to cooperative, preschool age children are at a prime development level for moral development. When they begin to understand the value of friends, they can also understand what it means to BE a friend. Our developmentally appropriate preschool curriculum includes not only a strong but play-based introduction to academic concepts (alphabetic principle, phonetic awareness, early mathematics and life and earth sciences) but also a moral component that introduces children to concepts like honesty and respect. Lessons are fun and the children experience a balance of both child-directed play experiences where they can practice their social dances and teacher-directed, objective-based learning experiences taught by educated teachers in small groups. Art activities continue to focus on process and experimenting with a variety of materials, mediums, and textures. Daily music time includes a unique, language building movement curriculum. A huge dramatic play center changes weekly, and encourages preschoolers to engage in unique imaginative, role-play experiences like Dentist’s office, grocery store, picnic, and vacation just to name a few. The room is filled with bright colors, interesting photographs, and dozens of theme-related books (rhyming, non-fiction, ABC, picture, books on tape...) enveloping preschoolers in an enriching, inspiring environment ripe for learning.

POPPING INTO PRIVATE PRE-K: Literacy is the name of the game in our Private Pre-K. We have designed the ideal setting for a small group of children to engage in unique and skill building experiences that will prepare them for a life-long love of learning, reading, and writing. Children move about the room individually and in small groups, as their knowledgeable teacher guides play experiences and helps make them more meaningful. Each morning the children gather on the cozy rug to participate in Large Group Circle Time offering routine learning activities including calendar math (rote counting, one-to-one correspondence, patterning and predicting), weather (physical science, math charting, and predicting), classroom jobs (responsibility and turn taking), and a theme book that begins the day’s concept based discussion. Before the children leave the rug, their teacher helps them to make a plan for the day’s work (a child’s work is play) which they later discuss and review when they finish their work. Their teacher records each day’s planning and reviews to share with parents at the end of the day. Dinnertime conversation takes on a whole new scope when parents are connected to real activities their child did that day. Instead of asking, “What did you do at school today?” and hearing “I played”, parents can instead ask, “I saw that you worked in the science center with the magnets today.” During their center work time, children  work” in well stocked learning centers with a wide variety of educational materials specially selected to teach specific concepts and skills like visual discrimination and sequencing for instance. The walls are adorned with cheerful paintings, concept webs, story charts, and dozens of words creating a print rich classroom where the children’s natural curiosity is ignited and they are encouraged to ask questions and probe for answers.

WHAT’S ON THE AGENDA FOR AFTER SCHOOL?: Homework help, special interest clubs, a state of the art playground, and a work space that promotes creativity are in store for school age children. After a long, hard day at school, students can ride the school bus (from West Jackson Primary/Intermediate) or the Center’s van (picking up from Bramlett Elem. & The World Language Academy) to The Center, and enjoy a nutritious and homemade snack. After snack,  our after school teachers, who are equipped with the right tools to provide one on one homework help for your child, will facilitate homework help and special interest clubs. Special interest clubs include art club, book club, cooking club, science club, weekly Spanish and music classes (private lessons are also available) and many more. Student who have completed their homework or have no homework will participate in these special interest clubs that will help to build lasting friendships and bonds for years to come. After homework and clubs, children can let loose on our playground that facilitates large motor development and social interactions before heading home for a relaxing evening with their families.