Pre-K
Children getting ready for kindergarten are preparing to read or very likely reading already! Maintaining physical activity at an early childhood center keeps young minds alert and receptive, while more advanced social development teaches cooperation and respect for self and others. It’s all part of the very intentional teaching style here at our private pre-kindergarten center.
Our Curriculum
Phonics:
Wilson's Fundations is a structured literacy program focused on foundational reading and writing skills. Below is a general breakdown of curriculum objectives that are typically emphasized in this program:
Phonological Awareness
- Develop the ability to identify and manipulate sounds in words (rhyming, syllable segmentation, blending, and segmenting phonemes).
- Recognize and produce rhymes.
- Understand the concept of words, syllables, and sounds.
Phonics and Word Study
- Master letter-sound relationships and the alphabetic principle.
- Decode words by applying knowledge of sound-symbol relationships (phonics).
- Learn digraphs, blends, and other common spelling patterns (vowel-consonant, consonant-vowel-consonant words).
- Understand the role of suffixes and prefixes in modifying word meaning.
Fluency
- Develop reading accuracy, rate, and expression.
- Engage in repeated reading to build fluency.
- Practice smooth, automatic reading with appropriate phrasing.
Spelling
- Apply phonetic principles to spell regular words.
- Memorize high-frequency words that may not follow phonetic rules (sight words).
- Use spelling rules and patterns for words with irregular spellings.
Vocabulary/Handwriting
- Learn new words and meanings, including high-frequency and academic vocabulary.
- Understand word meanings in context.
- Explore synonyms, antonyms, and multiple meanings of words.
- Language expression
- Practice proper letter formation and spacing between words.
- Develop fine motor skills for writing letters and words legibly.
- Incorporate manuscript and, later, cursive writing.
Comprehension
- Understand what is read by answering questions about the text.
- Retell stories in sequence.
- Make predictions and connections to personal experiences.
These objectives are typically tiered according to grade level, and Fundations systematically builds these skills through multisensory instruction, integrating visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile approaches to help students with diverse learning needs.
Supplementary Curriculum
Our teacher-written preschool academic curriculum focuses on foundational skills that help children build readiness for kindergarten. The curriculum includes the following key areas:
Early Number Sense:
- Counting: Children learn to count verbally, recognize numbers, and understand the concept of quantity.
- Comparing: Activities help children compare quantities (more, less, equal).
- Basic Addition/Subtraction: Simple introduction to the concepts of adding and taking away.
Letter Identification and Sound Correlation:
- Alphabet Recognition: Children learn to identify uppercase and lowercase letters.
- Phonemic Awareness: Introduction to letter sounds, matching letters with their corresponding sounds, and beginning sound recognition in words.
- Early Literacy Skills: Building vocabulary and recognizing rhyming words.
Shape Attributes:
- Shape Identification: Teaching children to recognize and name basic shapes (circle, square, triangle, etc.).
- Shape Attributes: Understanding properties like sides, corners, and symmetry.
Color Identification:
- Color Recognition: Children learn to identify and name colors through activities and hands-on experiences.
- Color Mixing: Exploration of primary and secondary colors through art and sensory activities.
Story Elements:
- Story Comprehension: Focusing on understanding the main idea, characters, and settings of a story.
- Sequencing: Teaching children to identify the beginning, middle, and end of a story.
- Retelling: Encouraging children to retell stories to build memory and comprehension.
Other Grade-Level Skills:
- Fine Motor Skills: Strengthening hand muscles for writing through activities like tracing, cutting, and drawing.
- Gross Motor Skills: Developing coordination and body awareness through movement-based activities.
- Social-Emotional Learning: Building skills like sharing, cooperation, and self-regulation.
- Problem-Solving: Encouraging critical thinking through puzzles, patterns, and simple problem-solving tasks.
- Science and Nature: Introducing basic scientific concepts, such as weather, animals, and plant life, through observation and experimentation.
- Music and Art: Fostering creativity and self-expression through singing, movement, and artistic projects.
The curriculum combines play-based learning with intentional instruction to ensure children develop the academic, social, and motor skills needed for future success in school.
The Creative Curriculum
The Creative Curriculum for Preschool is an early childhood education framework designed to support children's development and learning in a holistic and research-based manner. It focuses on fostering children's cognitive, social-emotional, physical, and language development through play and hands-on learning experiences. Here's a brief overview of its key components:
Child-Centered Learning
- The curriculum is designed around the interests and needs of individual children. Teachers observe children’s interests and plan activities that build on these curiosities to engage and motivate them.
Learning Through Play
- Play is emphasized as a critical component of learning. Children explore materials, engage in pretend play, and interact with peers, which promotes problem-solving, creativity, and social skills.
Thematic Units/Studies
- The curriculum introduces children to a variety of themes, or studies, that span several weeks. Themes could range from animals and plants to transportation or community helpers. These units allow children to explore a topic deeply through books, art, science, and other activities.
Areas of Development
- Physical Development: Gross and fine motor skills are developed through physical activities like outdoor play, dancing, and manipulative tasks such as drawing or building.
- Language and Literacy: Storytelling, reading, singing, and discussions are key to enhancing vocabulary, comprehension, and expressive language.
- Social-Emotional: Encouraging self-awareness, emotional regulation, and social skills through group activities, sharing, and problem-solving with peers.
Classroom Environment
- The curriculum emphasizes setting up a learning environment with well-organized interest areas (e.g., dramatic play, blocks, art, and science). Each area is equipped with materials that support children’s exploration and learning.
Teacher’s Role
- Teachers act as facilitators, guiding children’s learning through intentional instruction, observations, and interactions. They adjust the curriculum based on ongoing assessments of children's progress.
Family Engagement
- The curriculum encourages strong family-teacher partnerships. Parents are viewed as key contributors to the child’s learning process, and the curriculum includes activities that families can do at home to support classroom learning.
Assessment
- Ongoing, formative assessment is integral to the curriculum. Teachers observe and document children’s learning and use these observations to tailor instruction and ensure children are meeting developmental milestones.
Overall, the Creative Curriculum for Preschool is designed to create an engaging, nurturing, and inclusive environment that helps children build foundational skills for lifelong learning.
When you’re searching for "daycare centers near me,” it can’t just be about having a place for your kid to be. Yes, it should involve your kid making friends and having a great time, but it should also be about getting the best early childhood education you can provide for them. At our early learning academy, we’re dedicated to providing your child with the best educational experience possible. Schedule a tour today!
