We have a five day program in our center for children ages 2½ to 3½ years old with hours from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Children learn best through play. Preschool are into experimenting and active exploration of new skills and directions. They are usually aware of authority figures and rules although they are still dependent on adult approval. Appropriate activities such as language arts, social studies, math and science provide the preschool program with many opportunities to build a strong foundation of basic skills. Other areas of study include; Spanish, art, music, technology, health and nutrition. Teacher guidance provides a balance of activities that expand your child’s intellectual, social, and emotional development.  For preschool children, weekly activities are planned around themes of study that are interesting and meaningful to the children. For example: "All About Me" could be a theme for a specific week. A balanced schedule provides experiences in group and individual settings. Stories, music, language experiences, projects, and discussion of themes studies take place in groups. Individually, children choose learning center activities in which they can work and play in pairs, in small groups, or alone. At this stage they become mature and are able to play with more than one child and learn to play cooperatively.

Lower Preschool curriculum begins to include some of the individual, small and large group planning activities. The job of primary caregivers keeps the focus of simple planning through a daily schedule gives some order to the day and expands learning opportunities. Daily schedules allow teacher to extend a play period so the children gain maximum satisfaction from what they're doing. The daily schedule includes a short music and language group time to which children are invited but never required to participate. Lesson plans are created to expand preschoolers’ knowledge through weekly thematic units that include items of interest to older toddlers, such as balls, boats, airplane, cars, boxes, and apples.

Each day, teachers plan guided activities for the children to learn through art projects, blocks, toys, and dramatic play. Children learn to cooperate as a group by participating in circle time, rhythm & music, large and small motor skills and story time. Small group activities provide teacher to assist art and science projects as well as foreign language program focuses on learning basic Spanish vocabulary. Activities are planned to challenge, but never frustrate, the child. Children are encouraged to begin their own activities in an enriched environment, divided into learning centers such as housekeeping /dramatic play blocks /large motor, art, manipulative, math and science, sand and water, and a cozy book corner. Duplicates of durable materials are properly displayed in low, open shelves to encourage and promote independence and self-help skills.

Our focal point is on children's interests and involvement in their learning, and on their growing aptitude to make productive choices. Teachers’ arrangement an enriched environment; plan activities based on the children’s needs to increase children's learning. At the core of our early preschool curriculum are these responsive, sensitive, nurturing relationships with each child. Reading aloud to children helps to develop receptive language, builds imagination, and lays a foundation for literacy. Teachers provide toddlers with point and read books and repeat sounds and rhymes, have clear pictures of familiar objects, and read simple stories with predictable plots that it expands children's vocabulary.

The children also participate in songs, fingerplays, and rhymes that build phonemic awareness. Each day, teachers plan these activities for the children to explore in art, blocks, and dramatic play. The goal is to develop each child's sense of security and encourage and promote social and cognitive development.

Music & movement, language, art, block, sand/water play, manipulative, housekeeping/dramatic play, outdoor play, snacks and daily routine activities are planned daily and computers, math, Spanish and science are planned at least 3 times a week.

Every day, teachers provide you with a weekly report on your child's development and daily activities. We include eating, sleeping, diapering schedules, and information on activities/special moments during the day. Each month you will receive a parent newsletter that contains your child's classroom news and to keep you informed of school events.

Curriculum Objectives

Language and Speaking Skills

• Label items with words

• Listen to stories

• Develop fantasy play with language

• Retell a short personal story

Reading Skills

• Develop interest in exploring books

• Handling of books

Writing Skills

• Hold crayon, pencil or marker with fist grasp or adult grasp

• Scribble

Social and Emotional Skills

• Become comfortable in large setting

• Develop knowledge of others in his or her surroundings

• Exhibit self-control

• Follow simple rules and direction by adults

• Develop trust of other adults

Math- Number Insight

• Classify, label and sort objects

• Match similar objects

• Play with pattern and sequence of order

• Rote counting

Math- Measurement

• Compare quantities (more or less)

• Compare area (big or small)

Art

• Use colors that are real and imaginary in artwork

• Explore and create individual projects with all types of art mediums

• Experiment with creating different textures in play dough and clay

• Learn from the process, not the “product”

Music

• Use different movements (clap, stomp, pat, jump)

• Sing, using voices that are fast or slow, loud or soft

• Change voice to match different pitches

Science- Attitudes and Habits

• Display a curiosity about the world

• Understand that questioning is part of the scientific process

• Discover ways scientists make observations and solve problems

Science- Development of Concepts

• Identify some body parts

• Explore and identify senses

Science- Health

• Give examples of healthy snacks

• Name ways to avoid germs

• Identify reasons for talking to an adult before using any unknown substance

Science- Physical Growth

• Play simple, non-competitive games

• Demonstrate understanding of simple concepts ( up, down, high, low)

• Display a sense of risk-taking

• Balance body while doing simple stunts

Social Studies

• Compare how clothing differs because of the changes in weather

• Recognize that accepting responsibility and having rules is important

• Describe the different ways families celebrate special events or holidays

• Demonstrate appropriate ways to communicate wants or needs