Curriculum
Children
in a mixed age group are free to move about in a prepared environment
of hands on learning activities. The teachers and assistants are keen observers
who watch for the child's readiness and facilitate their progress to the next
level of conceptual development. Our curriculum includes:
- Practical
Life Skills: These materials provide the child an opportunity
to practice everyday activities such as pouring, shoe tying, cleaning, etc.
while increasing the child's attention span and concentration. Fine motor
skills are strengthened through activities such as tweezing and toning.
The exercises move left to right in a reading sweep pattern.
- Sensory
Development: these material refine the use of the
senses, training the child to differentiate gradations of color,
tone, texture, shape, size, etc.
- English
Language Arts: Children
are provided an opportunity to learn through the auditory, visual
and tactile senses. These materials begin with phonetic sounds of
letters and allow the child to progress at her own speed to word
construction and eventually writing and reading.
- Mathematics: These
material provide a visual and tactile introduction to numbers while
preparing the child to progress to addition, subtraction, multiplication
and division.
- Natural
Science: The child uses scientific observation to
study her world.
-
Geography: Globes assist the children in distinguishing
land and water areas, progressing to the continents and lands that
make up our Earth. Studies of land forms provide an understanding
of geographic features.
- Cultural
Studies: Different
cultures from around the world are introduced and celebrated throughout
the school year. The studies include the music, language, food,
clothing, habitat and lifestyles of various cultures around the
world. Families are encouraged to contribute whenever possible.
Spanish
and American Sign Languages are introduced.
- Physical
Education: Children are given the opportunity to
practice various gross motor exercises that promote balance, coordination,
and physical self discipline.
- Art
and Music: These
materials allow the child to expand his range of awareness and interest
and to develop his creativity and self-expression. Children are
introduced to various
historic composers and artists and are given opportunity
to explore the different artistic styles.
-
Community Service: This teaches children to think about their
surroundings and to go beyond themselves as they express empathy and
compassion. It reinforces the idea that acts of kindness no matter how
big or small can create an impact on our lives as well as affect other
people's lives for the better.