Pre-K Four

Our program for four year olds utilizes a multifaceted approach to learning that is also centered on monthly themes. The emphasis of the program is on early literacy. Instruction is focused on activities planned to address the children's developemental needs in the areas of: gross motor skills; fine motor skills (including tracing and writing the alphabet letters, numbers, pictures and shapes, cutting and coloring, and using manipulatives during playtime and for exploring math concepts); language (including learning the sounds of letters) and vocabulary; music; and introducing math concepts using Everyday Math Program.

Age limit: 4 by December 1 of school year

Hours: 8 a.m. to 2:35 p.m.

Days/Costs:    Monday through Friday                  $400 per month

                       Monday, Wednesday, and Friday    $315 per month

Details:

-The program follows the same calendar as K- Grade 6

-Children should wear comfortable play clothes, rubber soled shoes and sneakers are recommended.

Curriculum Overview:

Religion - In Pre-K the children learn the sign of the cross, simple prayers, the religious significance of holidays like Christmas and Easter, and how to sing religious songs. Each morning begins with prayers, and the children learn to sing the Hail Mary and the Our Father. We pray daily before snack and join the rest of the school in reciting the Grace after Meals following lunch. We often talk about how God made us special and how He loves us. Religion is also incorporated into our daily activities and themes, whenever appropriate. We work to reinforce Christian values in our students, especially in behavior (being kind and respectful) toward others. We are using The Sunday Visitor religion series which focuses on the theme "I Am Special". Lessons incorporate the use of flannel board stories and arts projects to present meaningful hands-on activities.

English/Language Arts - Our classroom utilizes a print friendly environment to promote early literacy. Classroom items are labeled. Color and number words are prominently displayed in classroom decorations. Pocket charts of poems and songs are hung around the room. Books are readily available for the children to examine after snack and during rest time. The children are read stories on a daily basis to help instill a love of reading, expand the children's vocabulary, and enhance their listening and speaking skills.

The alphabet is introduced in a a Letter of the Week format. Children learn to recognize upper and lower case letters and learn the letter in sign language. We also introduce the letter sounds through songs and movement using the Heidi Songs CD and DVD. The children practice printing the alphabet letters as they are introduced. Writing is expanded as we move to write the room activities and writing descriptions for artwork.

Initial consonant sounds are reinforced in our Itty Bitty Letter Book. Also, the children expand their language skills anbd become accustomed to public speaking through our Letter of the Week Show and Tell Program.

Pre-reading skills are incorporated into many lessons and include visual discrimination (noticing similarities and differences), predicting, and using picture clues. We also use a word wall to learn names, color and number words, and other sight words.

Pre-K and Third Grade students participate in a Reading Buddies Program where the Third Graders read stories from the PreK library to their Reading Buddy in our class.

We also participate in the Scholastic Book Club Program and send catalogues home for parents to consider for purchasing picture books for their child.

The following list indicates themes/topics that will be addressed:

---Schools

---All About Me

---Holidays

---Community Helpers

---Sharing

---Manners

---Pets

---Transportation

---Dinosaurs

---Insects

---Farm Animals

---Zoo Animals

---Opposites

---Rhyming

---The Five Senses

Math - The Everyday Mathematics Program is taught throughout the school from Pre-K to the Sixth Grade. This research-based program develops math readiness through hands-on activities that are incorporated into the daily classroom activities. In this way math concepts are built on experience and understanding. In the Pre-K Program, students explore counting, number concepts, operations, graphing, measurement, shapes, positions and spatial relationships, and patterns and sorting.

Technology - In Pre-K, technology revolves mainly around the use of classroom computers with software programs that reinforce pre-reading skills, and teach keyboarding skills including click and drag skills using the mouse. When specific themes are introduced, web sites are used to provide additional learning opportunities through virtual field trips, video cams and video streaming.

Specials - All of the "Specials" subjects taught to the students in grades K-6 are available for Pre-K4, specifically, Technology, Art, Music, Library, Spanish and Gym. Specials Teachers incorporate the Pre-K themes into their lessons whenever appropriate for an integrated approach to learning.