EARLY PRESCHOOL

Our Changing Dragonflies

We design opportunities for emotional play, perceptual play and sensory experiences, surrounded by nurturing, supportive warmth. We plan a day based on what we know will typically be interesting to and appropriate for our explorers. Again in this environment we choose specific books and learning topics, e.g, amphibians, reptiles and or frogs, as we notice an interest from our students to learn about these animals. Our curriculum piece emerges as we delve deeper into the children's questions and wonders. Such as, how do frogs grow? Teachers will discuss these topics and strive to find hands on learning activities to introduce to the group, such as finding and raising tadpoles to frogs which results in learning the tadpole life cycle. Our foundation of a predictable daily routine, a balance of experiences, and a reflective practice with children, are simultaneously structured and yet flexible depending on where the children's interests lay

Classroom Environment

Our Early Preschool classroom provide an environment of explorations for our students. Our teachers work to foster skills like listening, learning how to treat one another, problem solving techniques and manners. They also foster skills like pushing and pulling, sorting objects by color and size and stacking objects. The curriculum reinforces these age-appropriate developments through songs, finger plays, short stories, center time, outdoor time, and circle time.

In the Early Preschool classroom your child will learn, discover, and create in an atmosphere that fosters children’s natural desire to experience learning. There are planned activities that build fine motor, gross motor and socialization skills. A typical morning begins with a healthy breakfast followed by a teacher initiated activity time. Our morning activities consist of a themed activity that changes with the children’s interests, a choice of one of the various interest areas, and academic concepts learned though hands on activities as well as intermingled through their free play and table activities.

Children can choose to lead in prayer before meals, and are given the opportunity to serve their own food and pour their own milk to build self-help skills. During our outdoor time we choose from one of several play areas where teachers supervise while interacting with the children to enhance gross motor skills, imaginary play and various other concepts of knowledge building. A nutritious snack is served after a daily rest time, followed by outdoor play and classroom center time.

Enrollment Information

Early Preschool

EduPlay Discovery Center, the early preschool program accelerates a child’s path toward kindergarten readiness by providing theme-based, hands-on learning opportunities that allow children to make choices and be successful. Creative expression, discovery, and exploration are encouraged.

Movement

Hops and stands on one foot up to 5 seconds
Kicks ball forward
Throws ball overhand
Moves forward and backward
Uses riding toys
Dresses and undresses with little help
Exhibits hand preference

Cognitive

Correctly names colors
Understands the concept of counting and may know some numbers
Begins to have a clearer sense of time
Follows three-part commands
Recalls parts of a story

Language

Understands the concepts of “same” and “different”
Has mastered some basic rules of grammar
Speaks in sentences of 5 to 6 words
Speaks clearly enough for strangers to understand
Tells stories