Getting Ready for a Lifetime of Learning
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Our structured Preschool program focuses on your child's development of readiness skills in reading, math, and science; the development of a positive self-image; and respectful social interactions. Sign Language instruction, which began in the infant class,is continued and expanded. French as a Second Language instruction, introduced in Early Preschool, is also expanded.Other |
areas of academic focus include creative art, music and movement, dramatic play, fine motor skills development, exploration and discovery.
One of the many teaching approaches utilized in the preschool curriculum is High/Scope. Based upon the research of Swiss philosopher and child psychologist Jean Piaget, High/Scope develops your child's self-confidence by building on what he can do. High/Scope programs construct active earning environments that allow your child to choose from a wide selection of materials and activities. Children are encouraged to make independent choices throughout the day. As they pursue their choices, they explore, ask questions, solve problems and interact. We teach children the learning method of "Plan, Do and Review"* and teachers ask children open-ended questions rather than dictate learning. Your child will learn critical thinking, language and social proficiency.
We continue the Scaffolding of Experiences*, based on the theories of Russian developmental psychologist Lev Vygotsky. Teachers support children in their efforts to carry out goals and intentions and provide "just enough" support for the child to accomplish her goal. At the same time, teachers are watching for the opportunity to move children from acting with support to independent behavior.
| In addition, we incorporate Dr. Howard Gardner's "Theory of Multiple Intelligences,"* in the classroom. It is evident that rather than one, general form of intelligence that can be used to describe (and separate) individuals, there are in fact eight different intelligences. Each child comes to the educational setting as an individual in terms |  |
of their intellect strengths, personality, talents, and interests. Our developmentally appropriate curriculum recognizes that not every child excels in all developmental areas or learns in the same fashion.