1200 North Avenue
Our Senior Pre-K Program
Children MUST be 4 by July 1
While utilizing The Project Approach as well as certain components of Creative Curriculum, our Junior and Senior pre-K curriculum is designed to develop verbal skills, reading, writing, mathematics, phonics, environment and science. Children will use a multitude of multi sensory experiences throughout the day.
Our goal is to provide a nurturing environment within which the developmental need of each child will be met. Readiness skills will be strengthened prior to the Kindergarten experience. We recognize the uniqueness of each child. The pace may differ from student to student, but all children will be guided to develop their thinking process to their fullest abilities. Our purpose is to enable the children to continue their enthusiasm to become self-motivated students, eager and ready to learn.
The curriculum for the both Junior and Senior Pre-Kindergarten classes will emphasize pre-reading, pre-math, and early handwriting skills. We are aligning our program with the New Rochelle School District and will be using the "Handwriting Without Tears" program
Field trips will be on a monthly basis to various locations in the local area that are associated with the unit of study.
All aspects of our Junior and Senior Pre-K programs are guided by the
New York State Prekindergarten Learning Standards.
Each child's self-esteem is crucial to healthy, intellectual, and social growth. Successful learning experiences, based on the child's level of readiness, develop students and help them excel. With our supportive and nurturing staff, the students experience a variety of academic and age appropriate challenges within the presented curriculum.
Reading Readiness
All of our Pre-K students engage in a rich array of language experiences that introduce children to reading and writing. We have both structured and unstructured activities, and use flannel boards, puppets, dramatic play, and children's literature to develop comprehension skills, visual and auditory discrimination skills, the use of the written word, and foster a love of reading..
Pre-K Children will:
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§ demonstrate comprehension by retelling § follow a set of verbal directions to complete a task § use pre-writing strategies such as drawing pictures and dictating stories § develop vocabulary, use appropriate language, and ask questions for information § chime in with rhyming pairs and repeated/predictable phrases § recite poems, songs, chants § names some of the letters of the alphabet and in some cases, both upper and lower case § learns the sounds of the letters of the alphabet § understands how print is organized and read (reading top to bottom, left to right, sweeping back for the next line)
Math In our Pre- K programs, various manipulative materials are used to develop mathematical thinking, including counting, number and numeral recognition, and one-to-one correspondence. We use number and geometric patterning activities such as graphing and charting, games, and collections to reinforce number skills. Students develop problem-solving by practicing sorting and classifying objects in the classroom. All of our pre-k students: · Count orally from one to fifteen; identify and write numerals zero to ten in and out of sequence · Start to understand equal to, more than, or less than the other · Recognize geometric shapes and patterns · Sort and classify objects according to selected characteristics, such as by size or ordinal position (first, third...) · Describe concepts of time (morning, evening, yesterday, tomorrow), temperature (hot or cold), and weight (heavier or lighter) · Demonstrate the ability to solve a pictorial representation of simple addition and subtraction problems Science Awareness and appreciation of science are developed through a focus on hands-on investigations. Students observe, predict, sequence, analyze, and apply knowledge they have learned. Music Weekday offers all of our classrooms music once a week with Mrs. Jeraci. Children learn about rhythm, keeping the beat, musical story telling with puppets and props and will also explore difference genres of music such as classical, opera, jazz and even reggae. Each student develops a strong sense of musical self-worth. Activities include listening, singing, and physical response to the rhythm of music. By the end of the year, each Pre-K student should master these SOCIAL/FINE MOTOR SKILLS: · Cooperate with the children during group lessons or activities · Develop self help skills Each of our Pre-K classrooms will be set up in "work areas" and "play areas" to facilitate better socialization amongst students. Several activity centers will be dispersed around the classroom. Examples of these might be: · Art Area with paint, watercolors, clay and sponges · Play Kitchen Area with measuring cups, utensils, and toy appliances · Dress-Up Area where children will be able to put on costumes and pretend · Constructive Play Area with blocks, manipulative toys and structured games · Writing Area for practicing proper pencil grasp and letter formation.
