The Wildcat Den is part of a special learning lab course for juniors and seniors at Cypress Woods High School. High school students involved in this class are able to have a hands-on experience in learning how to become an early childhood educator. These students have a passion for teaching children and are eager to provide the best care possible for every preschooler in the program.
This specific preschool program has a very low child-to-teacher ratio, one teacher per child, allowing more opportunities to utilize both large and small group activities that keep the preschoolers engaged and make learning fun. Through this specific ratio, student teachers can meet each of these little ones where they are developmentally (social, emotional, and cognitive) and help them grow to the next level, being ready for Kindergarten, one step at a time.
The Wildcat Den is a center-based classroom, that supports hands-on discovery and exploration as children learn through play. Preschoolers are exposed to science, math, social/emotional skills, and literacy throughout the day. We incorporate gross motor (big muscles) and fine motor (fingers and hands) development through large group, music and movement, as well as free play on the playground. Our preschool follows the Handwriting Without Tears (HWT) curriculum to help preschoolers prepare for handwriting readiness.