Curriculum
Our Curriculum
As a nationally STEM-certified school, St. Patrick School fosters the development of STEM concepts and skills in our Early Childhood students through the Creative Curriculum model. Students in Pre-K3 travel to play-based academic centers to strengthen core skills and enhance socialization between peers. Teachers facilitate students as they participate in activities, differentiating learning for each student's needs. Centers are frequently updated to reflect current units of study. These centers address 21st century skills such as creativity, problem solving, and critical thinking. Religion is integrated through the day as God is at the center of everything we do.
Our Centers
Students make use of 10 anchor centers which are updated often to reflect current units of study.
Discovery: Students investigate with various materials to explore the world around them. In this center, students learn the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) process.
Math: Children use manipulative and math based games to explore numeracy, ordination, pre-algebra and geometry.
Blocks/Engineering: In teams or individually, children apply the engineering design process to a variety of structures to solve problems.
Technology: Students utilize iPads and the Promethean ActivPanel with various apps and programs in order to reinforce curriculum content. They practice responsible technology behavior as they handle and care for the items.
Writing: Students refine their fine motor skills as they create original artwork and writing.
Library: Students engage with a variety of texts, both fiction and nonfiction, as they practice early literacy skills such as print awareness; differentiating between letters, words, and pictures; and phonological skills.
Small Group: This center allows the teacher to meet with students to reinforce or extend core literacy and mathematics concepts. In this small setting, differentiation allows for the learning needs of individual students to be met.
Dramatic Play/Pretend: Students engage with their peers in role playing with real world items. This center provides opportunities to reinforce social and emotional skills and enhance oral language development.
Sensory: Children reinforce and extend curriculum topics with sensory materials such as water tables and play dough. This center strengthens fine motor skills and helps students develop their ability to focus and manage their emotions.
Toys and Games: Children learn developmentally appropriate social skills and problem-solving techniques while playing with others.