Preschool Curriculum

RELIGION READINESS is an integral part of the Catholic Preschool Program. It is the preparation for more formal instruction in the years ahead. Religion readiness involves the development of a postie self-image in relationship to a loving God. The preschooler's parents and the example of the parish community have already set the basis for a sense of God's love. The child's sense of God is further enhanced by the warm atmosphere of love and acceptance i the preschool class where he/she learns about God's wonderful world. Classroom prayer and para-liturgies. appropriate to the child's developmental level, prepare him/her to participate in the celebrations of the Church.

LANGUAGE READINESS is the development of communication skills that enable a child to share his world with others. Language skills at the preschool level include listening, speaking and thinking. The preschooler learns to transfer thought into words and to express a sense of self-awareness through the appropriate expression of his/her thoughts and feelings. Visual discrimination and memory, and auditory discrimination and memory are important readiness skills that are taught through play activities. Listening to stories, poetry and finger play enhance the love of language.

MATH READINESS at the preschool level involves the development of such cognitive skills as recognizing colors, shapes, quantitative concepts such as size differences, basic counting skills, classifying, forming sets and recognizing numerals. These concepts are taught through manipulative and play experience.

SCIENCE READINESS is done through discovery and exploration. The preschooler will explore Technology, Life Science, and Earth Science through books and hands on activities.

PERSONAL-SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT The preschooler needs to understand himself/herself in order to relate to other children and adults. Through basic social interactions (between two children, teacher and child, child and group), the young child establishes autonomy and learns skills to help relate to his/her world.

For the preschooler, ares of personal development include: knowing name and age, eventually learning address, phone number and birthday, caring for toileting needs and washing hands, separating from parent with relative ease, caring for belongings and respecting others.

Social development includes cooperative play, sharing following directions, initiating conversation and play situations with peers, entering into group activities, developing a positive relationships with teachers and caring about others.

MOTOR SKILLS The preschool child leans with his/her body. Motor skills are a vital part of the young child's development and are crucial to the learning skills needed in the future.

GROSS MOTOR SKILLS include large muscle activities such as walking, running, jumping, hopping and skipping. Arm-eye coordination is strengthened by throwing a large ball or beanbag, catching, and aiming at a target. Rhythm and movement provide an outlet of creative expression and the joy of using the body in dance, games and organized play.

FINE MOTOR SKILLS Include the development of dexterity and strength of small muscles, which enhances the development of readiness for the reading process. Eye-hand coordination is developed through such activities as manipulating clay, stringing beads, hammering, pasting, coloring, painting, pouring, lacing and using scissors. Eye tracking is another fine motor activity that promotes the left-to-right progression skill required for reading readiness. The preschooler is encouraged o observe his/her natural hand dominance. However, hand dominance is not necessarily achieved as of yet.