Curriculum

Social Skills: Children will be encouraged to respect others, share and take turns, get along with peers, and follow class rules.

Phonetic Reading: Reading is taught using a phonics based program that teaches letter names, sounds, and blending. Children learn letters through enjoyable games, stories, and songs. Letters are reinforced through hands on activities such as tracing letters in sand, forming letters with play dough, etc. Once students know their letters and sounds I begin teaching them to read. I work with each child individually on reading (while the other students do centers) and they bring home leveled "take home reading" books to practice reading at home.

Reading Readiness: Language skills are taught through rhyming, reciting nursery rhymes, shared reading of poems and stories, and reading high quality picture books. (Balanced Literacy)

Math: Math is taught through hands on activities using manipulatives. Curriculum covers sorting, patterns, shapes, counting to 100, number recognition, number values, number sequencing, writing numbers (1-20), and simple addition.

Writing: Children learn to write their own name, the letters of the alphabet, and numbers 1-20. We work on correct use of writing instruments, building fine motor skills, and forming letters and numbers correctly. As the year progresses students will work on writing sight words and using sound spelling to label pictures in their journals.

Art: Children will be involved in painting, coloring, cutting, pasting, working with clay, and creative expression through open ended art.

Music: Music is a part of our daily routine. Songs are used to help teach letters, numbers, days of the weeks, and months of the year. Children also learn holiday songs and fun songs that reinforce theme lessons.

Themes: Science and Social Studies topics are covered in weekly themes such as dinosaurs, bugs, community helpers, fairy tales, weather, etc. Themes are taught through stories, songs, art activities, and dramatic play.