Twos, Threes & Fours

Much like our infants and toddlers, active learning is encouraged with these age groups as well. The environment in our preschool is child-centered. The caregivers will initiate an idea, and allow the children to create their own learning experience based on what they already know and what they want to learn. We desire to provide children with the best, most enjoyable, most productive preschool education. We aim to accomplish this through the following…
• Introduction of a letter, number, word, color, theme, concept and skill each week
• Beginning reading skills – upper & lowercase experiences, phonics, sight words, word walls, sentence structure
• Emergent writing skills – scribbling, drawing
• Continued development of small muscles – beginner use of scissors
• Concepts of print introduction – how to open a book, where to start reading, left to right progression, use of capital letters, author, illustrator, letters in words, words in sentences, and sentence structure.
• Books – Children will be read to frequently throughout each day in order to expand their knowledge on our themes. A variety of reading materials will be used (fantasy, factual, multicultural, diverse ability, poetry). Additionally books will be accessible at all times for children to read at their leisure.
• Science – natural items, magnifying glasses, scales, magnets, color viewers, thermometers, living items (plants, class pet, feeders to attract birds)
• Math – Manipulatives are available to foster discovery of size, shape and color. Math activities will begin developing such concepts as rote counting, one to one correspondence, comparison of amounts and sizes, classification, sorting, grouping, matching, sequencing, ordering, volume, dimensions and time.
• Creative expression – dramatic play center, art center, block center, music & movement, puppets, flannel board stories
• Continued development of large muscles – climbing, hopping, skipping, galloping, marching, riding toys with & without pedals, push-pull toys, sliding, manipulating balls, and swinging
• Social & Personal Skills – Playing cooperatively with others, turn taking, listening and expressing ideas, stating their name, age and address, demonstrating self help skills, showing confidence, controlling behavior, and demonstrating pride in own work.

Character Education

Character Education is more important today than ever. One of the greatest gifts that we can give the children in our care is a strong sense of personal values. Good character is something that is going to allow the children who attend Growing Room to become successful adults who are able to make a positive contribution to our society. Character Education is instruction which includes teaching concepts covering basic human values. These topics may include integrity, respect, responsibility, caring, fairness, citizenship and more.

K-2 A-BEKA Program

This is a workbook program that we provide in addition to our Growing Up on Our Block curriculum. Through this program, two-year-olds will be given the opportunity to learn the following…

• Language development and listening skills that include color words, shapes, animals, transportation, countries, community helpers, health, safety, manners, science and so much more.
• Simple counting 1-25
• Numbers concept 1-10

K-3 A-BEKA Program

• Recognition of name, sound and picture for short vowels and consonants
• Formation of letters, blends, and words
• Beginning to write first name
• Language development and listening skills that include color words, shapes, animals, transportation, countries, community helpers, health, safety, manners and science
• Simple counting 1-30
• Numbers concept 1-15
• Numbers largest to smallest 1 -15

K-4 A-BEKA Program

This is a workbook program that we provide in addition to our Growing Up on Our Block curriculum. Through this program, four-year-olds will be given the opportunity to learn the following…
• Recognition of name, sound, and picture of long and short vowels and consonants
• Sounding of blends and one- and two-vowel words
• Reading of sentences and stories with one- and two-vowel words
• Formation of letters, blends, and words
• Writing of first name
• Language development and listening skills that include color words, shapes, animals, transportation, countries, community helpers, health, safety, manners and science
• Number recognition and counting 1-100
• Number concepts 1-20
• Numbers before and after 1-20
• Numbers largest and smallest 1-20
• Addition facts

Portfolios
During each theme, several items that your child completes are labeled, dated, and stored in his portfolio. This is a way the teacher can monitor each child’s progress and share this with parents during our parent teacher conferences that are held twice a year. At the end of the year, you can also take the portfolio home as another keepsake.