Our Pre-Kindergarten children are busy and active, as they grow socially and academically while preparing for kindergarten. Our developmentally appropriate pre-k program enables them to develop positive self-esteem, curiosity about the world, and a love of learning.
Our pre-k program is derived from Core Knowledge to include:
Physical Well-Being and Motor Development
- Movement and Coordination
Social and Emotional Development
- Autonomy and Social Skills
Approaches to Learning
- Work Habits
Language
- Oral Language
- Nursery Rhymes, Poems, Fingerplays and Songs
- Storybook Reading and Storytelling
- Emerging Literacy Skills in Reading and Writing
Knowledge Acquisition and Cognitive Development
- Mathematical Reasoning and Number Sense
- Orientation in Time and Space
- Scientific Reasoning and the Physical World
- Music
- Visual Arts
Jack and Jill’s print-rich pre-k environment allows children to see letters and words on display and also written by their teacher every day.
Children are exposed to a wide variety of fine motor activities that help them develop the skills that they need to write letters. Whether writing in shaving cream, tracing sand paper letters, or stamping letters, children begin to see and feel each letter’s formation. They begin with curves and lines, eventually learning to form letters. Children are given opportunities to write and draw on a variety of media, including chart paper, chalkboards, and dry erase boards and have their individual journals.
Jack and Jills expansive selection of language, literacy, and writing materials foster growth in the development of beginning journaling skills. Each class has a group journaling time, with the teacher assisting the children as needed. Materials are also available for the children to journal during free choice time. Journals give our pre-kindergarten children a way to express their thoughts, feelings, and creativity through pictures and/or words.
Emphasis is placed on social interaction, emotional growth and independence. Children learn to follow directions, take turns, share, and co-operate. They are given lots of opportunities to make decisions and encouraged to make good choices.
Circle Times help children learn how to function in a group setting ~ that there is a time to talk and a time to listen, how to share their ideas, and how to learn from each other.
Large group, small group, and individual activities provide a variety of experiences to enhance growth and development in all areas
Math skills are developed with group and individual hands-on experiences. Children’s math experiences expand as they count higher, compare more, make graphs, expand patterning skills, and begin to add and subtract.
Art is enjoyed as children are exposed to both teacher directed projects and independent exploration of art materials.
Special daily and weekly themes or seasonal activities provide variety and excitement.
Individual Portfolios and Assessments collect each child’s work and monitor progress.
Handwriting is also incorporated into our curriculum with an outstanding program, Handwriting Without Tears. This curriculum exposes children to developmentally appropriate, multi-sensory tools and strategies that teach the left to right and top to bottom progression of reading and writing. Children begin with lines, then curves, eventually learning to form letters properly. This program also teaches children how to use the proper pencil grip which, in turn, makes handwriting easier for the child and more legible. Our print-rich environment allows children to see letters and words on display and also written by the teacher each day.
The children that attend Jack and Jill are very well prepared for Kindergarten success ~ taking this next step with self confidence and a love of learning.
