PREK II Program

4 year-old class

Our student-centered program provides opportunities for meeting individual needs, making choices, creative expression, social interaction and skill building. We believe children construct knowledge of the world as they interact with it and that children “think by doing”. We structure the PK2 program around age- appropriate play, guided activities and concrete, hands-on experiences and materials which allow children the opportunity to explore their surroundings, relationships and understanding of their world in various ways. We offer added enrichment with music, Spanish, physical education, and library. We emphasize respect and caring for self, others and the environment, responsibility and independence as well as creative problem solving and communication.

Language Arts

Children are immersed in an environment where oral and written communications are valued. Vocabularies grow as children acquire understanding of new words through their experiences. Early phonological awareness is fostered through a variety of activities which utilize stories, playing games and rhymes with words and alliteration. Key concepts thoughtfully and purposefully focused on include:

• building vocabulary and oral language development
• phonological awareness
• awareness of knowledge of print
• letters and words
• comprehension
• awareness and knowledge of books
• initial awareness and understanding of the process, composition and conventions of writing

Math

Children learn mathematics through real situations and choice time activities where problem solving and reasoning are central to understanding. Key concepts covered are:

• number sense and counting, including one-to-one correspondence
• classifying
• comparing
• part/part-whole
• grouping and sharing
• measurement; shapes and space
• patterning and ordering
• mathematical language development within natural contexts

Children are encouraged to observe, question, collect information, communicate ideas, and make connections and representations.

Science

For our students, the process of science is learned by being actively engaged in the world around them. Opportunities are provided for the children to observe predict, interact and formulate ideas and outcomes. The curriculum provides a balance among the three broad scientific disciplines, which include: life science, physical science, earth science and process skills.

Social Studies

Through exploration of family, school and community, children are able to acquire, organize and generate personal knowledge of how people live, work, and get along with others. They also learn how to collectively solve problems and how people shape and are shaped by their surroundings. Our Social Studies curriculum provides a broad introduction to the understanding of historical data and geography.