Our Program
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Hours of operation
We now offer two half-day preschool programs, a morning and afternoon session. Below are the times and monthly tuition costs of the programs.
Curriculum
Our preschool uses a curriculum that is based on the High/Scope Approach to Early Childhood Education. The key areas of the High/Scope Curriculum are: active learning, adult-child interaction, learning environment, daily routine, and assessment. The key areas are briefly explained below:
Active Learning Active learning is having direct and immediate experiences and deriving meaning from them through reflection. Through active learning young children construct knowledge that helps them make sense of their world. The power of active learning comes from personal initiative. Young children act on their innate desire to explore; they ask and search for answers to questions about people, materials, events and ideas that arouse their curiosity; they solve problems that stand in the way of their goals; and they generate new strategies to try. Adult-Child Interaction Active learning depends on positive adult-child interactions. Throughout the day, guided by an understanding of how preschool children think and reason, adults practice positive interaction strategies – sharing control with children, focusing on children’s strengths, forming authentic relationships with children, supporting children’s play, and adopting a problem-solving approach to social conflict. For example, when a child talks about a topic of personal interest, an adult listens attentively and makes related comments and observations. Adults rely on encouragement and use a problem-solving approach to deal with everyday classroom situations rather than a child management system based on praise, punishment, and reward. Learning Environment The layout of the preschool room and selecting appropriate materials are key factors for our curriculum. The preschool room is organized in a way that allows children to make choices and decisions. Adults arrange storage for materials using low shelves, clear boxes, and picture labels children can “read,” so all children can independently find, use and return the items they need. God’s Word This is the most important part of our preschool curriculum. One Bible story will be read each week. The teacher will tell the story and use props for visual aids. Then, as the week progresses the children will become more familiar with the story and will be able to tell the story themselves. Through these Bible stories the children will learn about their Savior, Jesus Christ, and their salvation through Him. If you are interested in learning more about what our church teaches, consider taking Christianity 101 which is a class our church regularly offers. To encourage parents to take Christianity 101 we offer a 10% discount on tuition for the entire year if one or both of the parents complete the course. Daily Routine (morning program) (afternoon program)Arrival Time (8:00 – 8:15) (1:00 - 1:15) Children arrive, sign in, work with manipulatives at the tables.
Greeting Time (8:15 - 8:30) (1:15 - 1:30) Greeting time gives children and adults a chance to share important information for the day and to read and explore books together. Planning Time (8:30 - 8:40) (1:30 - 1:40) Children indicate what they choose to do during work time (typically what they will do first). Adults help children articulate their plans and often try to help children extend their plans. Work Time (8:40 - 9:30) (1:40 - 2:30) Children carry out their initial and subsequent plans. Children can work with any of the materials in any of the interest areas. Adults observe children and look for opportunities to enter into children’s activities. As they work with children, adults encourage their thinking, extend their play, and support them in solving problems. Clean-up and Recall Time (9:30 - 9:45) (2:30 - 2:45) Recall brings closure to the sequence of planning, working and recalling. Children reflect on, talk about, and/or show what they have done at work time. Snack and Bible Story Time (9:45 - 10:10) (2:45 - 3:10) Children bring snacks from home to eat in the classroom. The Bible stories will be told and retold with a variety of appropriate materials using pictures, drawings, finger plays, stick people, role-playing, blocks and clay. The children will be encouraged to practice retelling these Bible stories. This, in turn, helps young children “go and tell” the truths of God’s Word to their families and others. Outside Time (10:10 - 10:35) (3:10 - 3:35) Children will use their large motor skills to explore the outside playground. Small Group Time (10:40 - 11:00) (3:40 - 4:00) Each adult meets with a consistent small group of children (about 7-8 children) to work with materials planned and introduced by the adult. Although the adult chooses and introduces the materials, each child has control over what he or she will do with these materials. Departure Time (11:00 - 11:15) (4:00 - 4:15) Children will work with table toys, manipulatives, puzzles and books during the pick-up process. |
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