Pre-K
Our Pre-K teaching philosophy is that if children are happy and comfortable, they will learn. Our teachers always strive for the classroom to be a place where children are free to be themselves and to be nurtured according to his own pace and ability. The Pre-k classroom is a structured environment; however there is flexibility within the structure. The Pre-K curriculum is based on the Jewish holidays, the seasons, people in the community, and children's literature. Each day there is free play, crafts (fine motor), square time (which includes the weather report given by a different child), the calendar, singing and music, finger plays, and movement (gross motor). Books, words, show and tell, and the letter of the week are an early part of literacy and language development. Our curriculum also includes science and social studies. Some specific goals and objectives for our children are:
Socio-Emotional Development
To develop a high self-esteem
• identify oneself as a member of a specific family and cultural group
• feel proud of one's heritage and background (both for Israel and the United States)
• demonstrate increasing independence
• stand up for one's rights
To exhibit a positive attitude toward life:
• demonstrate trust in adults
• be able to separate from parents
• demonstrate interest and participate in classroom activities
• participate in routine activities easily
To demonstrate cooperative, pro-social behavior:
• seek out children and adults
• understand and respect differences
• accept responsibility for maintaining the classroom environment
• help others in need
• respect the rights of others
• share toys and materials
• work cooperatively with others on completing a task
• resolve conflicts constructively
Cognitive Development
To acquire learning and problem solving skills:
• demonstrate an interest in exploring
• ask and respond to questions
• show curiosity and a desire to learn
• use planning skills
• observe and make discoveries
• find more than one solution to a problem
• apply information and experience to a new context
• use creativity and imagination
• persist in tasks
To expand logical thinking skills:
• classify objects by similarities and differences
• put together objects that belong together
• recall a sequence of events
• arrange objects in a series
• recognize patterns and be able to repeat them
• increase awareness and cause-and-effect relationships
• To acquire concepts and information leading to a fuller understanding of the immediate world
• demonstrate an awareness of time concepts
• identify names and objects and events • make comparisons
• use words to describe the characteristics of objects
• identify the roles people play in society (field trips)
• identify relationships of objects in space
• count in correct sequence and match one-to-one
To demonstrate skills in make-believe play in order to build imagination and socialization:
• assume a pretend role
• make-believe with objects
• make-believe with situations
• sustain play
• interact with other children
To expand verbal communication skills:
• recall words in a song or finger play
• follow simple directions
• use words to explain ideas and feelings
• talk with other children during daily activities
• make up stories
• participate in group discussion
To develop beginning reading skills
• acquire a love of books
• listen to a story and explain what happened
• recognize pictures and text on a page
To acquire beginning writing skills
• make increasingly representational drawings
• write recognizable letters and numbers
• recognize written names
• label pictures
• demonstrate an interest in using writing for a purpose
Math
• Counting
• Rote counts to twenty
• Understands number concepts
Classifying
• Sorts objects into two given categories - shapes, size, color
Size differences
• Understands concepts of full and empty
• Understands big/little, tall/short
Shapes
• Points to and labels shapes
• Matches shapes Sets
• Matches sets containing up to five objects
Science Concepts
• Understands that there are many kinds of animals
• Understand that most plants make seeds for new plants
• Understands that air is everywhere
• Understand the properties of water
Physical Development
To enhance gross motor skills
• use gross motor skills with confidence
• walk up and down steps
• run with increasing control over direction and speed
• jump over or from objects without falling
• use large muscles for balance
• catch a ball or bean bag
• throw an object in the intended direction
• ride and steer a tricycle
• climb up or down equipment without falling
To enhance and refine fine motor skills
• coordinate eye and hand movements
• use small muscles to complete tasks
• use small muscles for self-help skills
• use writing and drawing tools with increasing control and intention To use all senses in learning
• demonstrate skill in discriminating sounds
• demonstrate visual discrimination skills
• discriminate by taste and smell
• discriminate differences in texture