Pre-K Program

Welcome to our Pre-Kindergarten class!

Our child-centered Pre-Kindergarten class offers an educational experience focusing on the holistic development of children aged 3 to 5 years old. Through a carefully prepared environment, children are encouraged to explore, create, and engage in activities that promote independence, critical thinking, and social skills.

Key Features

  • Hands-On Learning: Children engage in hands-on activities that promote sensory exploration and cognitive development. Materials are designed to be self-correcting, allowing children to learn through their own experiences.

  • Mixed-Age Classroom: Our mixed-age setting encourages peer learning, where younger children learn from older classmates, and older children reinforce their knowledge by teaching and leading.

  • Individualized Learning: Each child progresses at their own pace, with personalized learning plans tailored to their interests and developmental stage. Teachers observe and guide children, providing support as needed.

  • Practical Life Skills: Activities such as pouring, cleaning, dressing, and cooking help children to develop fine motor skills, coordination, and independence, fostering a sense of responsibility and confidence.

  • Sensory Activities: Designed to refine the senses, these activities enhance children’s perception, observation, and classification skills, forming the foundation for future learning in math and science.

  • Language Development: Rich language experiences are integrated throughout the morning, including storytelling, conversations, and early literacy activities, to cultivate communication skills and a love for reading.

  • Mathematics Exploration: Hands-on materials introduce mathematical concepts in a concrete and tangible way, helping children develop a deep understanding of numbers, patterns, and relationships.

  • Cultural Studies: Exposure to geography, science, art, and music broadens children’s horizons, fostering respect and appreciation for diversity and the natural world.

Goals:

  • Foster a lifelong love of learning

  • Develop independence and self-confidence

  • Cultivate critical thinking and problem-solving skills

  • Encourage social and emotional growth

  • Promote respect for self, others, and the environment

Prerequisites

To ensure that each child is ready to fully benefit from our Pre-Kindergarten class, we have established the following prerequisites. The criteria help ensure that students can thrive in our student-driven, hands-on learning environment.

Age Requirement

  • Children must be between 3 and 5 years old by the start of the semester.

Toilet Training

  • Children should at least be working on toilet training, able to use the bathroom mostly independently, and manage their own hygiene with minimal assistance.

Basic Social Skills

  • Interaction: Children should demonstrate basic social skills such as sharing, taking turns, and playing cooperatively with peers.

  • Communication: Ability to express needs, wants, and feelings in an understandable manner.

Self Care Skills

  • Dressing: Ability to manage basic self-care tasks such as dressing, putting on shoes, and washing hands with minimal assistance.

  • Eating: Ability to feed themselves independently, including using utensils and managing snacks or meals.

Basic Motor Skills

  • Fine Motor Skills: Ability to handle small objects, use crayons or markers, and manipulate basic classroom materials like blocks and puzzles.

  • Gross Motor Skills: Ability to move independently, including running, jumping, and climbing.

Attention Span

  • Group Activities: Ability to participate in group activities for short periods, typically 10-15 minutes.

  • Focus: Ability to engage with a single activity or task for a short duration without frequent redirection.

Emotional Readiness

  • Separation: Comfort with separating from parents or primary caregivers at drop-off.

  • Adaptability: Ability to adapt to new routines and environments with minimal distress.

Meeting these prerequisites help create a smooth transition into our Pre-Kindergarten program, ensuring that each child is prepared to thrive in our engaging, student-driven learning environment.