Although our Pre-Kindergarten class is academic and structured, it is planned with 3- and 4-year-olds in mind. The class is held for 3 hours. As the students arrive, they go to the tables and do a table project, then when they finish that they can go play with the toys for fifteen minutes. After cleaning up, they have a gathering time where they all sit on the rug and begin the class with a prayer (offered by a child), the pledge, a patriotic song, and the calendar.

Following the opening, students have twenty minutes of phonics or reading. Then they go out to recess and return to have a snack. Math involves many activities with manipulatives and worksheets. The last hour is spent with 15-20 minutes of Social Science, an art project, and music. It is a structured program with a variety of movement.

Phonics and Reading:

Learn recognition and sounds of letters. Beginning sounds are taught first, then the five short vowels. Digraphs are presented next.

Three-year-olds will spend most of the year learning their letters and sounds. Some may read in May. Four-year-olds will begin to read by Christmas. They will begin with one vowel readers, then move to two vowels.

Memorization:

One new poem will be learned each month and previous poems reviewed.

Handwriting:

Students will trace their first name until it is mastered. It is written with an initial capital letter and the others lower-case. Letters and numbers are traced as they are introduced.

Math:

Learn to recognize the numbers 1-20. Count forward and backward. Matching numbers with objects. Eight colors, eight shapes. Adding and subtracting one.

Logic:

Discussions including opposites, rhyming, positions in space.

Social Science:

Varied exposure to the world in general, to include: families, all about me, dinosaurs, reptiles, insects, seasons, Christopher Columbus, transportation, five senses, community helpers, presidents, international people, space and planets, nutrition, Pilgrims and Indians, plants and seeds, and animals - farm, forest, sea, zoo, Arctic, and baby.

Music:

Daily singing of a variety of songs, to include curriculum songs, alphabet and number songs.

Physical Education:

Both large and small motor skills are developed. Activities for large muscle development include crawling, walking, skipping, jumping, and hopping.

Social Skills:

Students learn to interact with others as they play together and discuss sharing, cooperation, and how to be a good friend.

Art:

Daily activities involving cutting, gluing, painting, and modeling. Social science- and holiday-related projects enhance the curriculum.