Curriculum Statement - Preschool Three-year-Olds (PS-3)
Purpose
The curriculum for the three-year-olds at SJES is designed to:
- To expand the child's physical, socio-emotional, and cognitive growth.
- To encourage curiosity.
- To provide experiences of self and guided discovery in the learning process.
Parameters
- There are two PS-3 programs at SJES – PS-3/3 and the PS-3/5
- PS-3/3 meets 3 times a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. School starts at 8:00 a.m. The school day ends at 11:45 a.m.
- PS-3/5 meets 5 times a week Monday-Friday. School starts at 8:00 a.m. The school day ends at 11:45 a.m.
- SJES offers childcare services for both before and after school hours.
Language Curriculum
The Language program is rich with activities and experiences that encourage listening and speaking. The three-year old's receptive and expressive language is enhanced through the use of discussions, poetry, nursery rhymes, finger plays, and stories. Their vocabulary is developing rapidly at this age, so new words are being introduced in a meaningful way. Students are encouraged to talk, ask questions and make noise. Oral reading is very important at this age. Students are also given the opportunity to explore books.
Math Curriculum
The math program is concrete and filled with play and exploration through opportunities to work with manipulatives. Throughout the class the students are working on identifying shapes, sizes and geometrical relationships while they also practice counting in various activities.
Science and Social Studies Curriculum
Science activities are designed to encourage observation, comparison, exploration and problem solving. Sorting objects from nature is an especially important science activity. Students are encouraged to further explore their environment through wonder and curiosity.
The social studies program begins with the individual child and the development of their self-esteem. Activities focus on learning about self, home, family and the immediate and the larger community.
Art
Art is a creative process for three year-olds that allows for exploration, choice and imaginative expression. Art activities include finger-painting, brush painting, coloring and scribbling, pasting gluing, printing and cutting. The emphasis is placed on the creative process rather than the product.
Fine Motor Development
Small muscle activities with the three year-olds include experiences in which children learn to control hand and finger movements. As eye-hand coordination improves, the children enjoy drawing and scribbling with crayons, cutting with scissors, stringing beads, and playing with toys that have small pieces.
Learning Centers
Teachers design "playing" centers, provide appropriate materials, encourage exploration, guide students toward accepting more challenging activities, and name the activities, constructions, and concepts in order to build vocabulary and raise questions for the students to consider. Learning centers include: Blocks, Home Corner, Table Games, Art, Sand and Water, and Library. Curiosity, invention and persistence are encouraged in these centers while there are opportunities for cooperation, helping, sharing and successful problem solving.
Spiritual Formation and Growth
Each school day begins with a daily devotional time. The three year-olds attend chapel once a week in the Church of the Good Shepherd. A Bible lesson is taught by a staff member of the Church, and prayer concerns are part of the service.
Motor Development
Children have opportunities to experiment with a variety of equipment, learn games and skills that contribute to physical health and strengthening of muscles. These activities develop the large muscles of the body – the arms, legs and torso, and enable children to achieve greater mastery of body movements.
Music
In addition to the music taught by the classroom teacher, the music specialist leads a class for three year olds. The themes that are being taught in the class emphasizes language and motor development and in singing and rhythmic/beat movement.
Library
Students have library time in order to listen to a story read and choose a book to take with them for their individual enjoyment.
Outdoor Play
The three year-olds have thirty minutes of outdoor play on the playground everyday. The children are free to choose how they spend their time at playground. Children develop coordination and upper and lower body strength by running, climbing, hopping and using the equipment. Providing playtime also permits children to develop friendships and play partners.
Parent Communication
A parent orientation will be scheduled just prior to the opening of school to introduce the school, teachers and curriculum to the parents. Parent conferences are provided each year. Newsletters which describe the activities of the class will be sent home on a regular basis. Also, a monthly calendar will be sent home to keep parents informed about day-to-day activities and lessons at school. Parents and teachers are encouraged to keep up regular contact with each other. Also, parents are always welcome for classroom visits.
Curriculum Statement - Preschool Three-year-Olds (PS-3)
Purpose
The curriculum for the three-year-olds at SJES is designed to:
- To expand the child's physical, socio-emotional, and cognitive growth.
- To encourage curiosity.
- To provide experiences of self and guided discovery in the learning process.
Parameters
- There are two PS-3 programs at SJES – PS-3/3 and the PS-3/5
- PS-3/3 meets 3 times a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. School starts at 8:00 a.m. The school day ends at 11:45 a.m.
- PS-3/5 meets 5 times a week Monday-Friday. School starts at 8:00 a.m. The school day ends at 11:45 a.m.
- SJES offers childcare services for both before and after school hours.
Language Curriculum
The Language program is rich with activities and experiences that encourage listening and speaking. The three-year old's receptive and expressive language is enhanced through the use of discussions, poetry, nursery rhymes, finger plays, and stories. Their vocabulary is developing rapidly at this age, so new words are being introduced in a meaningful way. Students are encouraged to talk, ask questions and make noise. Oral reading is very important at this age. Students are also given the opportunity to explore books.
Math Curriculum
The math program is concrete and filled with play and exploration through opportunities to work with manipulatives. Throughout the class the students are working on identifying shapes, sizes and geometrical relationships while they also practice counting in various activities.
Science and Social Studies Curriculum
Science activities are designed to encourage observation, comparison, exploration and problem solving. Sorting objects from nature is an especially important science activity. Students are encouraged to further explore their environment through wonder and curiosity.
The social studies program begins with the individual child and the development of their self-esteem. Activities focus on learning about self, home, family and the immediate and the larger community.
Art
Art is a creative process for three year-olds that allows for exploration, choice and imaginative expression. Art activities include finger-painting, brush painting, coloring and scribbling, pasting gluing, printing and cutting. The emphasis is placed on the creative process rather than the product.
Fine Motor Development
Small muscle activities with the three year-olds include experiences in which children learn to control hand and finger movements. As eye-hand coordination improves, the children enjoy drawing and scribbling with crayons, cutting with scissors, stringing beads, and playing with toys that have small pieces.
Learning Centers
Teachers design "playing" centers, provide appropriate materials, encourage exploration, guide students toward accepting more challenging activities, and name the activities, constructions, and concepts in order to build vocabulary and raise questions for the students to consider. Learning centers include: Blocks, Home Corner, Table Games, Art, Sand and Water, and Library. Curiosity, invention and persistence are encouraged in these centers while there are opportunities for cooperation, helping, sharing and successful problem solving.
Spiritual Formation and Growth
Each school day begins with a daily devotional time. The three year-olds attend chapel once a week in the Church of the Good Shepherd. A Bible lesson is taught by a staff member of the Church, and prayer concerns are part of the service.
Motor Development
Children have opportunities to experiment with a variety of equipment, learn games and skills that contribute to physical health and strengthening of muscles. These activities develop the large muscles of the body – the arms, legs and torso, and enable children to achieve greater mastery of body movements.
Music
In addition to the music taught by the classroom teacher, the music specialist leads a class for three year olds. The themes that are being taught in the class emphasizes language and motor development and in singing and rhythmic/beat movement.
Library
Students have library time in order to listen to a story read and choose a book to take with them for their individual enjoyment.
Outdoor Play
The three year-olds have thirty minutes of outdoor play on the playground everyday. The children are free to choose how they spend their time at playground. Children develop coordination and upper and lower body strength by running, climbing, hopping and using the equipment. Providing playtime also permits children to develop friendships and play partners.
Parent Communication
A parent orientation will be scheduled just prior to the opening of school to introduce the school, teachers and curriculum to the parents. Parent conferences are provided each year. Newsletters which describe the activities of the class will be sent home on a regular basis. Also, a monthly calendar will be sent home to keep parents informed about day-to-day activities and lessons at school. Parents and teachers are encouraged to keep up regular contact with each other. Also, parents are always welcome for classroom visits.