Early childhood experiences prepare children for a lifetime of learning.

Following the philosophy of Saint James School , the Preschool’s program recognizes the span of developmental levels at this age and strives to meet the needs of each individual student. The program’s curriculum provides experiences that enhance social, emotional, physical and intellectual development. Implementation of the Early Learners curriculum is through large or small group interaction and individual instruction and attention.   An overview of the Early Learner curriculum that expands upon the essential points are listed below:

LANGUAGE ARTS

• Listens with understanding through recall.
• Learns to follow directions.
• Learns to take turns speaking in circle time activities.
• Develops functional and expressive language through rhymes, daily songs and prayers,

   show-and-tell, and circle time routines.
• Increases vocabulary usage and understanding.
• Prepares for Reading Readiness by interpreting pictures, sequencing, associating sounds and   

   symbols, recognizing some letters of the alphabet.
• Dictates stories and discover words.
• Learns to associate stories, art, classroom and life experiences with units of study.
• Learns to recognize and begin to write his/her name.
• Develops necessary pre-writing skills (see fine motor skill development).

FINE/GROSS MOTOR

• Uses manipulative small toys, games, puzzles, blocks, and Legos to strengthen fine motor skills

   and eye-hand coordination.
• Uses scissors to develop flex and grip to safely manipulate them and to help prepare for

   handwriting.
• After introduction, is able to use the blocks in the Writing Without Tears (pre-writing program)

   to form letters.
• Uses paints, crayons, markers, and media to develop spatial awareness, control, coordination, and

    crossing the midline.
• Develops coordination, balance and agility through exercise and play on the playground and in

   Physical Education classes.
• Strengthens large muscle groups by use of playground equipment and PE activities involving

   running, climbing, jumping, and galloping
• Learns age-appropriate games to develop large motor skills.

SOCIAL STUDIES

• Broadens their perspectives of the world to include others as well as themselves through

   sharing, taking turns, and using good manners.
• Celebrates holidays.
• Develops a sense of patriotism for the USA through learning the Pledge of Allegiance, working

   with maps, and learning about the flag.
• Learns about community helpers and transportation.
• Identifies themselves as a member of a family, a school and a community.

MATH

• Learns to count 0-10.
• Recognizes numbers 0-5 or above.
• Sorts, classifies, patterns, and sequences objects by size, shape, and color.

• Uses manipulative toys to reinforce concrete concepts of pre-number skills.
• Identifies, draws, and copy shapes.
• Learns concepts “top, bottom, and middle.”

SCIENCE

• Explores the five senses (touching, seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting).
• Observes weather and seasonal changes.
• Learns about nature and animals.
• Compares how things grow.
• Learns about the world around them through outdoor play and exploration.
• Increases curiosity and experimentation through hands-on activities.

LIFE LESSONS

• Learns about God’s world through stories, songs, prayers, instructions, and church.
• Discovers how special each individual is in God’s world.
• Learns about qualities of kindness, trust, friendship, honesty, and love.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

  •We believe that physical activity and movement enhances fitness, fosters growth and development, and helps teach children about their world. In addition to the health benefits of physical activity, movement is an integral part of a young child's life and education. Teachers have many opportunities to use movement and physical activity within the school curriculum and we provide a physical education period for some of our students.

MUSIC & MOVEMENT
  •Music is in our lives from infancy through adulthood. It is a universal language that can be communicated across cultures and language. Music in our preschool is multi-sensory, meaningful to students and fun.

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