Elbert Preschool accepts children ages 3-6
Preschoolers must be 3 by June 1st
Pre-Kindergartners must be 4 by June 1st
Kindergartners must be 5 by June 1st
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The Hardwood unit blocks you see in our classroom are one of the most valuable learning materials we have. They come in exact sizes and shapes. For this reason when children build with blocks they learn math concepts such as the number of blocks that fill a certain space. They compare the height of their building and learn about geometric shapes (triangles, squares, and rectangles).When they lift, shove, stack, and move blocks, they explore weight and size. Each time they use blocks, children are making decisions about how to build a structure or solve a construction problem.
Children often use blocks to recreate the world around them - a road, a house, the zoo. They work together and learn to cooperate and make friends. We encourage children to talk about what they are doing to promote language development. We also talk with children and ask questions to expand on their block play.
These questions and comments make children more aware of what they are doing and encourage them to try out new ideas.
Art is an important part of our curriculum. Every day, children find a variety of art materials available on our shelves. Drawing, painting, pasting, molding and constructing are not only enjoyable but also provide important opportunities for leaning. Children express original ideas and feelings, improve their coordination, learn to recognize colors and textures, and develop creativity and pride in their accomplishments by exploring and using art materials.
When children are engaged in art activities, we talk with them about what they are doing and ask questions that encourage them to think about their ideas and express feelings.
We are just as interested in the creative process as we are in what children make. We say things that will encourage children to be creative and confident.
In the Dramatic Play Area children take on different roles and recreate real-life experiences. They use props and make believe to deepen their understanding about the world they live in.
The ability to pretend is very important to your child's development. Children who know how to make believe develop a good vocabulary, which is important for reading. They learn to cooperate with others and solve problems, and are able to think abstractly - all important skills for success in school. When children pretend, they have to recall experiences and recreate them. To do this, they need to picture their experiences in their minds. For example, to play the role of doctor, children have to remember what tools a doctor uses, how a doctor examines a patient, and what a doctor says. In playing the doctor or other roles, children learn to cooperate with others and to share their ideas.
We talk with children and participate in their play to extend their thinking.
Toys and games include puzzles, various table blocks, small construction materials such as Legos, board games, and collections of objects (including shells, bottle caps, and button). When children use toys and games, they explore how things work; learn to be creative and use their imaginations;strengthen and control the small muscles in their hands; work cooperatively and solve problems; and learn math ideas and concepts.
When children use toys and games in the classroom, we encourage them to talk about what they are doing. These questions and comments are designed to help children develop their thinking skills.
Cooking is an important part of our Curriculum. Cooking teaches a lot of academic skills. When children learn to follow picture recipe cards, they develop skills they need to read and write. Measuring 1 cup of flour and pouring 1/4 teaspoon of lemon juice into batter gives them a lesson in math. Whipping egg whites into meringue and melting cheese under a broiler are lessons in science.
When children cook, we talk a lot about what they are doing and why. They are scientists, observing what happens to flour when we add water to it and predicting how high we should fill a muffin tin so the batter doesn't overflow.
Cooking is a very special part of our program. It is one of the few activities children get to do that is also done by adults. Children pretend to be grown-ups making meals in their dramatic play. They can read books and sing songs about food. But in cooking, children can actually behave as grown-ups.
Physical exercise and fresh air are important for your child's health and well being. We take children outdoors every day so they can run, jump, swing, climb, and use all the large muscles in their bodies. They run around, breathe in the fresh air, look at the clouds, or catch a ball or a bug. They lie on the ground and watch clouds and birds, or hey climb high and look down. We also talk about the things children see, hear, touch, and feel so they become aware of changes in the weather, the seasons, the growth of plants, and the animals. We encourage children to wonder about what they see by asking questions.
We do a lot of singing and creative movement in our program. Singing and moving to music give the children a chance to hear and appreciate different kinds of music, express themselves though their movement, practice skills and learn many concepts. The children love our daily time for singing together, and it helps them learn to cooperate in a group.
The Library Area is a very important part of our classroom and of your child's life. It's where children gain the foundation for reading and writing. It's also a place where children can relax and enjoy the wonderful world of children's books.
We encourage children to look at books, to listen to taped stories, to retell stories, and to scribble and "write" throughout the day. We read stories to the children every day. Reading introduces new ideas, helps children learn how to handle problems that come up in life, and mostly encourages them to develop a love for books. As children listen to us read, their own reading skills begin to develop.
Although your probably used to seeing your children splash in the bathtub and dig in a sandbox at the playground, you may be surprised to know that the San and Water Area is an important part of our school program. Both sand and water are natural materials for learning.
When children pour water into measuring cups, they are exploring math concepts. When they drop corks, stones, feathers, and marbles into a tub of water, they are scientists exploring which objects flat and which sink. When they comb sand into patterns, they learn about both math and art.
We encourage children to experiment with these materials. As they do, we ask questions to focus their thinking on their discoveries.