The curriculum focuses on approaches to play and learning, social and emotional development, health and physical development, language development and communication, mathematical thinking and expression, and cognitive development. Students begin preparing for early math concepts and finish 4K with a foundation in letters, numbers, and sounds through our Learning without Tears curriculum. Curriculum and foundational academic skills are also embedded in centers in the classroom that are intentionally set up for children to practice fine motor skills, reinforce concept development in literacy, math, and science, practice communication, social, and life skills, build vocabulary and problem-solving.

Language and Literacy: Reading and Writing come alive each day in the 4K classrooms through literacy enriched daily activities, classroom centers, and teacher guided lessons that build on a child’s understanding of both written and spoken language.  Reading, writing, listening, and speaking are integrated throughout the 4K day and are taught in conjunction with reading collections, songs, poems, finger plays, and teacher prepared materials.  We continue building a foundation in language expression, letter knowledge, phonemic awareness, listening skills, following directions, handwriting with proper pencil grip, storytelling, reading readiness, and rich vocabulary development through our Handwriting Without Tears program.

Math: In 4K, children learn to think like a mathematician and express their mathematical understanding through connections to their everyday lives, games, stories, mysteries and intriguing problems, manipulatives and visual models. Children learn about numbers, operations, geometry, patterning, measurement, and data analysis. 

Discovery: In the 4K classroom, children are encouraged to make connections and develop logical thinking through experiences, discoveries, wondering and questioning and are introduced to processes of observation, prediction, exploration, investigation, and interpretation. Children in 4K are given opportunities to explore, and make connections while developing an understanding of the world around them.

Classroom centers provide daily opportunities for discovery, curiosity, invention, and wonder.

• Math: Provides opportunities for children to count, sort, group, explore, and investigate a variety of hands on materials.  Through the use of concrete materials, children begin to understand more abstract concepts and relationships and can begin to apply this thinking skill across all curriculum subject areas.
• Engineering: Provides children with opportunities to imagine, create, and construct using blocks and objects of all sizes, shapes and materials.  Children experiment with balance, number and shape concepts, and begin early knowledge of architecture, engineering, and physics.
• Science and Discovery: Provides objects and materials for children to experience the world around them.  Through observations, experiments, and hands-on activities, children discover how things work, develop higher level thinking skills, ask questions, and participate in research.
• Writing and Art: Provides materials for children to develop fine motor skills, practice handwriting, write and illustrate stories, create artwork and practice language, listening, and literacy skills.
• Dramatic Play: Provides a happy place for children to role-play, express feelings, dramatize stories, reinvent life experiences, practice social behaviors, and use language skills in a variety of ways.
• Classroom Library: Provides books and a quiet area for children to explore and experiment with written language and illustrations.  This center helps promote an enthusiasm for reading and an increase in attention span.

7:30-8:05—Arrival, Morning Work

8:05-8:30—Morning Meeting Circle Time

8:30-8:50--Handwriting Without Tears

8:50-9:20—Calendar/Math/Literacy

9:20-9:50—Specials

9:50-10:20—Outdoor Play (Recess)

10:20-10:40—Snack/Read Aloud

10:40-11:50—Learning Rotation: Academic Centers, Individual Instruction, Small Group Instruction

11:50-12:05—Devotion/Blessing

12:05-12:30—Lunch

12:30-1:00—Free Choice Centers

1:00-2:00—Rest

2:00-2:30—Discovery/Inquiry Projects

2:30-2:45—Pack up and Dismiss

Students participate in performances including Chapel presentations that build confidence and pride. Students also participate in special classes including Children's Bible class, PE, art, Spanish and library one-two times each week.