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Our Pre School Progam | | • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •Learning Centers Build More Than Social Skills |
At Harvard Park Children’s Learning Center North, we support the growth and education of children through the use of hand-on, manipulative, preschool activities. Our teachers develop activities that enhance the children’s interest and develop pre-kindergarten skills that are necessary for life long learning.
Children in school today need skills in many areas including being able to take direction from teachers as well as being able to work independently. At Harvard Park, our daily schedule and classroom environment allow for both teacher directed and child directed times. Here are some of the ways we do this:
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Teacher Directed Activity
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Purpose
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Child Directed Activity
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Purpose
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Large Circles
Done both AM/PM with entire class.
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Sets the tone for the day, develops knowledge about topic and develops attention spans.
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Center Time
Time for the children to explore the materials on the shelves in their classroom.
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Allows the children the opportunity to choose what interests them. A hands-on way to help children develop the skills they need in all the major curriculum areas.
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Small Circles
Done both AM/ PM. Each teacher takes half of the class to this circle time.
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Allows teachers more one-on-one time with children to work on specific skills and assess their progress.
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Art Projects
Done both AM/PM. No worksheets or teacher made projects.
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Allows the children to experience many different types of mediums, focusing on the process vs. product.
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Field Trips
Done 1-2 times a week Based on theme of the month.
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Enhances the theme they are learning about by allowing the children to experience what they are learning about.
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Outside Play
Happens both AM/PM daily. Our covered area allows the children to go outside during bad weather.
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Allows children to socialize, explore creative play, develop motor skills, and get some fresh air!
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Cooking
Done weekly based on the theme for the month.
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Enhances the monthly theme as well as learning about measuring, reading, and cause & effect.
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Meal Times
AM/ PM Snacks and Lunch are served daily. Everything is made from scratch, on site, and with fresh, wholesome ingredients.
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Eating family style allows the children the chance to socialize with the other children, serve their own food, learn table manners, and experience new foods.
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Listed below are the curriculum areas we plan for and the skills developed in that area:
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CURRICULUM AREA
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SKILLS DEVELOPED
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· PRACTICAL LIFE
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· DRESSING, SPOONING, POURING, CUTTING, HAND WASHING, CLEAN UP SKILLS
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· BLOCKS
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· SPATIAL RELATIONS, PROBLEM SOLVING, VISUAL PERCEPTION, BALANCE, GRAVITY
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· LANGUAGE
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· SEQUENCING, LEFT TO RIGHT PROGRESSION, LETTER RECOGNITION, EXPRESSIVE LANGUAGE, COMMUNICATION, PHONETIC AWARENESS
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· MATH
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· NUMBER CONCEPTS, ONE-TO-ONE CORRESPONDENCE, PATTERNING, NUMBER RECOGNITION, COUNTING, PROBLEM SOLVING
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· SCIENCE
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· CAUSE & EFFECT, OBSERVATION SKILLS, CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS
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· FINE MOTOR
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· HAND STRENGTHENING, PENCIL GRASP, DEXTERITY, HAND-EYE COORDINATION
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· DRAMATIC PLAY
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· ROLE PLAYING, COOPERATION, POSITIVE SELF- IMAGE
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Because our curriculum is hands-on, our children learn by doing! We do not use dittos or worksheets in our classrooms. The children get the opportunity to explore materials and really experience the themes and concepts that are being taught. Our staff use assessments in the classrooms to aid in the preparation of lesson plans that meet the developmental needs of the children in their class. Parents are kept informed by our Curriculum Guides that are posted twice a month, so they can know specifically what their children are learning about for the month. Each classroom posts their lesson plans for parents to review also.
Each class takes weekly field trips. We feel this is critical to the children's learning as it enhances the information they are exploring in class and gives them a different experience in which to develop their knowledge of the subject. They are also a lot of FUN!
Each week, the children participate in cooking projects that relate to the theme. These projects involve measuring, cutting, pouring, spooning, and critical thinking skills.
The children play outside everyday! We have a large, park-like playground with a covered play area, bike track, tree houses, sandboxes, and a climbing structure to enjoy. Outside time is a planned part of our program also. Based on the assessed development of the children, the teachers plan and set up specific activities to help develop their gross motor skills. Our large covered play area allows the children the chance to play outside regardless of the weather! |
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