Academics

• Knows and verbalizes personal information (first name, last name, parent’s first and last names, address, and phone number)
• Associates everyday objects such as money, food, and appliances, and categorizes items based on a specific characteristic
• Recognizes letters and their corresponding sounds and recognizes, spells, and writes the full name
• Speaks in grammatically correct sentences most of the time and uses complex sentences to express thoughts and feelings, and to answer questions
• Understands past, present, and future
• Asks for help when needed, negotiates solutions verbally to resolve conflicts, enjoys engaging with other children, and can both lead and follow the group
• Expresses needs and preferences clearly and appropriately, shows interest in and actively participates in various classroom activities (independently and in groups)
• Demonstrates opposites and their meanings, recites parts of songs, rhymes, stories, and finger-play games
• Enjoys books and is also able to retell familiar stories
• Recognizes and selects healthy foods
• Becomes aware of investigative processes using scientific methods
• Sorts and compares objects by size, length, weight, area, and temperature and begins to identify the position of objects in a series
• Kindergarten readiness skills

Children naturally include math in their daily lives. To develop a strong understanding of mathematical concepts, they engage in activities that involve numbers, foster quantitative skills, and enhance their awareness of time and space. The method for learning these skills is rooted in and connected to their everyday experiences.

Geometry: Children will identify primary shapes, including rectangles, diamonds, and ovals.  

Measurement: Concepts of thick/thin, older/younger, before/after, and yesterday/today, as well as understanding some/most/all.  

Numeration: Children will engage in rote counting up to 15, recognize numerals from 1 to 10, identify quantities up to 10, sequence numbers from 1 to 10, perform ordinal counting up to 5, and begin to grasp the concept of addition.  

Sets: They will establish one-to-one correspondence by matching members of equivalent sets, matching sets of up to 10 objects, and understanding time orientation concepts such as calendar months, days, dates, clocks, and seasons.  

Patterns: Children will recognize patterns consisting of three elements.

The goals for reading readiness are essential, developmentally appropriate academic objectives. These skills are integrated into various activities and form a crucial foundation for future academic success. We use engaging games, songs, and stories, emphasizing hands-on experiences with tangible objects to foster reading readiness. 

Auditory Skills: Children listen to stories or poems daily, recognize rhyming words, follow three-step directions, and identify initial sounds in spoken words. They also participate in GMLS reading buddies.

Visual Skills: Children practice reproducing simple shapes, recognize all letters of the alphabet, identify discrepancies in pictures, and easily recognize their first names. 

Alphabet Skills: Children identify many letters, including those in their names, and receive instruction on their sounds and visual recognition. 

Children trace shapes and print their first names using uppercase letters. They learn to write uppercase letters and numbers and engage in spontaneous writing activities with various materials. 

Directionality: Children develop a strong understanding of the left-to-right orientation crucial for reading and writing.

Purpose: Children begin to develop writing skills to communicate. Through modeled writing and shared writing experiences, children learn and participate in authentic writing experiences such as writing stories, making lists, creating time lines, taking lunch orders, writing letters to grandparents, and more.

Language development plays a crucial role in all aspects of growth for preschool children. The objectives are embedded in every activity the child engages in, whether indoors or outdoors, and whether the setting is structured or unstructured. To achieve the following goals, it is essential to provide a stimulating environment, suitable materials, books, experimental activities, and opportunities for socialization.

Language Development: Effectively constructs complex sentences that convey ideas and uses pronouns such as I, you, he, me, and she with precision. Displays a strong understanding of opposites and confidently communicates with expressive intonation that enhances conversations. 

Comprehension: Skillfully identifies the main idea of a story and summarizes it in their own words with clarity and insight. Highlights a favorite part of the story and articulates reasons for their preference, showcasing a deep personal connection and engagement with the material.

Children engage in various science experiments to develop the ability to solve problems, emphasizing the importance of hands-on learning. Teachers work closely with the children, encouraging them to observe all aspects of their surroundings before reaching conclusions and to understand that findings may not be absolute. This practice encourages children to cultivate adaptable minds and accept mistakes as part of learning. 

Scientific Process: The scientific process involves investigating, observing, defining, comparing, grouping, discovering, fostering thinking skills, finding solutions, relating, sorting, and classifying.

Social Studies begins with the individual child and gradually expands outward to include family, community, and, ultimately, the world at large. This subject emphasizes self-discovery, the sharing of similarities, and the respect for cultural and familial differences. 

Self: Children create projects that focus on themselves. 

Family: Children identify the members of their household and discuss their extended family. They will also have the chance to share special family events. 

Community: Children are introduced to various community workers and services, highlighting their importance.

Our program aims to foster a love for music, movement, art, and dramatic play through diverse experiences. Children are encouraged to explore the arts as a means of self-expression and creativity. Successfully engaging in the arts contributes to developing a positive self-image in children. Throughout the year, our focus will shift from the artistic process to the final product, preparing children for the skills needed to follow directions in kindergarten.

Music & Movement: Engages in singing simple songs and using hand and body movements in response to music. Develops a sense of beat and rhythmic awareness through simple patterns. Recognizes contrasts in music, such as loud and soft, fast and slow, and high and low. Moves comfortably to musical sounds, with or without props like streamers and scarves.

Art: Art expresses ideas and feelings through various materials, fostering creativity and self-confidence. Children work independently and collaboratively in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional forms, appreciating art through exposure to works by contemporary and traditional artists via books and posters. 

Dramatic Play: Children act out stories and finger plays, exploring structured and unstructured role-playing through activities like the doll corner and puppet shows.  The Dramatic Play area is transformed into various spaces throughout the year, providing opportunities for make-believe and role-playing.  Favorite themes include a veterinarian clinic, a camping site, a sufganiyot (jelly donuts) bakery, and more.

We provide an environment that encourages children to expand their gross and fine motor skills, which enhances their self-esteem and cognitive development. Children learn to follow directions, improve hand-eye coordination, develop physical capabilities, and work together as a team. Achievements occur at different rates. As part of our curriculum, the ECC offers weekly P.E. classes, and children are encouraged to participate in all gross motor activities.

Gross Motor Skills: Children hop on one foot, gallop, walk straight lines, and navigate outdoor climbing equipment with ease.  

Fine Motor Skills: Children fold and crease paper, connect dotted outlines to form shapes, trace patterns, attempt to button, zip, and tie, use scissors with control, lace following a sequence of holes, trace shapes, write letters of the alphabet, and are introduced to number writing.

Our program focuses on developing skills contribute to healthy social and emotional growth. Although there is no specific timetable for development, we recognize progression among different age groups. Activities are designed to encourage positive self-esteem and group interaction while honoring individual differences and personalities. Providing opportunities for skill development is essential.

Objectives:  

• Accepts teacher direction
• Adheres to group limits
• Accepts correction 
• Adapts to group routines
• Assists with classroom maintenance and cleanup
• Concentrates on appropriate tasks
• Exhibits self-control
• Manages transitions effectively
• Respects the rights and property of others
• Engages in cooperative play
• Participates in imaginative games
• Shares materials
• Communicates with peers
• Develops independence
• Offers help to other children
• Relates positively to peers
• Learns to express feelings appropriately
• Understands the concept of taking turns
• Actively participates in group activities
• Accepts opportunities to lead and to follow

Children receive weekly language instruction from a Hebrew specialty teacher. They are introduced to Hebrew vocabulary related to holidays, family, numbers, colors, seasons, animals, and body parts through songs, play, storytelling, and customized games. 

We are fortunate to have many Spanish-speaking teachers. Spanish is integrated into daily routines and activities. Birthdays are celebrated each month, with the birthday child honored through singing and dancing to Hebrew and Spanish birthday songs.