PRESCHOOL/PRE-K PROGRAMS
Our Preschool/Pre-K Program is carefully designed to provide a strong foundation for children aged 3 to 5 years as they prepare for the transition to kindergarten. We focus on fostering independence, creativity, and a love for learning through a balanced mix of structured activities and free play. Our experienced teachers guide children in developing essential academic, social, and emotional skills in a warm and supportive environment.
Curriculum and Learning Objectives
Our three learning centers are proud to offer year-round Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten programs, each designed to foster academic and social growth in children.
Preschool Program (Ages 3-4)
Our Preschool program targets children ages 3 to 4, providing a structured academic learning environment that balances child-initiated and teacher-directed activities. The curriculum includes:
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Reading Readiness and Language Development: Daily activities promote early literacy skills and language growth.
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Mathematics: Hands-on activities help children grasp abstract mathematical concepts.
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Science Exploration: Encouraging curiosity through simple experiments and nature observations.
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Social and Emotional Learning: Developing interpersonal skills and emotional awareness.
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Computer Literacy: Introducing basic computer skills to prepare children for future technological interactions.
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Enrichment Program: In addition to the core curriculum, children participate in enrichment activities such as music, physical fitness, computer skills, dance, and art. These activities are designed to enhance overall development, with new classes potentially added or substituted each year.
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Meals and Snacks: We provide nutritious snacks, while parents are responsible for breakfast and lunch. To support this, we offer a handout with guidelines to ensure meals are nutritionally balanced and meet the standards set by the state of Ohio and the USDA.
Pre-Kindergarten Program (Ages 4-5)
Our Pre-Kindergarten program is tailored for children ages 4 to 5, building on the Preschool foundation with a more advanced curriculum. The program includes:
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Advanced Reading and Writing Integration: Emphasizing the five components of reading, coupled with daily writing exercises.
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Mathematical Literacy and Numeracy: A strong focus on mathematical concepts to ensure a solid foundation for Kindergarten.
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Structured Academic Learning: A balanced approach that combines child-initiated exploration with teacher-guided instruction.
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Enrichment Program: Like our Preschool program, the Pre-Kindergarten enrichment activities include music, physical fitness, computer skills, dance, and art, with the possibility of new or substituted classes each year.
Preschool/Pre-K Schedule
6:00 – 8:15 a.m. - Arrival and free play
8:15 – 8:30 a.m. - Bathroom break and wash hands for breakfast
8:30 – 9:00 a.m. - Breakfast
9:00 – 9:15 a.m. - Read Aloud
9:15 – 10:00 a.m. - Reading and Literacy Block
10:00 – 10:45 a.m. - Math
10:45 - 11:30 a.m. - Free Choice: Gross Motor/Technology/Art/Library
11:30 - 11:45 a.m. - Clean-up, bathroom break, and wash hands for lunch
11:45 - 12:15 p.m. - Lunch
12:15 – 12:30 p.m. - Hand-washing/Restroom/Nap Prep
12:30 – 3:30 p.m. - Nap
3:30 – 4:00 p.m. - Wake Up, Bathroom Break, Snack
4:00 – 4:45 p.m. - Free Choice: Music/Sensory/Science/Social Studies
4:45 – 5:30 p.m. - Indoor/Outdoor Recreation
5:30 – 6:30 p.m. - Group Games, class, free play, and departure
STANDARDS DRIVEN INSTRUCTION
Our curriculum and academic approaches fully meet the Ohio Department of Education standards for preschool education. Preschoolers that attend our centers are exposed to rigorous Literacy and Mathematics standards and instruction. We created our own curriculum which aligns to the Kindergarten Common Core Standards.
KINDERGARTEN PREPARATION
Researchers have established that much of what a child needs to succeed in life depends on his or her early childhood education. During the Pre-kindergarten years, the child’s brain undergoes rapid development and this is the time when he or she builds cognitive skills in social growth, academics, and problem solving.
CLEAN ENVIROMENT
We exceed sanitation standards on a daily basis. Our classrooms are vividly colorful, clean and sanitized, and very inviting for our young learners. Because our learning centers are all new center in the Akron and Barberton area, the furnishings are brand new, and all equipment is clean and colorful!
LEARNING THROUGH PLAY
Learning through play is a term used in education and psychology to describe how a child can learn to make sense of the world around them. Through play children can develop social and cognitive skills, mature emotionally, and gain the self-confidence required to engage in new experiences and environments. Teachers at our centers build play activities into their daily lesson plans.
EXTRACURRICULAR OPTIONS
Extracurricular activities help preschoolers build self-esteem and confidence and improve social skills. Through playful activities in small groups, our young learners challenge themselves to try new things, learn how to be a part of a team and explore more about their talents.
ASSESMENT AND PROGRESS MONITORING
Progress monitoring is a scientifically based practice for assessing a child’s academic and social-emotional performance and evaluating the effectiveness of instruction. It’s cyclical, targeted, standardized and individualized to each child, where teachers regularly assess a child’s performance either weekly or monthly. Research has demonstrated that when teachers engage in the progress monitoring of their students, the children learn more. Our centers use their own assessments and progress monitoring tools which are aligned to the curriculum scope and ODE's curricular standards.