Programs

• Reading Program
• Basic Early Childhood Curriculum Program
• Creative Art Program
• SPARKS Program
• Physical Education Program
• Dance Classes
• Musical Instrument Lessons

Programs Unique to Us

Our "Reading Program"

For the age groups serviced at our center – we implement "pre readiness and "readiness" activities that include a concerted effort on the staff's part to promote these age appropriate goals:

a) "Phonemic Awareness" – meaning the ability of the child to attempt to speak clearly – and out loud – We implement this by speaking appropriately and modeling for children – every word that is said in the rooms is a concerted effort of the staff to be said clearly – and with proper pronunciation.

Aims of "Phonemic Awareness" by age group:

1) Infants will accentuate their ability to speak by being sung to and their sounds validated by attentiveness and encouragement. age appropriate manipulative and visual methods so that they may developmentally move past the "exclusive" attention of infancy to the next stage.

2) 1-2's will attempt to speak –saying the words we use clearly and "out loud" – accentuating the beginning and final consonant sounds – as well as middle vowel sounds – Staff will also sing songs that are modified to their needs using sounds the children will replicate – if they initially can not grasp attempting to say the actual words.

3) 2-3's will speak and say words we use clearly and "out loud" – accentuating the beginning and final consonant sounds – as well as middle vowel sounds – but to this we begin to add the plural forms (accentuating the ending "s", "ing", ed sounds, – etc.

This is also called "auditory discrimination" – the ability to hear and distinguish sounds in words – leads to the ability to learn to spell later on!

Children who do not have skills in "auditory discrimination" – fall behind in their ability to learn to read and spell! Additionally, we sing songs with words pronounced, " clearly out loud" – so that children intensively listen – CONCENTRATE – and sing the words with correct pronunciation.

"Older" 3's children will be introduced to the written word as being a representation of the spoken word – by use of "Language Experience" methods, building descriptive vocabulary, and labeling things in the classroom such as areas items they play with – etc.

4) 4-6's will speak "clearly, out loud", intensively concentrating on clear and precise pronunciation. They will be introduced to words in print that include the things they express in class on their art or observations they make. This age group will attempt to pronounce the words while being introduced to the written word and its symbol/picture.

Basic sight word curriculum words (as listed below) will be integrated with pictures for name-to-picture and word recognition (this is called visual discrimination).

Additionally – for this age –

Sight words from the "Dolch Sight Word List" will be introduced – and each child will be given some activities on their own level and interest.

These are the lists children are tested on upon entrance to both private and public schools – The standard age for beginning to "read by sight" is age 4ish – We proceed from around that age by introducing these words – but only where children are capable of participating in this. We do not "force" teach anyone. Those that do not wish to participate do something more age appropriate suitable to their needs.

Age-appropriate activities will include matching games with the words, following direction activities, language experience activities, sentence writing and building descriptive vocabulary, as well as story writing and reading – if children show a progressive ability ands desire to go that far. Homework will be given were it is appropriate to do so, only.

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Basic Early Childhood Curriculum Program

We integrate these general required basics in the context of early childhood curriculum – integrating knowledge with age appropriate activities using art, games – writing skills, possible trips, community walks, and language experience activities.

Topics we cover include: days of the week, months of the year, seasons, holidays, child's name, phone number and address, letter recognition, holidays, cultural awareness, animals, pets, names and categories of food (including foods from different nationalities), community buildings and community workers, methods of transportation, articles of clothing – foods we eat – community awareness and recognition community helpers (police person, fire postal worker – etc.) We include the spoken names associated to their picture (visual discrimination) and add the written word where its "age appropriate" to do so!

Infant topics:

Infants will have age appropriate manipulative equiptment and other methods used to enhance their gross motor abilities. Infants will also be included in activities that attempt to motivate them to look up – look across and pay attention "to" a content area – so that they may developmentally move past the "exclusive" attention of infancy to the next stage of age appropriate attentiveness.

To integrate "Phonemic awareness" with these curriculum "topics" –

1-2's attempt to say these names and potentially associate the name of the item to its picture –(phonemic awareness)

2-3's clearly say and associate the name to its picture – (visual and auditory discrimination activities)

3-4's add more of a variety of pictures for each topic – for visual discrimination purposes as well as "contrast and comparison" skills, and building "descriptive vocabulary" skills.

4-5's begin to associate the name to the picture – to the written-word – and add to these the ability to recognize more then one type of item for each category without being confused. (For example – different "cars" trucks – trains – are able to distinguish and describe the differences between boat, ocean liner – sailboat – motor boat etc…same curriculum only with more details.)

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Creative Art Program

We mean "child centered" – not "arts and crafts" – In keeping with the CDA guidelines, Universal Pre Kindergarten, Head Start and the NAEYC guidelines – we set up a real "art area" –

this is a continuously accessible workspace that promotes creativity and initiates the readiness skills at the same time.

We provide a wide variety of age-appropriate "art" tools that allow children to draw, cut, paste paint – and "create" what they have in their own minds – with materials that are safe for them to work with.

Staff constantly replenish these and add new materials. We want children to be motivated and eager to look and to see "what's new" daily – so they participate and explore while observing and using the concepts formed with these types of experiences…

We give them something to look forward to – to want to come to school for!

Children's Art is not "arts and crafts" –Arts and Crafts are considered to be "directed activities" – these are not creative nor mind enhancing because they are just "copies" of what everyone else is making – This type of activity is also stress producing – because not every child can exactly imitate the perfection of "how to make what the teacher's sample looks like"! This leads to children who are too fearful of failure and criticism to even bother to try to make anything at all….we don't work that way here…

Here we allow the children to work out their own "ideas"! Arts and Crafts is good for "sometimes" – but not as a daily unit.

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SPARKS Program

Free physical activity program used on a daily basis including many types of age appropriate materials and equipment. This is geared to promote gross motor skills while including cardio and strength awareness, etc.

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Future physical education classes

Such as Karate, "kiddy Yoga", "mommy and me" classes, "exercise", aerobics, may be available at an additional cost.

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Dance Classes

We are offering Ballroom Dancing Classes taught by Professional Ballroom Dancers that featured on television show, "Dancing with the Stars". The classes are offered for children and parents alike. For current Fees and Schedules, kindly contact us or drop by to get more information.

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Musical instrument lessons

Planned to be made available at additional cost such as piano – keyboard, guitar – drums, etc.

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