Zebra Room* 3 – 4 yrs (3 Prior to Sept. 1)
Mon – Fri 9:00 – 11:55am
Schedules for a 2-5 day schedule available
Afternoon Enrichment* 11:55am – 3pm
Description
The Zebra year focuses heavily on developing good feelings about school and growing as a learner in a classroom. Teachers provide positive support to children in developing language, physical, cognitive and social skills to help make the school experience a success.
Our classroom routines are structured intentionally to support children in achieving success for individual growth. Our curriculum is focused on areas of inquiry that appeal to the 3 & 4 year old. At the center of our curriculum and woven throughout classroom activities and themes is a focus on our “natural world.” Children have a natural curiosity to explore and make sense of their world. They find meaning and relevance to their conceptual and skill learning within the predictability and gradual nature of the process of the life cycle.
Nurturing a feeling of curiosity is important here. Curious learners seek answers. Together, as a class, we enjoy investigating the world in a safe, respectful, and supportive environment.
Daily Program
When the child enters the school they are greeted by the teacher and given the freedom to explore the various leaning activities and interest centers that have been prepared before arrival. These centers may be changed from week to week, day to day, and sometimes from hour to hour. Paint, clay, collage, blocks, books, dolls. etc. are all available.
Each day is special. There is always something new or some way that is new. However, there are also enough things that remain the same to provide the security and comfort of familiarity.
Our daily schedule includes time to share a story, participate in Music Class, learn a concept, or celebrate achievements, creations and the Star of the Week. Each day concludes with weather-permitting outdoor time at 11:55. Some children will go home at 11:55 and others stay for afternoon programming. Decision making about whether to stay for afternoon programming considers both child readiness and family need for a greater length of day.
Program Goals
- To develop relationships of mutual trust with adults and peers
- To enjoy playing alone and with other children
- To express ideas through language and symbolic representation in effective and varied ways
- To express interesting and creative ideas, problems, and questions
- To use initiative in pursuing curiosities
- To put ideas of objects into relationships, noting similarities and differences
- To demonstrate persistence in completing a task
- To have confidence in one’s ability to solve problems
- To begin to coordinate different points of view by cooperating and resolving conflicts
- To cope with fears, anxieties and frustrations constructively
- To become increasingly autonomous
- To build awareness of one’s body in space
- To coordinate fine and gross motor skills