Our Curriculum

Our curriculum is a faith-based guide that provides opportunities for children to learn about God, Jesus, the Bible, the church, self, family, and the world. This also includes the teaching of skills that will prepare children for school including language, pre-reading, pre-writing and math/numbers. We use both the Wee Learn and Pinnacle curriculums to form our programs. The application of these two curriculums involves circle time, classroom centers, outdoor/indoor play, and more.

Read below for more detailed information about our classroom centers and how our curriculum meets the needs of children or take a look at our age-level programs for more details about the units that are covered.

Classroom Centers

	Art Art is a wonderful form of self-expression for children of all ages. There are many types of art that will be offered.
	Construction/Blocks Building and constructing allows children to learn socially as they relate to one another and also physically and creatively as they build.
	Drama/Home-living Reenactment is fun for children as they learn through dramatic play by recreating everyday occurrences like cooking or caring for a baby.
	Games/Puzzles/Manipulatives As children manipulate puzzles and games they learn problem solving, colors, shapes, choice making, matching skills and fine motor skills.
	Reading/Listening Books are such an important part of learning and creating a love for books at an early age is vitally important to a child's mental development.
	Music Music is fun, assists in the formation of concepts, invites participation and can nurture feelings of personal worth.
	Nature Nature activities open a world of excitement to children and it encourages discovery and exploration.
	Writing From sidewalk chalk to pencil and crayons, writing activities help build up hand muscles and motor coordination to help with writing.

Meeting Needs

To meet the needs of children our curriculum...

• Is Activity-Based
  Preschoolers are active learners and must be involved in activities that do not force all the children to do the same thing at the same time. Learning center activities allow children to learn through experience rather than simply listening.
• Provides Choices
  Preschoolers need to be able to choose which centers to work in, what to build with the blocks, or where to put the paint on his paper. Teachers provide an environment filled with unit-related choices and a child chooses what interests him.
• Allows Physical Activity
  Because muscles are growing and developing, preschoolers need to be able to move about freely. Learning activities allow children to move about as they choose a center, work a puzzle, draw a picture, play in the home-living center, or enjoy a book.
• Encourages Creative Expression
  As a teacher develops activities related to a unit theme, creative expression in art, writing, puzzles, music, and other activities belong to the child. Every child is creative. He should be allowed to express himself and experiment with his own design rather than a teacher providing a "pattern" or assisting him with an art activity. The experience, rather than the finished product, is the goal. Children become confident as they use their own ideas.
• Provides Balance
  Since curriculum provides a guide for the day, it also provides a balance of activities: quiet/active, indoor/outdoor, working alone/interacting with a group, rest/physical activity.
• Includes Beginning Group Experiences
  While younger preschoolers will only be aware of themselves and their own activity (solitary play), they will eventually move to parallel play, and finally to group participation. Plans for group-time always consider the age of the preschooler and his short attention span.
• Is Biblically Based
  Each unit includes a Bible story, Bible thoughts, and suggestions for meaningful conversation. The same phrases and verses are used throughout the unit of teaching.
• Makes Learning Fun
  When preschoolers are allowed to move around, express their own creativity, and choose what interests them, they will be successful, relate positively, and enjoy learning.
• Invites Conversation
  Preschoolers learn through simple conversations about God, the world He made, and how to treat each other.
• Provides a Flexible Schedule Within a Familiar Routine
  Flexibility allows a teacher to meet the needs of the children while helping them feel secure in a familiar routine.