Child's World - International Nursery and Preschool

This is a developmentally appropriate program providing a language-rich environment for the child's balanced growth. The approach is thematic and integrated in order to enhance the child's interest and active participation. Classrooms are child-centered and designed to stimulate curiosity and encourage involvement. Laughter and praise are always present. All areas of studen t development - social/emotional, physical and intellectual are addressed on a daily basis in the classroom. The letters of the alphabet provide the framework for the lessons. The theme of the week is taken from the letter of the week. Stories, music and art work are chosen to supplement the focus. The goal of this program is to provide a positive school experience in a classroom environment that is warm, stress-free and exciting in order that the child will develop a lifelong love of learning.

Sharing Time begins and ends each day. It is vital to strengthen the skills of interaction with others. Teachers model good listening skills. The child learns to be patient and quiet for a period of time and to really listen to someone else's ideas and feelings. This encourages him to respect the rights and property of others. The child also is encouraged to share his own ideas and to speak confidently. Language is power. This developing sense of self-worth helps the child assume increasing responsibility for his personal behavior.

Work Time incorporates developmentally appropriate activities within individual, small-group and large-group frameworks. A child learns by doing and is proudest when he does it all by himself. Art work promotes creativity and imagination. Eye-hand coordination is encouraged with many experiences focusing on the development of small muscle control and strength. Exploring art mediums prepares a child for the physical task of writing. In addition to art work, the child learns reading readiness skills. He learns to sequence and match, to develop visual discrimination and to recognize patterns. He learns to follow directions. Through varied manipulatives, he begins to understand basic math concepts and recognize numerals. Emphasis is on sorting, measuring, counting and comparing. He also starts to recognize letters and understand that they have associated sounds. The children create wonderful stories and watch carefully as their words are put to paper by the teacher. The child sees that spoken words can be written down and that words are permanent and valuable. The children are encouraged to make letter shapes using clay, yarn, chalk, even their own bodies. As the year progresses and depending on individual development, the child may reproduce the letter with pencil on paper. Children are taught to print their names using D'Nealian upper and lower case letters.

Story Time complements the whole language approach. This is a literature-based program dedicated to developing in each child a lifelong enjoyment of books. Interesting language and exciting stories encourage the children to listen analytically, ask questions and develop a sense of character and plot.

Music Time occurs once a week in a large-group setting . The children learn to participate responsibly. Keeping time to rhythmic patterns, remembering songs and repeating auditory patterns all assist in the development of memory skills. Music is also present throughout the day in the classroom.

Physical Activity is crucial for the four year old. Gross motor skills are enhanced daily through the exploration of rhythmic activities in dance, tumbling and balancing skills. Control of body movement, strength and flexibility are pursued through a specific weekly program. Increasing coordination and confidence in the body are the immediate goals.

Play is the work of children. It provides a comfortable setting for making many kinds of choices and decisions. The child must learn how to get along with others in a more loosely structured environment. As he begins to understand the rights of his peers, he develops a sense of fairness and trust. At this age, he becomes increasingly interested in being with other children and may develop close friendships that blossom on the playground. He begins to handle his emotions appropriately and use language to solve problems. Free time to explore his social self promotes an emerging self-confidence and independence as he prepares for Kindergarten in the following year.