​Reading aloud to young children is not only one of the best activities to stimulate language and cognitive skills; it also builds motivation, curiosity and memory. Along with daily read a loud, we offer a print enrich environment that includes labels around the classroom, a hand- written morning message, a word wall with sight words on display, a Letter of the Week board, and class author and illustrated books. We provide a classroom library where children are encouraged to look at books, make predictions and tell a story.

We follow the Handwriting Without Tears program. We demonstrate how to form each letter introduced by using wooden pieces and chalkboards. The children have a chance to use these same materials to practice letter formation before taking pencil to paper. We begin journal writing mid-year. Teaching the children how to stretch out the sounds in words, use the word wall as a tool to write sight words, to put finger spaces between words, and to end sentences with a period. We also teach the children to match their words with their illustration. 

​We provide daily opportunities for math concepts such as counting, patterning, sequencing, number recognition, one to one correspondence, graphing, and measurement. We also create math storyboards to introduce terms such as part and whole, addition and equal. 

​Exploration, discovery and prediction are all important facets in child development. We offer a caterpillar to butterfly science unit as well as a unit about space and penguins. We also combine science and math when we bake with the children.

​Daily projects include fine motor skills such as writing, coloring, drawing, tearing paper and cutting. We also provide activities like, picking up objects with tweezers, using clothes pins, coloring upside down under the table, and playing with modeling clay to strengthen muscles. 

​We integrate movement throughout our day to facilitate gross motor development.  We encourage running, jumping and climbing on the playground, however, we also provide movement opportunities during Circle Time, Handwriting Without Tears lessons, acting out a story we read or a record we are listening to.