Kindergarten Readiness (KR) - ^{Year Before Kindergarten}

 

At Stepping Stones Early Learning Center, we take Kindergarten Readiness seriously. We believe a mix of natural curiosity and a love of learning along with an amazing, fun educational experience is a recipe for success! Our role as educators is to provide children with an environment that makes all of this possible.

Stepping Stones Preschool program thoughtfully blends the natural curiosity children have to explore their environment with a structured, academic-based curriculum. Our experienced KR teachers provide lessons and activities that are unparalleled when it comes to being prepared for Kindergarten. Children who spend a couple of years in our program are typically one year ahead of other children when they enter the public school.

Literacy, Language and Communication

• Handwriting without Tears®
• Multi-level Early Readers program (MaGraw Hill)
• Reading aloud: Large & small group as well as one-on-one reading activities
• Literacy Centers: include letter sounds work, site words games, rhyme and pattern activities
• Learning to match spoken letters and words to written letters and words
• Encourage reasoning and thinking skills, which allow children to be able to understand and discuss the reasons for rules and routines
• Continue to develop reading skills such as comprehension, phonics, and language

Math

• Compare and order objects by attributes such as weight, length, color etc.
• Compare and contrast objects and recognize basic two- and three-dimensional shapes
• Collecting data, using tallies to record the data and interpreting
• Simple addition and subtraction and counting by 1s, 5s, 10s etc.
• Math Center: include sequencing, partitioning, sorting and one-to-one correspondence
• Introduction to money, with a focus on coin denominations.
• Learning how to tell time on clock

Science

• Hands-on project based learning opportunities
• Learn about physical properties by exploring water, soil, living things, simple machines, weather and the environment.
• Gain the ability to differentiate between the five senses and related body parts.
• Identify major parts of plants- roots, stem, leaf, flower, trunk, branches.
• Compare the parts of different animals- skin, fur, feathers, scales, wing, flipper, fin etc

Technology

Stepping Stones Early Learning Center has thoughtfully considered, planned and developed meaningful ways to include technology in the Kindergarten Readiness classroom. Included: classroom cameras and computers. Tablets and SMART board technology will be implemented fall of 2015.

Self-Help skills and Independence

Working on developmentally age appropriate skills- Using the toilet, washing hands, helping set and clear table at mealtime, self-feeding, putting on winter outerwear, and picking up toys etc.

Social- Emotional Development

Developing self-awareness, self-concept, sensitivity to the feelings of others, and coping skills are part of a child’s social-emotional development.

Enrichment: Spanish, Yoga, Character Development, LANA and Farm to Preschool

At Stepping Stones we feel it is just as important to teach children about essential life skills and values as it is to teach them academics. Starting in Early Preschool, Stepping Stones enrichment programs expand to include greater academic experiences. At Stepping Stones we wholeheartedly believe all children should experience these programs without incurring extra costs. As a result, all enrichment programs are included in tuition.

For more information about our Enrichment Programs-Music, Sign Language, Spanish, LANA, Yoga4Kids, and Farm 2 Preschool Click here.

Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds

At Stepping Stones, we understand how busy families are outside of school. Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds was designed to make sure children, while in our care, are provided nourishing meals/snacks, ample opportunities for keeping active, engaging academic lessons and an exceptional environment in which to grow.

• Using hands-on activities we examine and discuss food groups, healthy choices, fresh vs. processed, and serving sizes.
• The children participate in planting, growing, and tasting various types of fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and grains. These activities are followed up with discussions, graphs, and charts.
• Development of gross (Large muscle) motor skills through climbing, throwing, catching, jumping, running, and riding and using playground equipment
• Development of fine motor skills (small muscles) and eye and hand coordination
• Meals are freshly made by our in-house chef, following a Farm to Preschool menu. To see more details about our Farm to Preschool menu Click here.
• Breakfast, Lunch and snacks are eaten family style. Children sit with their teacher and classmates; learn the give and take of conversation, practice table manners and how to serve themselves.

Tell me and I forget
Teach me and I remember
Involve me and I learn.

– Ben Franklin