Course Description:  Our program is the Virginia Preschool Initiative which provides a high quality preschool experience for 4-year olds.  The standards that our children learn are Virginia's Early Learning and Development standards. They focus on 6 areas of development for young children which are Approaches to Play and Learning, Social and Emotional Development, Communication, Language and Literacy Development, Health and Physical Development and Cognitive Development.  The curriculum that we use is Tools of the Mind.  This curriculum is aligned with our Early Learning and Development standards to support the development of all children.

Instructional Philosophy: At Northside Preschool we provide a safe, nurturing, and creative environment.  We strive to help students develop intellectual curiosity and outstanding moral character.  We celebrate the individuality of each child and work with them to reach their full potential.  We believe in a supportive learning environment where children can become active and engaged learners.  We strive to build a solid foundation for lifelong learning.We provide a well balanced program for a positive early childhood development.  Our daily activities and hands on approach create opportunities for critical thinking, observation skills, and the ability to communicate.  Our range of components helps piece together a diverse learning experience for our students and contributes to their development as a whole.

Table toys upon arrival

Breakfast

Special

Morning activities-calendar, weather, movement

Heggerty, Fundations

Small Group

Lunch

Tools

Outside

Rest

Dismissal

Major Course Goals:  Our teaching team will provide a program of study using the Early Learning and Development standards where our children feel loved and safe.  We hope to develop a differentiated  and inclusive classroom where all children can learn.  We will use a wide variety of teaching strategies and educational materials to enhance the learning for all children.  All of this will prepare our children to enter kindergarten ready to learn.

Major Course Projects & Instructional Activities:  The instructional activities in our program are developmentally appropriate for our very young learners.  Children learn through doing so many of our activities are hands-on experiences.  We must build up the children’s  fine motor skills before they can write. Before we can expose the children to a new concept, we must build their background knowledge and vocabulary.   

Course Assessment Plan

We will assess our children in the areas of literacy, math, social emotional and self-regulation 2-3 times a school year for the children to show what they have learned and how they have progressed over the year.

Classroom Expectations:  We expect that children come to school everyday and on time and to be open and willing to learn.  We expect children to be curious.  

Our classroom rules are

Our school expectations are the we come to school ready to

• Be kind and respectful

• Learn and do our best

• Take care of our school

Supplies and Materials Needed:  At preschool we provide all material and supplies that your child will need to learn.

I can be reached between 9:30-10:00 through talking points.