Course Description:  Our program is the Early Childhood Special Education which provides a high quality preschool experience for 2-4-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:  The instructional philosophy is a characterization of the instructional approach you will use in the classroom.  It describes what a typical day of instruction might be like in your class.  It is the strategies and learning experiences students are likely to experience.  The following questions would apply:  How will you organize the classroom for student learning?  What do you expect of students in terms of participation?  Will they work independently or with others?  What instructional strategies will you use? The course description should be no more than two paragraphs. Brevity is essential. 

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 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 every day and on time and to be open and willing to learn.  We expect children to be curious.  

Our classroom rules are

• Looking eyes
• Listening ears
• Quiet voices
• Helping hands
• Walking feet

Our school expectations are that 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 the materials and supplies that your child will need to learn.

You can reach me at my email:  jshadrick@mail.dps.k12.va.us or at 434-773-8301 Monday thru Friday between the hours of 8:35am-4:00pm