Curriculum

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Curriculum Goals

As teachers, we observe, plan, and structure the children’s experiences in a Christian environment.  This will further enhance and facilitate the growth and development of each child as we strive to:

  • Help children grow spiritually, socially, emotionally, physically, and intellectually through a safe and developmentally appropriate child-centered program.
  • Provide a sense of self-worth by enhancing self-confidence and self-esteem in all learners.
  • Provide concrete experiences with learning activities that promote experimentation, creativity, and problem solving.
  • Offer experiences that promote, support, and encourage emergent literacy.
  • Encourage independence and self-direction in the children – helping them make positive decisions and choices.
  • Encourage children to successfully function in a group of peers through cooperation, sharing, friendship, and values as well as nurture the development of children as individuals in a community with other learners.
  • Teach respect for each other’s rights as well as the differences that make them unique individuals.
  • Establish an environment that nurtures and values the natural learning process, curiosity, and enthusiasm inherent in all young children.
  • Model a cooperative and supportive partnership between children, teachers, and families and establish a positive connection between home and school.

These curriculum goals will be met through:

  • A curriculum that is aligned to the Ohio Early Learning and Development Standards using the framework of The Creative Curriculum and Religion Graded Course of Study.
  • Planned activities in the areas of language, math, science, social studies, religion, creative arts, motor, and social and emotional development.
  • Assessment using the Ohio Early Learning Assessment Tool.
  • A daily schedule plan that provides opportunities for children to explore indoor and outdoor, individual and large group, quiet and active play
  • Flexibility to change planned activities according to the needs of the children.

What will my child do in preschool?

We are a play-based program where children learn by being active hands-on learners. Activities are planned in the areas of language, math, science, social studies, religion, creative arts, motor, and social and emotional development.  We carefully plan the environment so children have some choices in what and how they play. We offer child-directed and teacher-directed activities that are focused to children’s interests as well as meeting preschool developmental milestones.

Some examples of activities might be:

  • build a large tower with the blocks
  • graph and sort objects
  • work with a friend to complete a puzzle
  • draw or write at the writing table
  • role play with others in dress-up
  • paint at the easel
  • measure and pour materials in a sensory table
  • listen to a Bible story
  • cook/make our snack

Teachers also design more directed activities where they are guiding children by asking questions and providing support. Examples include science experiments, observing cause and effect problems, reading stories and asking questions about the text, and writing in their journals. In addition, teachers plan for small group instruction focused on a concept or objective.

Religious education is integrated in all areas of learning. It is important to remember that a preschool child’s understanding of the Catholic faith requires a great deal of abstract thinking and understanding of complicated concepts and situations. Therefore, as teachers, we will try to bring the Catholic faith to their level of understanding by using concrete examples and/or activities that they can relate to their daily lives. Daily prayer, trips to the church, and the teachings of Christ are a few examples of the integration of religion. We will also be using the Catechesis of the Good Shepard,  an interactive, Montessori approach to introducing the Catholic faith to our preschoolers.

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