Curriculum

Each day the children engage in both formal lesson time as well as free play and centers time to be well rounded through developmentally appropriate learning. During the school year, we utilize Big Day for PreK curriculum as source material for our lessons. We encourage teachers to cater to their strengths when choosing which areas to highlight in the lessons. Incorporating additional activities and crafts is also welcome. During the Summer Session, our staff, in accordance with Pennsylvania’s Early Learning Standards and Kindergarten Readiness standards, creates our formal lessons. Copies of each week’s lesson plans, and corresponding activities and instructions are in the “Lesson Plan” file in the Teacher Office. You are encouraged to look ahead to see the lessons for the week. Preparation for the following day’s lesson can be completed during nap time or first thing in the morning during early drop off time. For Both Summer Session and the School Year, we also use Fundations products for extra early literacy skills. There is a Teaching Guide that can be used as a resource and for more information on how to use the flashcards, letter formation scripts, Baby Echo, etc. More Information on Big Day for PreK: The Lessons are organized into eight 4-week Themes, each contained in a curriculum book. Within each book, there are weekly overviews and detailed lessons. The days are organized into 3 Big Experiences. These are overall ideas that you are trying to communicate, and each has multiple options for what you can do. This can be crafts, games, books, activites, songs, etc. We generally use Big Experience 1, and then combine Big Experience 2 & 3. Adding complimentary content is permitted. There are several types of materials utilized regularly with the curriculum. Most are kept in the shelving in the center of the room by the fish tank. Others are in the Theme Boxes on top of the large cupboard in the Main Classroom. They are: Math Mats Posters (both large and small) Vocabulary Words (for the Word Wall) Books Songs and Fingerplays Please also note that there are many online resources available through the curriculum, such as worksheets and other handouts. The login information should be posted in the Teacher’s Office to utilize these resources, and you can print from that computer.