Learning Edge Childcare & Preschool: Our Curriculum - Classroom Guides

Mrs. Jane
I graduated from Ballard High in Louisville KY. After high school I then went to the University of Louisville. At MATC I received my Early Education Degree. My family and I spend many weekends in Northern Wisconsin. There we swim, water ski, hike, and relax. I also enjoy hand sewing quilts, making baskets, and cooking. My two daughters are active in many different sports; I then stay active helping the sports teams.

Daily Schedule

9:30-9:45	Arrival/Table Top Manipulatives/Books
9:45-10:00	Circle Time Calendar Weather Helpers Themes
10:00-10:20	Large Motor Outside or Multipurpose Room
10:20-10:35	Snack Prep Hand Washing Snacks
10:35-10:45	Circle Time Stories Songs
10:45-11:30	Art Centers
11:30-12:30	Lunch
11:45	3-year-old Dismissal
12:00-12:30	Books, Puzzles, and Journals
12:30-1:00	Computer Room
1:00	Dismissal & Good-Byes

Circle time is a group gathering during which we share our ideas, plans, and observations. Circle activities are designed to stimulate youngsters' thinking, enrich their social skills, and expand their attention spans.

Gross-motor activities give children the opportunity to use their muscles, as well as their imaginations, as they engage in fun, healthy exercises, such as: running, jumping, and climbing.

Fine-motor activities help improve small-muscle development and eye-hand coordination. Some common items found in the fine-motor/manipulative area include puzzles, beads and laces, pegboards, crayons, and scissors.

Art activities help youngsters creatively express their thoughts and feelings. They help reinforce fine-motor skills and concept development in areas such as colors, shapes, and size relationships.

Dramatic-play activities help children express themselves, practice life skills, improve social skills, increase self-esteem, build vocabulary, and solve problems. And, well, dramatic play is just plain fun!

Music activities promote youngsters' listening skills, creative expression, and social skills. In music, children can explore sound, volume, tempo, and rhythm.

Science activities offer children many hands-on opportunities for observation, exploration, investigation, making predictions, and experimentation.

Sand and water activities allow youngsters to experiment with textures and the properties of different substances. These activities also promote the development of other skills, such as math, science, and language.

Block play gives children experience with many different concepts, such as shape and size discrimination, spatial relationships, number skills, balance, organization, cause and effect, and classification. Cooperative play skills, problem solving, and creativity are also promoted in block play.

Story time is designed to help youngsters develop an appreciation and enjoyment of literature. Reading activities enhance children's vocabulary and comprehension skills, and also expand their knowledge base.

Circle Time Activities

Name recognition & attendance
Calendar (Days of the week)
Weather & Seasons
'Star' of the day - Show & Tell
Classroom helpers
Birthday recognition
Theme presentation

Art Activities

Experience variety of media
Creative self-expression
Simple crafts
Process art vs. Product art
Recognize/Identify/Matching Common Colors
Scissors skills

Music Activities

Songs - singing & listening to music
Moving to music
Playing instruments
Simple rhythm games

Storytime / Language Arts

Stories, rhymes, poems, finger plays
Listening skills
Encouraged to imagine
Build vocabulary
Oral expression
Pre-reading skills
Writing (Alphabet, name, journal)
Recognizes phone number & address
Recognize / Identify Letters (Upper & Lower Case)