NewsPrimary Grades
Pre-K program to offer expanded hours
Mar 20, 2009 9:34 AM
By Beth Smith '87 - Faculty
Beginning in August, Darlington’s pre-kindergarten families will be able to choose between the current schedule (8 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and an all-day program that will last from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“Our pre-K program seeks to foster each child’s innate curiosity through a balanced blend of structured learning opportunities and time for creative play activities,” said Steve Bartholomew, director of Lower School. “Our carefully designed curriculum focuses on pre-reading and math readiness skills integrated with instruction in science, social studies, music, art, computers, physical education and Spanish. In addition to mastering the basic skills needed for kindergarten, our program encourages 4-year-old children to work and play together in a caring, supportive environment.”
Students begin the day by watching WDLS, the Lower School’s closed-circuit television show that focuses primarily on student successes, special events and character education. This is followed by Circle Time, a 30-minute literary experience that promotes oral language, reading, writing and math. Discussions involving the calendar, holidays, weather and season are integrated with such themes as “My Family and Me,” “Animals and the Jungle,” and “Authors and Illustrators,” to name a few. Students are also exposed to an early reading program that includes phonemic awareness instruction; an early writing program that teaches students to convey messages; and the Everyday Math curriculum, which emphasizes patterning, reproducing, measuring, graphing, numeral recognition and writing, matching, comparing, estimating and counting; as well as a variety of enrichment activities. Rotating centers are integrated throughout the day to provide hands-on learning opportunities for all students.
“The philosophy behind our curriculum is that young children learn best by doing,” said pre-K teacher Beth Smith (’87). “By offering an extended schedule, we are providing a value-added experience to our families. Our all-day program will create even more opportunities for 4-year-olds to participate in hands-on activities, thus enhancing their overall learning experience.”
Additionally, the optional all-day program will provide an easier solution for parents who work, live out of town or have children enrolled at multiple divisions.
“Our pre-K program seeks to foster each child’s innate curiosity through a balanced blend of structured learning opportunities and time for creative play activities,” said Steve Bartholomew, director of Lower School. “Our carefully designed curriculum focuses on pre-reading and math readiness skills integrated with instruction in science, social studies, music, art, computers, physical education and Spanish. In addition to mastering the basic skills needed for kindergarten, our program encourages 4-year-old children to work and play together in a caring, supportive environment.”
Students begin the day by watching WDLS, the Lower School’s closed-circuit television show that focuses primarily on student successes, special events and character education. This is followed by Circle Time, a 30-minute literary experience that promotes oral language, reading, writing and math. Discussions involving the calendar, holidays, weather and season are integrated with such themes as “My Family and Me,” “Animals and the Jungle,” and “Authors and Illustrators,” to name a few. Students are also exposed to an early reading program that includes phonemic awareness instruction; an early writing program that teaches students to convey messages; and the Everyday Math curriculum, which emphasizes patterning, reproducing, measuring, graphing, numeral recognition and writing, matching, comparing, estimating and counting; as well as a variety of enrichment activities. Rotating centers are integrated throughout the day to provide hands-on learning opportunities for all students.
“The philosophy behind our curriculum is that young children learn best by doing,” said pre-K teacher Beth Smith (’87). “By offering an extended schedule, we are providing a value-added experience to our families. Our all-day program will create even more opportunities for 4-year-olds to participate in hands-on activities, thus enhancing their overall learning experience.”
Additionally, the optional all-day program will provide an easier solution for parents who work, live out of town or have children enrolled at multiple divisions.
