Kindergarten is a time for children to expand their love of learning, their general knowledge, their ability to get along with others, and their interest in reaching out to the world. While kindergarten marks an important transition from preschool to the primary grades, it is important that children still get to be children -- getting kindergarteners ready for elementary school does not mean substituting academics for play time, forcing children to master first grade "skills," or relying on standardized tests to assess children’s success. Kindergarten "curriculum" actually includes such events as snack time, recess, and individual and group activities in addition to those activities we think of as traditionally educational.
Miss Mary grew up in Chicago, Illinois, and graduated from the University of Illinois with a B.S. degree in Elementary Education. After graduating from college, she moved to Breckenridge, Colorado, and then to Homer, Alaska, where she owned her own café. Upon returning to Colorado, her interests led to back to the field of education and she was employed by Children’s World Learning Center as a pre-k/kindergarten teacher for seven years. Her strong background in early childhood education has enabled her to provide a rich backdrop which addresses the physical, social-emotional, language/communication and cognitive areas of growth and development of your child. You will find the following in her kindergarten classroom:
- Children are playing and working with materials or other children. They are not aimlessly wandering or forced to sit quietly for long periods of time.
Children have access to various activities throughout the day, such as block building, pretend play, picture books, paints and other art materials, and table toys such as legos, pegboards, and puzzles. Children are not all doing the same things at the same time.
Miss Mary works with individual children, small groups, and the whole group at different times during the day. Children are not put into one large group all day long.
The classroom is decorated with children’s original artwork, their own writing with invented spelling, and dictated stories.
Children learn numbers and the alphabet in the context of their everyday experiences. Exploring the natural world of plants and animals, cooking, taking attendance, and serving snack are all meaningful activities to children.
Children work on projects and have long periods of time (at least one hour) to play and explore. Filling out worksheets are not their primary activity.
Children have an opportunity to play outside every day that weather permits. This play is never sacrificed for more instructional time.
Miss Mary reads books to children throughout the day, not just at group story time.
Curriculum is adapted for those who are ahead as well as those who need additional help. Because children differ in experiences and background, they do not learn the same things at the same time in the same way.
You can also feel secure in knowing that:
- Your child will be attending class in a very unique and creative environment…a real DC7 airplane that has been converted into a heated and air-conditioned classroom.
Tuition is the same as preschool. A monthly fee of $35 covers the cost of transportation is our privately owned busses and helps with expenses for all special events such as parent days, holiday parties, birthday events, and graduation.,
In addition to the academic program, we provide care for your child from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., nutritional lunches, and 2 snacks every day.
Transportation in our school bus enables us to schedule field trips that enrich our curriculum. Entrance fees for many of our field trips are included in the tuition.
Searching for child care on teacher planning days or holidays or during fall or spring breaks is a problem for many families attending public schools as well as certain private schools. We continue to provide care for your child throughout the year and plan special events for your children so that they can also take a break from their academic routine.
Your child will be guaranteed a space in the popular school-age summer camp program. You will be provided the opportunity to reserve a membership before enrollment is open to the community.
Because we believe strong partnerships with families build the foundation for children to become enthusiastic learners, you are invited to volunteer in the classroom, participate in special events, and accompany us on our enrichment field trips.
Most importantly, we limit our class size to 15. Compare this ratio with public schools where many times a teacher is working with 20-24 children without an aid.
Your child is guaranteed many opportunities to work individually with the teacher throughout the day as well as in small and large group settings.
We invite you and your children to join us in the DC-7 airplane classroom and find out more about our Kindergarten program. Please call 303-757-3551 or visit http://www.iliffpreschool.com.