First Step School provides a learning environment for children from birth through age 12. The overall goal of the program is enhancement of the child's emotional, social, language and cognitive development as well as preparing them for Kindergarten. Children's experiences are planned to occur through play activities and planned education activities/lessons based on the Frog Street Press Curriculum. Children and teachers select activities for participation from a variety of planned experiences, some which are child initiated ("teachable moments") and some of which are teacher instructed through a written lesson plan. The Center program is based on a Cognitive Approach.
The center staff possesses a high level of expertise and training. The teachers observe and plan for developmentally appropriate experiences for the child within a group setting.
The curriculum is based on monthly themes and is center based. The written plan is built around this theme, along with the classroom set up for the month. Each month as the theme changes, so does the entire classroom contents, including toys, centers, bulletin boards, books, etc. The written plan includes art, language, social/emotional, cognitive and physical development, literacy, science, reading, math, fine motor skills, music, writing and sensory activities on a weekly basis. The lessons are meant to be fun so the children do not even know they are learning in the process.
Kindergarten readiness program in Math: Mrs. Kaitlyn taught the students about gallons, liter, quarts, etc. The students made their own GALLON MAN!
Kindergarten readiness program in Social Studies: The students talked about the American Flag, learned the Pledge of Allegiance and an activity page about our FLAG!
The toddler teacher read the book, The Three Bears, then the students used magnets to retell the story!
The preschool class were using the scale to weight different objects. Many discoveries, predictions and results were learned!
Feelings are important, everyone has them! Practicing different feelings and the way it may look.
First Friday Dress Up and 100th day of school! Look at these cute old toddlers~
Diversity: Learning about all types of people in the world and that everyone is special!