Welcome to the Pre-Kindergarten Program
Our Pre-Kindergarten curriculum is guaranteed to prepare your child for Kindergarten!
Children work in large groups, small groups, and individually to master school readiness skills such as language development, reading, math, social development, emotional development, small motor skills, large motor skills…
What our Classroom Includes
Online Daily Sheets: We’ll electronically track daily information about your child’s feedings, sleeping, moods, activities, photos, and more! This information is accessible from your computer or through a smartphone or tablet application. You’ll have peace of mind while you watch what your child is doing while in our care.
Age range – 4 to 5 years
Small student/teacher ratio – 10:1
Our Teachers
Experienced: Our Pre-Kindergarten teachers have each been employed with Children’s Discovery Academy for over ten years! Darci has been with us since 2003 and Megan has been with us since 2017. Our experienced teachers truly enjoy working with Pre-Kindergartener and offer a safe, educational, and supportive classroom for your child.
Loving: Our teachers are patient, encouraging, give lots of positive praise, and will treat your child as an individual.
Consistent: We know that providing a limited number of consistent caregivers who your Pre-Kindergartener will relate to on a regular basis helps to promote trust and emotional security. This is why you’ll see the same smiling faces each and every day at Children’s Discovery Academy.
Our Curriculum
At Children’s Discovery Academy we celebrate the fact that we do not teach from a boxed curriculum but instead employ caring, qualified educators to write curriculum which meets all of the Early Childhood Indicators of Progress. This way, we can ensure we are meeting the individual needs of your child. The Pre-Kindergarten daily schedule is structured, academically focused and fun! Weekly lessons and activities focus on a curriculum which is rich in reading, math, science, art, music, sensory, dramatic play, and imaginative play.
Language Development: The vocabulary of the children in the Pre-Kindergarten program continues to grow with new experiences. Your child will continue to perfect using words more correctly in context. The articulation of many beginning sounds is still developing.
Reading: Reading stories and activities including flannel boards, finger plays, rhyming, songs, all continue to foster beginning reading skills. Your Pre-Kindergarten child will also begin to read picture books independently. You will see lots of activities which require sequencing, comparing things that are alike and different, opposites, and listening for patterns which also enhance these skills. Your child will review letter recognition, begin sound recognition (phonemic awareness), and learn concept words to nourish reading skills. Your Pre-Kindergarten child will be expected to sit for a longer period during group times. During group times, the teachers will read stories, encourage group participation, and preview upcoming activities for the day.
Math: Identifying colors, reviewing shapes, counting from 1-30 (and beyond), number recognition, counting with one-to-one correspondence, identifying numbers, sorting, sequencing, puzzles, same and different, patterns, size comparisons, blocks, understanding the concept of time, concept words, and introduction to age-appropriate technology are a small sampling of the activities designed to teach math concepts.
Social Development: Your child’s friendships are becoming more important. He/she is encouraged by teachers to take turns, share, show respect, use good manners and resolve conflicts with his/her words.
Emotional Development: We will continue to work on your child’s positive self-esteem through songs, listening to stories about his/her family, giving him or her a turn to become the star of the week, and giving lots of positive encouragement. Your child is becoming much more independent and is starting to show initiative in caring for belongings. Your son/daughter may start to become more concerned about how others feel about them. As a Pre-Kindergartener, children are becoming less impulsive, and can generally use their words when upset. Continued discussions of feelings and how to express these feelings to others are still part of the daily routine.
Small Muscle Development: A small sample of the activities that help develop small motor control are: building blocks, sorting beads, stringing beads, coloring, cutting, painting, using different media for art, play dough, pegboards, sensory table, pouring and sifting through sand and water play using spoons, cups and measuring cups.
Large Muscle Development: Running, jumping, climbing, hopping, ball play, dancing, tumbling, riding bikes, kicking balls, etc. are all activities that promote the development of large muscles. Your Pre-Kindergartener has gained more control of their large muscles, and is now working on gaining strength and coordination. Your Pre-Kindergartener will enjoy recess twice per day, either outside on our large playground or inside in our gym.
Enrichment Programs: Fee-based lessons including dance, music, gymnastics, soccer and swimming are available to your Pre-Kindergartener.
Star of the Week: Your Pre-Kindergartener will have a turn to become the classroom’s star of the week, encouraging positive self-esteem. He/she will be encouraged to bring in items from home to share and introduce to the classroom. This is a great way to give your son/daughter lots of positive praise.
Monthly Field Trips: Field trips will relate to classroom lessons, bringing a firsthand experience to your child. Bus services are arranged through a qualified company. Parents are responsible for signing a field trip permission slip which explains destination, reason for field trip, cost and time for each field trip taken. Some activities scheduled will be in-house activities.
Read Reviews from Pre-Kindergarten Parents:
Outstanding staff and great curriculum
Don’t know how we’d function without CDA
Best Care Other than their own Parents
Exactly What I Would Expect For My Child