Pre-K
Pre-K Art
Art in pre-kindergarten is an integral part of the children’s daily experience and classroom curriculum. Art activities help children develop self-confidence, fine motor coordination, an awareness of spatial relationships and provides them with an emotional outlet.
In addition to the daily art activities in the classroom, children see a visual art specialist once a week where they are motivated to develop their innate creative abilities by encouraging expression and creativity. Using a variety of media (paints, clay, markers, water color, crayons) children explore shapes, color, texture and collage. Art projects often relate to secular and Jewish holidays and to themes being taught in the classroom.
Art in pre-kindergarten is an integral part of the children’s daily experience and classroom curriculum. Art activities help children develop self-confidence, fine motor coordination, an awareness of spatial relationships and provides them with an emotional outlet.
In addition to the daily art activities in the classroom, children see a visual art specialist once a week where they are motivated to develop their innate creative abilities by encouraging expression and creativity. Using a variety of media (paints, clay, markers, water color, crayons) children explore shapes, color, texture and collage. Art projects often relate to secular and Jewish holidays and to themes being taught in the classroom.
Pre-K Class Size and Faculty
CLASS SIZE
The maximum class size is 16 children with one teacher and one assistant teacher assigned to every classroom.
FACULTY
The kindergarten teachers and assistant teachers are highly experienced and caring individuals. Students benefit from our staff’s expertise in the different ways children learn and develop.
CLASS SIZE
The maximum class size is 16 children with one teacher and one assistant teacher assigned to every classroom.
FACULTY
The kindergarten teachers and assistant teachers are highly experienced and caring individuals. Students benefit from our staff’s expertise in the different ways children learn and develop.
Pre-K Computers & Technology
Children have the opportunity to use the classroom computer during center time. At this age level, children become familiar with the keyboard and mouse and learn to use age appropriate software to help develop and reinforce concepts and skills
Children have the opportunity to use the classroom computer during center time. At this age level, children become familiar with the keyboard and mouse and learn to use age appropriate software to help develop and reinforce concepts and skills
Pre-K Handwriting
Handwriting instruction begins in pre-kindergarten through the use of Handwriting Without Tears program. It is a nationally recognized program developed by an occupational therapist. It utilizes many hands-on learning materials, music and assessment methods. Children learn to write in a way that is easy to learn and developmentally appropriate.
The Handwriting Without Tears program provides a multi-sensory approach that includes visual, auditory and kinetic strategies. Children are encouraged to move, touch and manipulate objects to reinforce their writing skills and to develop their pre reading skills.
Handwriting instruction begins in pre-kindergarten through the use of Handwriting Without Tears program. It is a nationally recognized program developed by an occupational therapist. It utilizes many hands-on learning materials, music and assessment methods. Children learn to write in a way that is easy to learn and developmentally appropriate.
The Handwriting Without Tears program provides a multi-sensory approach that includes visual, auditory and kinetic strategies. Children are encouraged to move, touch and manipulate objects to reinforce their writing skills and to develop their pre reading skills.
Pre-K Judaic Studies
The Judaic curriculum is integrated where appropriate through holiday celebrations, bible stories, art projects, cooking experiences and songs. Children begin to develop an awareness of their Jewish identity, Jewish values, customs, rituals, history, prayers and the state of Israel. Kabbalat Shabbat is celebrated every Friday and children learn about the Torah through the portion of the week and Torah stories in English.
While formal Hebrew language doesn’t begin until grade one, pre-kindergarten children are exposed to the letters of the Aleph Bet, Hebrew songs, hear Hebrew usage and see Hebrew sight words posted in the classroom
The Judaic curriculum is integrated where appropriate through holiday celebrations, bible stories, art projects, cooking experiences and songs. Children begin to develop an awareness of their Jewish identity, Jewish values, customs, rituals, history, prayers and the state of Israel. Kabbalat Shabbat is celebrated every Friday and children learn about the Torah through the portion of the week and Torah stories in English.
While formal Hebrew language doesn’t begin until grade one, pre-kindergarten children are exposed to the letters of the Aleph Bet, Hebrew songs, hear Hebrew usage and see Hebrew sight words posted in the classroom
Pre-K Language Arts & Literacy
The goal of Solomon Schechter’s language arts, literacy program is to develop children’s listening, speaking, reading and viewing skills. These skills provide children with the language, cognitive and early reading skills necessary for reading success. They are developed through music, dramatic play, storytelling, games, arts and crafts projects and hands-on interactive activities.
During pre-kindergarten, children begin to recognize and write upper and some lower case letters, identify consonant sounds, show an awareness of rhyme and rhythm, identify words that rhyme and provide rhyming words for words given and create a story by sequencing picture cues. Teachers read poems, and stories to the children in order to develop their enjoyment and appreciation of literature, and to motivate them to ask questions, make predictions and demonstrate an interest in reading and writing for a purpose.
Through the daily read aloud, children begin to listen carefully, share ideas, answer questions, use descriptive language in their conversations and understand directions. They learn to identify the beginning and end of a simple story, identify setting in a story and begin to distinguish between what is real and what is fantasy.
Our pre-kindergarten teachers use Let’s Begin With The Letter People program, a comprehensive thematically organized preschool language arts, literacy program that introduces books, songs, hands-on-activities and writing in a fun way.
Let’s Begin With The Letter People develops:
The goal of Solomon Schechter’s language arts, literacy program is to develop children’s listening, speaking, reading and viewing skills. These skills provide children with the language, cognitive and early reading skills necessary for reading success. They are developed through music, dramatic play, storytelling, games, arts and crafts projects and hands-on interactive activities.
During pre-kindergarten, children begin to recognize and write upper and some lower case letters, identify consonant sounds, show an awareness of rhyme and rhythm, identify words that rhyme and provide rhyming words for words given and create a story by sequencing picture cues. Teachers read poems, and stories to the children in order to develop their enjoyment and appreciation of literature, and to motivate them to ask questions, make predictions and demonstrate an interest in reading and writing for a purpose.
Through the daily read aloud, children begin to listen carefully, share ideas, answer questions, use descriptive language in their conversations and understand directions. They learn to identify the beginning and end of a simple story, identify setting in a story and begin to distinguish between what is real and what is fantasy.
Our pre-kindergarten teachers use Let’s Begin With The Letter People program, a comprehensive thematically organized preschool language arts, literacy program that introduces books, songs, hands-on-activities and writing in a fun way.
Let’s Begin With The Letter People develops:
• Oral language
• Print awareness
• Phonological and phonemic awareness
• Alphabetic knowledge
• Word recognition
• Vocabulary development
Pre-K Library
Children visit the library where our librarian provides them with literature rich experiences through read-alouds, storytelling and special activities related to holidays. As the library specialist reads aloud, children learn about the author, illustrator, publisher and parts of a book. The library experience enhances the children’s appreciation of reading for pleasure so that they will become life long readers.
Children visit the library where our librarian provides them with literature rich experiences through read-alouds, storytelling and special activities related to holidays. As the library specialist reads aloud, children learn about the author, illustrator, publisher and parts of a book. The library experience enhances the children’s appreciation of reading for pleasure so that they will become life long readers.
Pre-K Mathematics
Mathematical concepts and skills in pre-kindergarten are developed through hands-on experiences that allow children to discover and explore early math principals. Every day situations and activities such as playing in the sand box, playing at the water table, playing in the block center, helping set the table for lunch and following a recipe during a cooking activity offers children the opportunity to develop their mathematical skills and concepts such as:
• Matching, sorting and grouping
• Patterns and sequencing
• One to one correspondence
• Part/whole relationships
• Spatial relationships
• Number sense
• Geometric shapes
• Measurement
Additionally, children begin to use mathematical vocabulary to describe and compare objects and apply addition and subtraction concepts to real world situations and problems.
Mathematical concepts and skills in pre-kindergarten are developed through hands-on experiences that allow children to discover and explore early math principals. Every day situations and activities such as playing in the sand box, playing at the water table, playing in the block center, helping set the table for lunch and following a recipe during a cooking activity offers children the opportunity to develop their mathematical skills and concepts such as:
• Matching, sorting and grouping
• Patterns and sequencing
• One to one correspondence
• Part/whole relationships
• Spatial relationships
• Number sense
• Geometric shapes
• Measurement
Additionally, children begin to use mathematical vocabulary to describe and compare objects and apply addition and subtraction concepts to real world situations and problems.
Pre-K Music
Children engage in musical activities on a daily basis through song, games, finger play and dance. Chants and songs are used to develop letter sounds and number concepts. Children sing songs in celebration of Jewish holidays and begin to learn the melodies for some of the morning tefillot and the various berachot. Through the music program, pre-kindergarteners develop their gross motor skills with various activities and learn simple dances and play many fun movement games.
A music specialist sees the children once a week to teach them popular Israeli and English songs as well as Israeli dances. Utilizing the Kordlay method, children begin to learn simple rhythms, patterns, and notes through hand motions and sounds. They move their bodies in conjunction with the rhythm and beat of the music.
Children engage in musical activities on a daily basis through song, games, finger play and dance. Chants and songs are used to develop letter sounds and number concepts. Children sing songs in celebration of Jewish holidays and begin to learn the melodies for some of the morning tefillot and the various berachot. Through the music program, pre-kindergarteners develop their gross motor skills with various activities and learn simple dances and play many fun movement games.
A music specialist sees the children once a week to teach them popular Israeli and English songs as well as Israeli dances. Utilizing the Kordlay method, children begin to learn simple rhythms, patterns, and notes through hand motions and sounds. They move their bodies in conjunction with the rhythm and beat of the music.
Pre-K Physical Education
Pre-kindergarten children have the opportunity to enhance their physical development twice a day in the gym and/ or in our early childhood playground. During the physical education period, children play with balls, ride scooters, jump rope, use hula hoops and move with freedom. All activities are aimed at helping them develop their special awareness and improving their gross and loco-motor skills such as hopping, running and skipping. Social skills are also emphasized by learning how to work as a group member, respecting personal space and developing a sense of fair play.
Pre-kindergarten children have the opportunity to enhance their physical development twice a day in the gym and/ or in our early childhood playground. During the physical education period, children play with balls, ride scooters, jump rope, use hula hoops and move with freedom. All activities are aimed at helping them develop their special awareness and improving their gross and loco-motor skills such as hopping, running and skipping. Social skills are also emphasized by learning how to work as a group member, respecting personal space and developing a sense of fair play.
Pre-K Schedules
The school day for pre-kindergarten children begins at 8:15 AM and ends at 3:10 PM.
The school day for pre-kindergarten children begins at 8:15 AM and ends at 3:10 PM.
Pre-K Science
Pre-kindergarten children have a natural curiosity about the world around them. At Solomon Schechter, we try to build on their innate interests by providing them with hands-on activities that allow for exploration, experimentation, observation and discovering. As with all other content area subjects, science instruction is an outgrowth of the everyday experiences in literature, projects, cooking, art, music and learning center activities. Children begin to develop the critical thinking and inquiry skills necessary for problem soling in all other areas of life.
Some off the topics covered in pre-kindergarten include:
• Exploring colors
• Seasons and weather
• Body and structure
• Personal health
• The five senses
• Growing plants
Pre-kindergarten children have a natural curiosity about the world around them. At Solomon Schechter, we try to build on their innate interests by providing them with hands-on activities that allow for exploration, experimentation, observation and discovering. As with all other content area subjects, science instruction is an outgrowth of the everyday experiences in literature, projects, cooking, art, music and learning center activities. Children begin to develop the critical thinking and inquiry skills necessary for problem soling in all other areas of life.
Some off the topics covered in pre-kindergarten include:
• Exploring colors
• Seasons and weather
• Body and structure
• Personal health
• The five senses
• Growing plants
Pre-K Social Studies
The social studies program for pre-kindergarten children is taught in the context of the daily activities they experience in the classroom. The goals of the program are to develop the children’s awareness of their immediate environment and to build the foundation for becoming a good citizen. Pre-kindergarteners learn about their classroom community, its routines and rules. Respect and acceptance of a variety of ideas and opinions is an important aspect of the program.
Some of the thematic units that are presented in pre-kindergarten are:
• Who Am I?
• My Family and Friends
• How I Grow
• Holidays and Community Helpers
Children learn about Jewish history and Israel through Torah stories, holiday celebrations, literature and art activities. These experiences encourage discussion, investigation and discovery.
The social studies program for pre-kindergarten children is taught in the context of the daily activities they experience in the classroom. The goals of the program are to develop the children’s awareness of their immediate environment and to build the foundation for becoming a good citizen. Pre-kindergarteners learn about their classroom community, its routines and rules. Respect and acceptance of a variety of ideas and opinions is an important aspect of the program.
Some of the thematic units that are presented in pre-kindergarten are:
• Who Am I?
• My Family and Friends
• How I Grow
• Holidays and Community Helpers
Children learn about Jewish history and Israel through Torah stories, holiday celebrations, literature and art activities. These experiences encourage discussion, investigation and discovery.
Pre-K Transportation
Parents must provide their own transportation arrangements. Busing begins in kindergarten.
Parents must provide their own transportation arrangements. Busing begins in kindergarten.
Faculty