TEMPLE BETH SHALOM - Pre-School

A Reform congregation affiliated with

The Union for Reform Judaism

489 Lowell Street Peabody, MA 01960

(978) 535-2100 Fax: (978) 536-3115

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PRESCHOOL/TODDLER CALENDAR 2011-2012

PRESCHOOL/TODDLER RATES AND REGISTRATION FORMS:

Preschool ages: 2.9 and up

Toddler ages: 15 month to 2.9

PRE-SCHOOL

A typical day is divided into the following short periods: Free play, rhythms, art, games, creative movement, story, clean-up, snack and circle time. Each of the five rooms are designated for a special purpose: art, manipulative toys, books, records and science, housekeeping, blocks, water and sand play and large motor play.

Communication between home and school is important to your child’s successful school development. We encourage parents to observe their child at school, meet regularly with teachers and participate in field tips, holiday functions and parent meetings.

Our religious content is intended to develop awareness and understanding of Judaism as it relates to the child and his home. All Jewish holidays are studied.

Activities

Activities are correlated to a unit or theme we are covering and are integrated into a variety of learning experiences. Areas of focus may be creative movement, drama, games, music, language arts, poetry, books, chants, science, math, cooking and art. The objective is to develop age appropriate academic and social skills as well as creativity through the arts.

Freedom of expression is always encouraged and usually a few projects will be offered each day. The teachers suggest and guide, but the work is that of the child.

Learning and Play

Dramatic play is continually taking place at the housekeeping corner which is outfitted with various pieces of play furniture and dress-up clothes.

There is an area designated for blocks, a sand table and water table. Science and nature are studied through simple understanding and experiments. We cook in school to develop measuring and sensory concepts as well as pure enjoyment.

Cultural and social concepts are developed through a study of family and community. Various field trips and visitors to school broaden the experience of the children

Mathematical concepts are learned differently at various levels. Numbers are not taught by rote. Every day classroom experiences enable the child to understand the meaning of numbers. Math ideas are developed through games, manipulative materials, cooking, etc.

The language arts program develops listening and verbal skills. Vocabulary and sentence structure become more proficient. Experience charts are used to show that what we speak may be written and read. “Big Books” help children recognize such concepts as reading from left to right.

Play is the most important way that young children learn about the world and one another. We provide a variety of materials and experiences to stimulate learning through play, therefore encouraging social development, making decisions, persisting at a job, etc.