Curriculum
Right Start™
The Preschool learning environment is primarily based on well-planned learning areas that allow for child choice and self-directed/directed play, small groups, and supportive teaching that prepares children for academic excellence. The Right Start™ program supports the development of language, mathematical reasoning, scientific thought and is emphasised throughout the Preschool. Changes to the learning environment, activities, and projects reflect emerging interests and individual goals of the children. We offer supported experiences that encompass all the skills and understandings necessary for optimum development and success in school.
The Preschool learning environment is primarily based on well-planned learning areas that allow for child choice and self-directed/directed play, small groups, and supportive teaching that prepares children for academic excellence. The Right Start™ program supports the development of language, mathematical reasoning, scientific thought and is emphasised throughout the Preschool. Changes to the learning environment, activities, and projects reflect emerging interests and individual goals of the children. We offer supported experiences that encompass all the skills and understandings necessary for optimum development and success in school.
The teacher's role is to guide children to make connections through active learning, in a context relevant to them. It is through this approach that children learn and retain information, without rote learning, undue stress, or losing their thirst for knowledge. Children are encouraged to explore new activities and to reach their highest potential in a nurturing, supportive environment.
Right Start™ Program What Preschool Children Learn The program is designed for each child to learn all the necessary skills and understandings to succeed at school and continue to thrive academically and socially.
Preschoolers are full of questions, and excited to learn about the world they live in. In a supportive and caring environment, children are free to pretend, imagine, experiment, make friends and gain independence. Carefully selected developmentally appropriate activities are available each day to support learning and creativity. Children progress in number and letter concepts, are introduced to phonics and sight words, progressing unhurried at their own comfortable pace. Socially acceptable interaction are modeled and conflict resolution skills are supported through play.
Preschool Aims Each individual child will be provided with the opportunity to:
The teacher's role is to guide children in making connections through active learning, in a context relevant to them. It is through this approach that children learn and retain information, without rote learning, undue stress, or losing their thirst fort knowledge. Children are encouraged to explore new activities and to reach their highest potential in a nurturing, supportive environment. Following are the elements of the program, in addition to play-based activities described in the preschool program.
Literacy
We are aware of the importance of regular exercise for children, and work toward helping children make positive associations with regular activity. Every day children participate in gross motor activities involving parachute games, climbers, scooters, bikes, climbing equipment, balls, bean bags.
Settling your Child Starting at a Preschool is a huge change in a child's day to day routine. It can be very upsetting and children do not understand why they are feeling anxious and often they are unable to tell us. Families where English is a second language often need extra assistance in settling, teachers are well trained to cope with these situations.
Often parents have as hard a time adjusting to their child's new situation. We want to ensure that at Sunnynook Preschool we make this adjustment as easy as possible for both the child and the parent. You can telephone as often as you want. Please do not hesitate in making contact.
There are some ways in which you can help us:
Right Start™ Program What Preschool Children Learn The program is designed for each child to learn all the necessary skills and understandings to succeed at school and continue to thrive academically and socially.
Preschoolers are full of questions, and excited to learn about the world they live in. In a supportive and caring environment, children are free to pretend, imagine, experiment, make friends and gain independence. Carefully selected developmentally appropriate activities are available each day to support learning and creativity. Children progress in number and letter concepts, are introduced to phonics and sight words, progressing unhurried at their own comfortable pace. Socially acceptable interaction are modeled and conflict resolution skills are supported through play.
Preschool Aims Each individual child will be provided with the opportunity to:
- Develop a positive self-image and self help skills, towards themselves and their health.
- Experience success through developmentally appropriate activities.
- Learn thoughtful and courteous behaviour and respect for other individuals.
- Have access to a wide variety materials which will provide opportunities to extend their learning.
- To be a child and to have fun.
The teacher's role is to guide children in making connections through active learning, in a context relevant to them. It is through this approach that children learn and retain information, without rote learning, undue stress, or losing their thirst fort knowledge. Children are encouraged to explore new activities and to reach their highest potential in a nurturing, supportive environment. Following are the elements of the program, in addition to play-based activities described in the preschool program.
Literacy
- Literacy, introduces children to the letters of the alphabet through songs, rhymes and poems. Discovering the sounds they make individually and together, as well as how they are used to form words.
- Reading individually and in groups is supported.
- Identifying the author of a book, predicting what will happen next, narrating pictures without hearing the story, continuing a friends story etc.
- Recognizing their own name and learning to print it.
- Journal writing in the 4 year old transition program.
- Counting forwards and backwards.
- Quantity and number relationships.
- Adding concrete objects.
- Sequencing (Smallest to largest, tallest to shortest, first to last).
- Problem solving
- Measurement (using everyday items such as paperclips, rubbers, scissors, pencils, hands).
- Collecting data and graphing.
- Experimenting with force, velocity, measurement using sand and water sensory play as well as everyday items.
- Sorting, classify and comparing 2D and 3D objects.
- Weight (using balance to compare weight of everyday objects vs. weights or each other).
- Sorting and classifying (by colour, texture, mammal vs. reptile etc).
- Patterning: identifying, recognize and describe patterns in everyday life (male vs. female, tall, short etc) and representing concretely using pattern blocks, friends or toys, as well as drawing them.
- Money: may involve a shop prop with teachers acting as customers. Learning to identify New Zealand currency and value. (What is 50 cents? What do we call a $1-dollar coin?)
- Children are encouraged to speak, tell stories, and maintain balanced conversations with peers.
- Positive self-esteem is cultivated and nurtured.
- Self-regulation: Teachers work with children to control impulses, use appropriate means of communicating and interacting while maintaining positive self-worth.
- Encouraging understanding and appreciation of diversity our obligation to help others, have respect for ourselves and others and giving back to the community
- Exploring the natural and human environments ask questions making a hypothesis & examining results (“what will happen if we?”)
- Free exploration and guided inquiry into various objects
- Plant and animal Life: (stages of growth, parts of a plant, Butterfly Life Cycle, Animal Classification)
- Safe usage of technology
- Using gears, ramps, pulleys
- Guided use of computer and programs/computer & internet usage safety
- Activities geared towards development of large and small motor control (bouncing, kicking, running, jumping, pedaling, balance, throwing, hanging etc..)
- Lacing, threading, using a pencil and scissors
- Nutrition and healthy choices (healthy eating, cooking/baking)
- Safety (seatbelts, car seats, looking after our bodies etc.. )
- Toileting and hand washing routines.
- Specialised and planned music and mat-time programs.
- Dramatic play in the family play area with varied and changing props.
- Puppets, finger plays.
- Daily process-oriented creative activities.
- Play-dough and clay.
- Group creative activity work: working as a team to create.
- Children are encouraged to see themselves as artists.
- Representing thoughts and feelings through artistic expression.
- Learning about and exploring artistic genres (Impressionism, Abstract etc.)
We are aware of the importance of regular exercise for children, and work toward helping children make positive associations with regular activity. Every day children participate in gross motor activities involving parachute games, climbers, scooters, bikes, climbing equipment, balls, bean bags.
Settling your Child Starting at a Preschool is a huge change in a child's day to day routine. It can be very upsetting and children do not understand why they are feeling anxious and often they are unable to tell us. Families where English is a second language often need extra assistance in settling, teachers are well trained to cope with these situations.
Often parents have as hard a time adjusting to their child's new situation. We want to ensure that at Sunnynook Preschool we make this adjustment as easy as possible for both the child and the parent. You can telephone as often as you want. Please do not hesitate in making contact.
There are some ways in which you can help us:
- Get acquainted with your child's teacher, tell them anything special you feel should be known about your child.
- Visit the Preschool before you leave him/her alone for the first time. This allows the child to become familiar with the new environment.
- It helps if you participate and play with your child with the toys and equipment instead of standing back and watching. This gives clear signals that this is a fun place to be.
- Try to stay for only a little while at first. In our experience, children respond best when you leave them happy, quickly and you make a statement like “I'm off now. I will be back and you can tell me all the wonderful things that you have done today.”
- Often as parents we are upset and are feeling very emotional. It really helps if you can save this until you are out of sight of your child.
- Never sneak out when your child isn't looking. This will tell them not to trust you and they will cling harder the second day.