CURRICULUM GUIDE

PRESCHOOL

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS

OBSERVABLE INDICATORS:

· Pretends to write (scribble) and read (pointing finger while reciting text)

· Looks at book from left to right, top to bottom, front to back.

What can I do at home to help?

Encourage your child’s early learning by:

· Reading and rereading favorite books

· Modeling behavior, reading and writing notes or lists

· Providing variety of art materials; markers, pencils, paper to create.

MATH

OBSERVABLE INDICATORS:

· Sorts, groups, counts, classifies; whole and part, sizes and shapes

· Counts by ones to 20

What can I do at home to help?

Encourage your child’s early learning by:

· Doing puzzles

· Sorting laundry or collections.

· Providing educational TV programs and/or computer programs

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

OBSERVABLE INDICATORS:

· Uses senses to observe and explore materials in their environment

· Knows difference between night and day

What can I do at home to help?

Encourage your child’s early learning by:

· Involving child in cooking activities.

· Discuss the weather and forecast with him/her

· Visiting a zoo or farm

HEALTH

(Physical, Social & Emotional)

OBSERVABLE INDICATORS:

· Participates in physical experiences involving movement

· Plays safely guided by principles of respect

What can I do at home to help?

Encourage your child’s early learning by:

· Supporting walking, running, hopping, galloping, sliding, jumping, leaping, climbing.

· Using positive guidance; setting daily limits; having daily routines

· Fostering independence, I.e., dresses and washes self

HISTORY & SOCIAL SCIENCE

OBSERVABLE INDICATORS:

· States own street address, city, state and country in which he/she lives.

· Able to identify sequential actions such as first, last, next.

What can I do at home to help?

Encourage your child’s early learning by:

· Discussing family events and events in the child’s life

· Recognizing community people who promote safety/welfare

· Identifying different types of jobs that people do

ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF PLAY

Children who are given plenty of time, and many and varied opportunities for play are:

· Learning to ask their own questions.

· Figuring out their own answers.

· Responsible for their own answers.

· Responsible for their own learning.

For many children, the early childhood setting is the first significant experience with the wider world beyond their own home and extended family. For that reason, the kind of community created in our early childhood classrooms has a big impact. It must be a community where each child feels comfortable and valued, and where all children learn to respect and value others.

WATERFORD STREET SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT

Waterford Street School will foster the full development of each child’s intellectual, creative and physical capabilities and educate the child to live effectively and cooperatively with others.

ACCREDITATION

Waterford Street School Preschool is fully accredited through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Every preschool teacher is a Massachusetts certified special education teacher trained in the field of Early Childhood Education.

The Gardner Public School District is based on the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks from preschool through high school .

The Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks provides experiences, and builds a foundation for success in taking the MCAS test.

Our examples of preschool observable indicators come from these frameworks.

The purpose of this guide is to identify the major topics, concepts, and skills that are considered essential for each grade level as identified by the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks.