PRESCHOOL

Ages 2 - 4

The School Day
Our preschoolers' mornings are full of music, read-alouds, learning centers, fine and gross motor skills activities, art activities, snack time, and, of course, recess, their favorite part of the day.  Students also have physical education classes once a week.
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Arrival: 7:30 - 8:00am
Dismissal: 11:45am

Numeracy
​While our 2- and 3-year-olds focus more on social emotional development, thinking skills and physical coordination, our four-year-olds begin a foundation for academic learning.  They learn to identify and describe shapes, count to 20, add and subtract, and identify patterns.

Reading
Our preschool teachers read aloud to our students daily.  Reading aloud is a cornerstone of our preschool curriculum, bringing stories to life for our young learners. Each day, our teachers share books that spark imagination, expand vocabulary, and introduce foundational literacy concepts. Through interactive storytelling, children develop listening skills, comprehension, and a deeper appreciation for language. These moments not only foster a love of reading but also create opportunities for children to explore the world around them through literature.

Phonological Awareness
We lay the foundation for reading success through structured lessons in phonological awareness. Children learn to recognize and manipulate sounds in spoken language, including rhyming, clapping syllables, and identifying the beginning sounds of words. These playful yet purposeful activities are integrated into daily routines and games, ensuring that students build essential pre-reading skills while having fun.

Writing
Writing practice begins with age-appropriate, fun activities that encourage children to experiment with letters and shapes. This process begins in PK 2 when students pick up their first pencils and draw their first lines and progresses through PK 3 and PK 4. Whether they are tracing letters, writing their names, or drawing pictures to tell a story, our students develop the fine motor skills and foundational handwriting techniques they will need in kindergarten and beyond.

English Vocabulary
Our preschool program is designed to support children who are learning English as an additional language for the first time.  Vocabulary lessons focus on building a strong foundation in essential words and phrases through interactive activities. Students learn through songs, stories, visuals, and hands-on experiences that make new vocabulary easy to understand and remember. Teachers provide opportunities for repetition and practice, helping children feel confident in using English for everyday communication. These lessons not only expand language skills but also foster social connections and a love for learning in their new language.

Calendar Time
Calendar time is a cherished part of our preschool morning routine, fostering a sense of community and setting a positive tone for the day. During this interactive meeting, children explore the calendar by identifying the date, days of the week, months, and seasons. They also engage in important discussions about their emotions, using this time to express how they feel and practice empathy by listening to others. Additional activities, such as counting, weather observations, and discussing upcoming events, promote critical thinking and routine-building skills. Calendar time provides a balanced mix of academic readiness and social-emotional learning, creating a warm and structured start to each day.

Social Emotional Development
What is social emotional development?  Social emotional development is identifying and managing emotions, learning to be independent, problem solving, learning how to be a good friend, and much more!  These are just a few of the skills students in PK2 and PK3 are working on as new little ones in our educational center. Without these skills, it is difficult to be ready to learn academic skills in the classroom. That is why PK2 and PK3 spend a lot of time in foundational social emotional activities requiring collaboration, speaking skills, sharing, respect of authority, and creativity. 

Art
Art time in our preschool program allows children to explore their creativity and self-expression. Students experiment with various materials such as paint, playdoh, and collage, creating projects that develop their fine motor skills and artistic confidence. Through guided and open-ended art activities, children learn about colors, shapes, and textures while taking pride in producing their very own works of art.

Music
Music is an integral part of our preschool experience, bringing rhythm, melody, and joy into the classroom.  Through singing, dancing, and playing simple instruments, children explore the fundamentals of music while building listening and coordination skills.  Music lessons also support early literacy and math development as children learn about patterns, sequencing, and sound recognition. Above all, these activities inspire creativity and foster an appreciation for music.

Bible
Faith and character development are integral parts of our preschool program. Through age-appropriate Bible lessons, children learn about God’s love, kindness, and Christian values.  Stories from the Bible are shared in ways that captivate the children. These lessons provide a foundation for moral growth and spiritual understanding in a nurturing and inclusive environment.

Science, Social Studies & Other Life Skills
Teachers include science and social studies learning units lasting 3 weeks each.  These teach valuable life lessons for these small ones.  Some of the topics covered in PK 2 and PK 3 are: nutrition, personal hygiene, safe and unsafe behaviors and places, getting to know the school environment, and the five senses.  In PK 4, they explore units on community, food groups, safety, animal habitats, taking care of the Earth and its resources, living vs non-living things, and germs.

Motor Skills

Preschool is very excited this year to begin a new project. A motor lab!  Students have time dedicated to working on their motor skills every day to practice their gross and fine motor skills.  Students participate in a series of 5 activities which are changed on a weekly basis.   Some of the activities include: balancing, jumping, rolling, crawling, hand-eye coordination, sensory exploration, spinning, pushing and pulling, picking up and carrying, and crossing the midline.  All of these activities develop their physical coordination so that their bodies are better ready to learn in the classroom and all of abilities are key to students being successful later in their school career.

Preschool at Jarabacoa Christian School is about learning through movement and experiences.  We offer a bilingual program taught in both English and Spanish as it is important for small children to learn and speak their first language as well as beginning to learn vocabulary in a second language.  Our curriculum solely focuses on the New Jersey standards and is designed to prepare the students for elementary school by working on their communication skills, social skills and motor skills as well as introducing them to biblical characters and Christian values.

With all of these fun activities going on, the preschool students are learning and growing with skills that will help them at school and in life. Come have a look!