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• Center Programs - Pre-School Age and Pre-K Age
Preschool (3 - 5 years)
NCDC has a preschool and Pre-K classrooms. Our preschool and Pre-K classrooms are designed to facilitate learning through large groups, small group and individual opportunities. Our curriculum is based on the Pennsylvania Early Learning Standards that ensure Kindergarten readiness.. The curriculum endorses non-pressured, child-centered activities.
 Large group activities, such as calendar activities and story times are kept to a maximum of 10 minutes. Small group and individual activities are integrated during free choice center time. This enables the caregivers to work with the children in a more intimate, informal manner. The NCDC philosophy is that children evolve within all developmental areas at their own speed. Our learning centers allow the children to have educational experiences based on their readiness. The result of combining classroom philosophy and our daily schedule ensures a program that is tailored to each individual child.
The curriculum of the preschool and Pre-K program is based on the assessments that are completed three times a year. The assessment completed in September gives the lead caregiver a baseline of capabilities of the children in the classroom. This is then used as the main planning tool until January, when developmental skills are reevaluated. The goal of the preschool program is not to achieve all skills listed on the assessment, but rather to achieve individual growth from one assessment period to the next.
The developmental skills assessed are cognitive, language, social / emotional, and gross / fine motor areas. The classrooms are set up with learning centers that help to develop all of these skills.
Cognitive
Academically, our preschool and Pre-K program covers basic skills such as color and shape recognition to more advanced instruction on letter and number recognition. The main learning centers that are primarily cognitive are our writing center, science center, and math center. While these centers offer opportunities for free exploration, Caregivers set time aside weekly to work with all children in these centers at their own developmental level.
Language Development
Preschoolers are extending their language capabilities through their daily experiences and the NCDC staff foster this through reading stories, reciting poems, singing songs, engaging them in conversations / discussions, asking them questions and being good listeners. Preschoolers are using language to solve problems and learn concepts.
Social / Emotional
At this developmental level, children are developing the social skills to be able to interact effectively with other children and adults. Preschoolers feel strongly about accomplishing tasks independently. They are also developing appropriate interpersonal skills that will be applied during interactions with their peers, and adults. It is the role of the caregivers in the classroom to encourage such behaviors and to facilitate it in a positive manner. This builds a positive self-image with the child which is a precursor to eventual social competence.
Motor Skills
There are daily opportunities to advance fine and gross motor skills. To strengthen fine motor skills, structured art activities are scheduled daily, as well as a learning center for free art. Block and manipulative centers also assist preschoolers in strengthening their fine motor skills. Outside play is planned daily. Our preschool playground offers opportunities for climbing, pedaling, ball playing and running.
| Daily Schedule - varies from classroom to classroom |
| 9:00 |
to |
9:15 |
Morning Meeting - Planning and Discussion of daily activities |
| 9:15 |
to |
10:15 |
Free Exploration / Learning Centers |
| 10:15 |
to |
10:30 |
Snack |
| 10:30 |
to |
10:45 |
Storytime |
| 10:45 |
to |
11:05 |
Outdoor play |
| 11:05 |
to |
11:20 |
Calendar Activities |
| 11:20 |
to |
12:00 |
Free Exploration (Same Centers/ LEA Caregiver activity) |
| 12:00 |
to |
12:30 |
Lunch |
| 12:30 |
to |
12:45 |
Sharing |
| 12:45 |
to |
1:00 |
Nap Prep / Story |
| 1:00 |
to |
3:00 |
Nap / Quiet Activities |
| 3:00 |
to |
3:30 |
Clean-up / Snack |
| 3:30 |
to |
4:00 |
Outside / Gross Motor |
| 4:00 |
to |
6:00 |
Free Exploration / Parent Pick-up |
Transition to Kindergarten
NCDC works closely with the local school districts to ensure a smooth transition. In Pre-K, monthly transition activities are planned, culminating with a visit from a local Kindergarten teacher who will talk about the Kindergarten experience. Information about Kindergarten registration in the Oxford Area School District, Solanco School District, and Avon Grove Charter School are made available.
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