3K Preschool Curriculum, Madison
Kids Junction 3K Preschool Learning Center’s goal is to have every child’s day filled with learning experiences while meeting the needs of each child’s individual development. We have combined some of the best curriculum to deliver an all-encompassing learning experience.
Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards (WMELS) – WMELS provides us with developmental continuums from which we can create individual goals for the children to help us assess their age-appropriate and milestone development.
Assessments & Parent Conferences – We believe that assessing individual progress is the key to planning programs that respond to the needs, interests and abilities of children in any classroom. With ongoing assessment, our teachers can focus on all aspects of a child’s development. At the beginning of the school year curriculum goals and objectives are set in place and throughout the school-year we collect work samples and document facts and skill levels for each child. In the fall and spring we provide conferences for parents to meet with their child’s teacher and review their child’s progress.
Play Based Learning – Kids Junction Preschool places a priority on giving children several opportunities for play during the day. Play is central to children’s healthy development and learning during the preschool years.
KJ Bible Curriculum – Kids Junction introduces 9 character qualities to the children throughout the course of the year. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Each quality is combined with Bible stories and/or a daily devotional along with “I Will” statements to help the children understand the meaning of the character quality. Puppets, stories, crafts, and reminders throughout each day encourage the children to lay the foundation of good character development as our teachers lead by example.
Frog Street Threes – Frog Street Threes is a comprehensive curriculum designed specifically for 3 year olds ages 36-48 moths. This curriculum has themes with differentiated activities in the area of the five developmental and WMELS domains: cognitive, language, physical, social/emotional, and creative.
Literacy and Language – Through storytelling, finger plays, sign language and child/teacher interaction children will begin to develop their language skills through repetition and conversation. These are crucial tools to give children the opportunity to express themselves using language.
Numbers and Math – Counting and sorting are integrated throughout our learning experiences. We use everyday materials to teach the concepts of counting and sorting. Small motor development is improved as we bring out the play-doh and work with our hands to make shapes and numbers.
Science – Science is taught through observation and hands-on experiments. Children are taught to use their five senses as they explore the world around them. They discover texture, chart observations, and do lots of measuring during cooking experiments. Children also learn to care for living things in their environment.
Social Studies – The scope and sequence begins by learning “All About Me” and continues to expand out to the formation of friends and bonds with other children. It also involves learning how the decision making process works in a group setting. It covers development of social skills, personal responsibility, sharing, cooperation, dealing with emotions, accepting differences between people, and learning a sense of community and responsibility.
Music and Movement – Music and movement take place throughout the day. It is an integral part of transitions, free play and storytelling. It enhances language development, rhyming, and hand-eye coordination.
Music (special) – Music is a language everyone speaks and takes your child on an adventure. Our music teacher introduces the world of dance, instruments, finger plays, rhymes and rhythms. Puppets and stories are brought to life in the child’s imagination during each class.
Crafts – Crafts are hands-on activities that expand imaginations and exercises creativity. It is incorporated on a daily basis into the classroom lesson plan. Whether it is painting with hands, puffy paint, or drawing a picture of an apple, children learn all of their creations are pieces of beauty.
Art Class (special) – Beyond the every day craft experiences we have special art classes where children learn about technique, value, space, form, line, shapes, and mixing colors using a wide variety of materials such as liquid water color and tempera paints, collage materials, oil pastels etc. The children are encouraged to try and do their best. All art is beautiful no matter how abstract it may be.
Physical Education Class (special) – In physical education (gym) class, we use instructed motion and play to develop a variety of skills in our three and four year olds: self confidence, cooperating with others, physical strength and coordination, balance and problem solving.
Programs and Special Events – We enjoy hosting all our families and friends at special events throughout the year. Our Christmas and Spring concerts are planned and rehearsed for weeks to provide parents, grandparents etc. the opportunity to see their child perform. 4K graduation is always a very special event as our 4K students parade down the aisle to Pomp and Circumstance and are awarded their diploma. The end of summer carnival is a celebration for all the children and families and includes bounce houses, obstacle course, prize tables, face painting, pony rides and a cook out for everyone to enjoy. Our 3K and 4K students enjoy the opportunity to ride the big “yellow” bus to fall field trips that are planned for apple orchards and pumpkin farms. Please check the Kids Junction calendar for additional special events.