CURRICULUM
Teaching In the Key of Life!
Blue Group
What we learn in Blue Group:
- Good manners (saying “please” and “thank you”)
- Learn how to share and take turns
- Begin potty training
- Shapes, colors, ABC’s
- Socialize, how to be good friends
- How to be good listeners
- Fun songs
Blue Group is our first group children join when enrolling at Joyce’s at age 2. Our ultimate goal for Blue Group is to allow students to adjust to the preschool setting and have a smooth transition into Green Group where they will be ready to listen and follow directions! Potty training is introduced and children begin learning an array of various monthly activities involving art, science, nature, history and much more!
The Arts
We believe children are never too young to be exposed to The World's Greatest Artists. Our children are taught the styles of artists including DaVinci, Monet, Cézanne and Michelangelo, to name a few.
Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine, and at last, you create what you will. – George Bernard Shaw
Green Group
What we learn in Green Group:
- Listening and following directions
- Good manners
- Practicing good hygiene
- Colors and shapes
- Seasons
- Respecting our friends, body awareness
- Continue and complete potty training
Understanding and following directions is the most important aspect of the Green Group. They are introduced to tracing and coloring worksheets in preparation for Red Group. They also continue to build on their social skills by practicing sharing and cooperative play. In order to move forward to Red Group, children must demonstrate a strong understanding of the class rules, be able to follow directions independently, and be fully potty trained and wearing underwear.
Languages
In addition to strengthening the children's understanding of English, they also learn Spanish and American Sign Language (ASL). Learning other languages helps foster the ability to communicate in our ever growing multi-cultural society.
If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart. – Nelson Mandela
Red Group
What we learn in Red Group:
- Tracing
- Writing
- Pre-reading skills
- Alphabet/Word recognition
- Counting
- Shapes and colors
Red Group is the final stop before our students transition to Kinder House. Children continue building on their alphabet skills, tracing and writing. They also begin recognizing number sequences and counting. Pre-reading skills are introduced in order to prepare our students for reading in Aqua Group.
Music
Children are exposed to learning about the different instruments in an orchestra. They learn about musical masters such as Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart. Each week the children learn new songs and sing familiar ones while 'Singing in the Key of Life'! Instruments such as maracas, triangles, tambourines, and drums are used to accompany their songs.
Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything. – Plato
Aqua Group
What we learn in Aqua Group:
- Learn letter names and sounds
- Recognize, spell, write first name
- Further build on communication and listening skills
- Develop fine motor skills
- Trace, write, and count numbers
- Science and social studies
In Aqua Group our children continue expanding on their literacy, math, art and social skills.They enjoy developing fine motor skills through fun art projects. They also begin exploring the world around them by engaging in fun activities like nature walks and gardening. Literacy skills and reading readiness must be well established before moving on to Purple Group.
Gardening
Our weekly gardening class offers an opportunity for children to participate in planting and taking care of plants while taking pleasure in watching them grow. This gives children the responsibility of caring for a living plant, which goes from seed to flower or food.
Children are born with a sense of wonder and an affinity for Nature. Properly cultivated, these values can mature into ecological literacy, and eventually into sustainable patterns of living. – Zenobia Barlow
Purple Group
Transitional Kindergarten/Kindergarten
What we learn in Purple Group:
- Math concepts (addition, subtraction, graphs, time, etc.)
- Practice independence and responsibility
- Nurture school garden (plant, harvest, identify plants)
- Raise and nurture school pets together
- Learn the scientific method and create monthly science experiments
- Participate in community events
- Have yearly performances (Invention convention, Christmas play)
- Learn to read
Purple Group students learn to read, write short sentences and stories, and are introduced to more advanced math concepts. They begin to routinely practice responsibility and independence by making good behavioral choices voluntarily, with minimal support from teachers. Students participate in community events, produce yearly performances, and even learn Yoga.
Geography
Each month the children 'visit' a different country with the theme The Amazing Race! Our children have 'traveled' to places such as England, India, Australia, Japan, Germany, Ireland, Mexico and locations within the United States. They learn about each country's unique culture (language, foods, holidays, sports, games) through art, music, and other activities.
Geography is important because it allows us to understand the world we live in and make independent, informed decisions using this understanding. – Paul Goodstadt
