Pre-K Program

Pre-K Class
(Child must turn 4 by September 30th to enroll in class)

"Energetic" and "imaginative" best describe the four year old. Often impatient and at other times silly, four year olds are curious about everything! During this year, they master new skills, develop greater self-confidence and form meaningful relationships with other children.

Program Features

• Monday - Friday
• 9:00-12:30 pm
• A music specialist works with the children once a week
• Children have instructional P.E in our full size gym twice a week
• Children participate in instructional swim once a week for six consecutive weeks.
• Children participate in a weekly school-wide Shabbat celebration every Friday morning
• All children work in their own journals that remain in the classroom throughout the duration of the school year; journals provide a formal structure whereby children are encouraged to express and record their ideas and experiences
• Children numerically record the first 100 days of school which culminates in a special celebration Pre-K
• Pre-K classes create a Thanksgiving feast which precedes the actual holiday
• Pre-K classes join together for a Tu'Bishvat Seder
• Pre-K students work on "task cards" second semester to promote Kindergarten readiness
• Pre-K students create original alphabet books which reflect the classroom curriculum

Daily Schedules
The children’s daily schedule is flexible enough to provide adaptability when necessary but structured enough to provide predictability for the children. We want them to view their school as a safe and comforting place, where they know what to expect and when to expect it. A typical preschool day would include:

9:00 am • Greeting and Discovery time (includes art activities and open centers for choice time)
9:45 am • Group Meeting (discussion of day, rituals and routine review)
10:00 am • Special Activity time (Dalcroze, Music, Gym) with Specialist
10:30 am • Hand washing/snack
10:45 am • Discovery time (work in centers and on current classroom unit)
11:15 am • Clean-up and Literature
11:45 am • Lunch
12:15 pm • Closing circle
12:30 pm • Dismissal

Goals of Class

• Promote Children's Cognitive Growth
  • They classroom environment is rich and dynamic and supports children's intellectual growth and development
  • The room is arranged into complex learning centers that allow small groups of children to work together
  • Classroom learning centers remain the same, while the materials within each center are always changing; this supports the both a teacher directed and emergent Pre-K curriculum
  • Literacy is everywhere! Carefully placed signs, charts, chipboards and writing materials foster print and word recognition and encourage children to write for themselves
  • Classroom environments support children's individual interests and reflect the high level work they are capable of doing.
• Promote Children's Social and Emotional Growth
  • Children cultivate a deeper awareness of both self and others. They are encouraged to develop empathy, help others, express emotions appropriately, play cooperatively and contribute to the greater classroom community
• Promote Children's Physical Development
  • Both large and fine motor skill development is supported in the general curriculum and throughout the child's daily activities

For more information or to schedule a tour please call (216) 593-6262.

Joan Morgenstern, Director
jmorgenstern@mandeljcc.org
(216) 593-6262