Areas of Development
Our program focuses on the following areas of development in ways appropriate to each age group.
Social/Emotional
St. Mark Preschool is a safe, accepting environment in which children can feel comfortable to be themselves. The children experience each other’s special and unique qualities within a loving and supportive atmosphere. Teachers help to build each child’s self-esteem while guiding and positively reinforcing responsible, cooperative behavior. Each classroom will incorporate anti-bias techniques and curriculum to encourage children to understand individual differences.
Spiritual
Our school is based on Christian principles. We have the unique opportunity to not only teach about God’s love and guidance through the Bible, but to model and teach the practical application in our daily lives. Bible stories will be taught on Wednesdays during our regularly scheduled Bible Time. Our values of love, patience, kindness, forgiveness, joy, and humility are modeled throughout the curriculum.
Cognitive
Children learn basic cognitive skills through experience in many activities during play. Many manipulative activities are offered to stimulate cognitive thinking and require the development of problem solving skills. The children enjoy developing these skills with objects for sorting, categorizing, sequencing, counting and quantifying, as well as taking apart and putting objects back together again. Open-ended science questions help children learn how to question for themselves and to be true thinkers.
Language/Communication
Children develop pre-reading and writing skills appropriate for their age. Letter and number recognition, expressive and creative drawing, storytelling, journal writing and discussion of events and topics of interest to the children, are all ways in which pre-reading skills are enhanced. Rhymes, chants, and songs are important ways to enhance language development. The children will be exposed to both written and oral language skills.
Discovery/Exploration
Children are exposed to the world around them by our developing curriculum of interest based on real life experiences. These interests develop from people, places, and things in a child’s world and are enriched through creative drama, class discussions, science exploration, classroom visitors, and more.
Creative Expression
Children will be given daily opportunities for creative expression and appreciation through art, music, and dramatic play. A wide variety of art media and tools, as well as musical style, form, and function are available for individual and group expression. Our creative rule of thumb is always that the process is more important than the product!
Small/Fine Motor
Small muscle skills are developed through daily experiences in cutting, tearing, coloring, painting, scooping, pouring, threading, weaving, connecting, play-dough play, finger-play, action songs, and more.
Gross/Large Motor
Movement activities that stimulate large muscle development include walking, skipping, running, marching, jumping, balancing, catching, throwing, dancing, parachute play, climbing, and bicycle riding. We will use the indoor classrooms, Clemen’s Hall, and the outdoor playground area.
Social/Emotional
St. Mark Preschool is a safe, accepting environment in which children can feel comfortable to be themselves. The children experience each other’s special and unique qualities within a loving and supportive atmosphere. Teachers help to build each child’s self-esteem while guiding and positively reinforcing responsible, cooperative behavior. Each classroom will incorporate anti-bias techniques and curriculum to encourage children to understand individual differences.
Spiritual
Our school is based on Christian principles. We have the unique opportunity to not only teach about God’s love and guidance through the Bible, but to model and teach the practical application in our daily lives. Bible stories will be taught on Wednesdays during our regularly scheduled Bible Time. Our values of love, patience, kindness, forgiveness, joy, and humility are modeled throughout the curriculum.
Cognitive
Children learn basic cognitive skills through experience in many activities during play. Many manipulative activities are offered to stimulate cognitive thinking and require the development of problem solving skills. The children enjoy developing these skills with objects for sorting, categorizing, sequencing, counting and quantifying, as well as taking apart and putting objects back together again. Open-ended science questions help children learn how to question for themselves and to be true thinkers.
Language/Communication
Children develop pre-reading and writing skills appropriate for their age. Letter and number recognition, expressive and creative drawing, storytelling, journal writing and discussion of events and topics of interest to the children, are all ways in which pre-reading skills are enhanced. Rhymes, chants, and songs are important ways to enhance language development. The children will be exposed to both written and oral language skills.
Discovery/Exploration
Children are exposed to the world around them by our developing curriculum of interest based on real life experiences. These interests develop from people, places, and things in a child’s world and are enriched through creative drama, class discussions, science exploration, classroom visitors, and more.
Creative Expression
Children will be given daily opportunities for creative expression and appreciation through art, music, and dramatic play. A wide variety of art media and tools, as well as musical style, form, and function are available for individual and group expression. Our creative rule of thumb is always that the process is more important than the product!
Small/Fine Motor
Small muscle skills are developed through daily experiences in cutting, tearing, coloring, painting, scooping, pouring, threading, weaving, connecting, play-dough play, finger-play, action songs, and more.
Gross/Large Motor
Movement activities that stimulate large muscle development include walking, skipping, running, marching, jumping, balancing, catching, throwing, dancing, parachute play, climbing, and bicycle riding. We will use the indoor classrooms, Clemen’s Hall, and the outdoor playground area.