Pre-Kindergarten Program

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     Introduction

    At the heart of our program is the belief that children are full of curiosity and creativity, and ready to be engaged to explore their environment.  Our curriculum is flexible and emerges from children’s ideas, thoughts, and observations, with the ultimate goal of cultivating a lifelong passion for learning and exploration. We believe that education is a continuous interaction, exchange, and collaboration between teachers, children, and parents. Children and teachers are encouraged to dialogue, critique, compare, negotiate, hypothesize, and problem-solve in groups. Multiple perspectives promote a sense of belonging to a group as well as the uniqueness of self.

    Goals and Objectives

    The goal of a Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery CSD Pre-K Program is to provide a quality Pre-K learning experience for all children residing in the School District.  We provide developmentally appropriate experiences that allow a child to bring meaning to his/her world through active exploration of the environment with a focus on the whole child to promote the growth of social, emotional, physical, cognitive and language skills.

    Through this program we strive to achieve the following objectives:

    • To promote the social and emotional growth of our four year old children.  With this focus they will:

    Work and play cooperatively

    Feel free to express their thoughts, ideas, feelings and concerns in an appropriate manner

    Practice group participation skills

    Share

    Take turns

    Practice good manners

    Learn conflict resolution – understand that problems can be solved in appropriate ways

    Develop mutual respect

    Discover individual strengths

    Develop friendship skills

    • To teach children to play.  With this focus the children will develop the following:

    Imagination

    Communication of feelings

    Expressive and receptive language

    Social skills

    Ability to play together

    • To provide a setting in which children can develop their early literacy skills and reach an age appropriate language level.  With this focus they will develop:

    Vocabulary

    Phonemic awareness

    Concept of print

    Listening skills

    Comprehension skills

    Ability to hear language patterns

    Their exposure to rich language

    • To create activities that develop fine and gross motor skills to an age appropriate level.  With this focus they will:

    Develop eye-hand coordination and the ability to manipulate objects

    Gain awareness and control of their bodies

    Release various emotions

    • To develop artistic expression in the four year old child. Students will:

    Develop listening skills

    Be able to hear patterns

    Rhyme

    Strengthen large muscle by hopping skipping

    Develop auditory memory

    Use music for personal enjoyment

    Use their own creative expression

    Build visual and spatial relationships

     
    Curriculum

    The curriculum of the pre-kindergarten program is based on the Common Core State Standards and the EngageNY learning modules for English Language Arts and Mathematics which are designed to prepare young children for success by building foundational skills. Through literature, play, and experiential centers the students study the following: All About Me, Families, Animals, Plants, Habitats, Famous Americans, and Fairy Tales. In Mathematics, the students learn to count to 10, recognize numerals, understand one-to-one correspondence, make comparisons, solve problems, duplicate simple patterns using objects, and sort and organize objects. The teachers extend these topics into learning centers where students build their own experiences and engage through curiosity and creativity.
     
    Curricular Activities & Excursions 
     
     
    In addition to the daily curricular activities, the pre-kindergarten students are involved in year-long art, music, and physical education programs. The students also participate in STREAM: Science, Technology, Research, Engineering, Arts & Media. During STREAM the students visit the library to check out books, listen to stories, learn how to code "BeeBots," and solve engineering challenges. To further engage the students, the school has partnered with the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum to design and explore nature play areas, like Grasshopper Grove at the Museum's Outdoor Discovery Center.
     
    Sample Schedule

    Time Activity
    8:30 - 9:00 Arrival and Welcome
    Table-top centers and review concepts from previous day.
    9:00 - 9:35 Morning Meeting
    Students work on responsibilities, counting and math skills through calendar, kid counter, days in school, pledge of allegiance, days of the week, and alphabet songs.
    9:35 - 10:15 Literacy Centers
    Students work on whole group, independent and small group teacher lead tasks based on the New York State Learning Standards
    10:15 - 10:45 Snack & Play
    10:45 - 11:05 Phonics & Writer's Workshop
    Students work on identification and letter sounds and progress to writing workshop.
    11:05 - 11:35 Special (Art, Physical Education, Music, Library, or STREAM*)
    11:35 - 12:25 Lunch & Recess
    12:25 - 12:45 Math Center
    Students learn math based on the EngageNY mathematics units through experiential hands-on explorations.
    12:45 - 1:15 Special (Art, Physical Education, Music, Library, or STREAM*)
    1:15 - 2:10 Rest/Individualized Instruction
    2:10 - 2:30 Pack-up & Dismissal
    *STREAM - Science, Technology, Research, Engineering, Arts & Media