Preschool Program Descriptions:

All Cornerstone Campus preschool programs emphasize classroom routines & socialization, language & literacy development, math concepts, science exploration and both fine and gross motor skills. 

Classroom Routines & Socialization:
Learning to function successfully in a classroom is key to school success. The teachers' first priority is to help the children learn to trust their new environment and develop positive relationships in the classroom.

 

Our classrooms encourage children’s self-confidence as they learn to do for themselves that which they can and take responsibility for their classroom and its contents.

 

By maintaining consistent classroom routines and expectations, teachers reinforce skills such as collaboration, following directions, transitioning from one activity to another, sharing, taking turns and developing friendships.

 

Teachers model respect and kindness in the classroom through their interaction with the children and each other.

 

Positive discipline and consistent reinforcement allows children to develop self-confidence and  problem solving.

Language & Literacy:
When we think of literacy, we think of ABCs and the basics of reading, but literacy refers to a much broader spectrum of skills such as enjoyment of stories and books, oral recitation, recognizing rhyming patterns and learning new vocabulary.

 

Daily story-time, singing, rhymes, and group discussions expose children to language in a variety of forms. Small class sizes allow teachers to provide children with abundant opportunities for direct conversation with adults and their peers.  

 

Additionally, specific literacy objectives for the 4-year old classrooms include introducing and familiarizing children with letter identification, letter-sound association and letter formation using the "Lively Letters" curriculum. 

​

Math Skills:

Every day teachers conduct “morning calendar” which incorporates several math skills such as rote counting, number identification, tracking the passage of time, sequencing, counting set quantities, graphing, estimation and recognizing patterns.

 

Throughout the day, teachers plan activities and guide play in which children explore concepts such as space, size and volume. 

​

Science Exploration:
The four major areas of science are: Earth & Space, Chemistry & Physics, Technology & Engineering, and Life Sciences, but what does science look like in a preschool classroom?

 

It is any activity that encourages children to explore their environment, solve problems and think critically.

 

Teachers emphasize the scientific method of making predictions, observing and verifying. 

​

Examples of science explorations:
 - Gathering leaves on a nature walk and using a book to identify them.

 - Comparing rocks and  categorizing them according to certain attributes.

 - Graphing changes in the weather. 
- Observing water evaporation over time.
- Making Play-doh, "Gak", and "Goop".
- Building ramps and racing cars.
- Tossing ping pong balls, balloons and golf balls in the air.
- Making Jell-o and ice cream

​

Gross & fine motor skills:

Physical activity helps children grow more aware of their strength, coordination and abilities.

 

For this reason, we have 30 minutes of gym every day at Cornerstone. Teachers also use gym time to organize fun group games. 

 

Fine motor skills are reinforced in a variety of ways as children become experienced with scissors, glue, writing utensils, art materials, beading and sewing.  

PreK Program Description:

The Extended Day PreK was designed to meet the needs of older preschoolers, particularly those children who miss the Kindergarten cut off by just a few weeks.

 

This program is also an option for parents who feel that their child, while meeting the age requirement for Kindergarten entry, would benefit from another year of maturation within a preschool setting.

The Prek  curriculum is based on the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks for PreK-2nd grade for Literacy, Math, Science and Social Studies, with an emphasis on Kindergarten readiness.

 

 More information about the frameworks is available at:

​

https://www.doe.mass.edu/search.html#q=prek&sort=relevancy

The children also participate in an hour long weekly Sign Language class. 

 

Prek.  Daily Schedule:
8:45                Sign-in, morning task

9:00                Morning meeting; day's plan, calendar math, poem, phonics drill, weather graphing

9:30               Snack/choice time 

10:00             Literacy Block (Shared reading; letter work)

10:30             Gym

11:00             Math Explorations

11:30             Lunch, followed by quiet activity

12:00             Science/Social Studies Block (Creative Arts on Friday)

12:40             Clean -up
 
12:45             Story time/ closing meeting

1:00               Dismissal

The daily schedule above is intended to give you a general idea of the class.

​

To receive a more detailed guide to the Prek program, send an email to the Director, Meg Potter

at: cornerstonedirector@gmail.com

​