Loving, Safe, Christ-Centered and Developmentally Appropriate

An early childhood education program for children who are 3 and 4 by August 31st of the school year

 

The Little Doves Preschool is an exciting exploration into learning for three and four year olds that provides stimulating large and small muscle development, manipulatives, reading, creative and fantasy play, and an introduction to phonics and numbers.

 

Our curricular goals are:

• Math

  • Counting (calendar, days of school to 31, objects)

  • Measuring/Pouring

  • Shapes,

• Free explorations

  • Working with materials (unifix cubes, shells, blocks, etc.)

  • Sorting

  • Classifying (color, size, shape)

• Pre-reading

  • Letter and Picture Bingo Games

  • Content exposure to written language displayed in school

  • Sensory Tracing Letters

  • Concentration Games

  • Letter Recognition Games

  • Note: Little Doves uses the Zoo-phonics reading program. See info below.

• Science

  • Science experiments

  • Plants/Animals/Insects

  • Weather/Seasons

  • Magnets

  • Cooking

• Art

  • Focus on self-expression

  • Exploration and use of art materials

  • Art projects related to monthly theme

• Music

  •  Singing/Dancing

  • Clapping Rhythms

  • Exposure to musical instruments

• Health​

  • Teeth brushing

  • Healthy eating

  • Safety rules

  • Hand washing

  • Fire Safety

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Our teaching goals are to:

• Build positive self-esteem which includes accepting themselves, their limitations, and their talents as God has given them

• Excite children about learning and school

• Develop social skills and positive behavior

• Increase communication skills

• Aid large and small muscle development

• Provide interests and experiences which broaden children's readiness for school

• Develop reading readiness skills

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In preschool we will help the children learn to

• Work and play in large and small groups

• Follow simple directions and to think problems through to find the best solutions

• Finish small tasks, such as putting toys away

• Listen to one another

• Count and recognize numbers 1-20

• Name colors and shaps

• Recognize and start to learn and write the alphabet 

• Hear letter sounds

• Write their name

• Sort and classify

• Be challenged to their fullest potential

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We also have important spiritual goals! In our program we teach that:

• God made the world.

• God created us.

• God loves us.

• Jesus is God's expression of love to us.

• Jesus is God's Son.

• Prayer is talking to God and we can talk to God anytime.

• God listens to our prayers.

• We are not perfect. We make mistakes and God acts in love to bring us His forgiveness through Jesus.

• The life, death and resurrection of Jesus is for all of us.

• Be kind to others.

• We love one another.

• The Bible is "God's book."

• Bible memorization

• We can be a "light" or witness for Jesus!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zoo-Phonics Reading Program

 

Learning to read, spell, and write should be painless and stress-free. Little Doves uses Zoo-Phonics to create a joyful learning environment.

 

Here's how it works:

 

An animal theme is used because it is universal, and because children relate readily to animals.

The configuration of the letter is remembered in association with a picture of the animal.

The sound comes through the first initial letter sound of each animal's name. A body "signal" is given to mimic each Animal Character. Each Zoo-phonics Animal becomes a friend and a tool for the children to use in developing reading, spelling and writing skills. Here's how:

 

1. Children first see the Shapes of the lowercase letters through the Shapes of the animals, "a-z."

2. The Sounds of the Letters are taught through the names of the animals: allie alligator=a, bubba bear=b, catina cat=c.

3. Because children wiggle naturally, a Body Movement (called a Signal) is given to each letter that relates directly to the Animal, locking the Shapes and Sounds into memory, allie alligator opens and closes her jaws as she smiles, bubba bear reaches up to the honey hive, catina cat washes her face with her paw, etc.

 

Thus, the eyes, ears, mouth and large muscles provide the vehicle to access information. Zoo-phonics encourages the children's natural tendency to wiggle and to express himself/herself, channeling it all for learning. Children learn by touching and doing, and Zoo-phonics gives them this outlet.