Early Education  |  Early Education Tuition  |  Sample Schedule

The Early Education activities revolve around planned curriculum for ages 2 1/2-pre kindergarten. The curriculum includes Bible-based, character-building studies, open-ended projects, and much more. All activities are presented in an age appropriate manner.

To enroll your child must be self-sufficient in the following:

• Fully toilet trained.
• Able to go to the restroom by him/herself.
• Able to dress and undress him/herself.
• Able to wipe correctly.
• Able to flush the toilet.
• Able to wash and dry hands properly.

Curriculum
Our teaching staff is dedicated to making RiverTree Christian School a positive learning experience for all children. Our Early Education offers play based learning centers where children are able to make choices and participate in small group activities. We offer a well-planned curriculum that the teachers utilize to prepare activities each day. The activities are organized around themes and exploration stations that include Bible, art, dramatic play, music, science, nature, crafts, fine motor skills, listening skills, cognitive skills, puppets, finger plays, rhymes, and group time. The daily schedule includes both active and quiet indoor activities and playground or gym time.

Our program is based on a curriculum of learning centers that are appropriate for each age level while incorporating kindergarten readiness skills. The following explains this curriculum:

• Children's development and learning are integrated.
• Learning results from the process of interacting with materials and people.
• Learning activities and materials should be concrete, real, relevant, and multi-sensory.
• Learning takes place as children touch, manipulate, and experiment with things while interacting with people.
• As children work with materials or activities, teachers listen, observe, and interpret children's behavior.
• Children need uninterrupted periods of time to become involved, investigate, select, and persist at activities.
• Repetition of acquired skills through child-initiated and directed activities is most valuable for full assimilation.
• Children acquire communication skills through hearing and using language, and as adults listen and respond to what they say. (Taken from Dr. John R. Cryan, University of Toledo).

Skills Emphasized

1. Language Development - Reinforcing ability to verbalize thought, ideas, and events.
2. Listening Skills - Hearing simple directions and following through with appropriate action.
3. Large Muscle Development - Climbing, jumping, running, skipping, handling blocks, and balance beam.
4. Fine Muscle Development - Cutting, pasting, use of clay, play-doh, and crayons.
5. Creativity - In arts and crafts, songs and rhythm, stories, games, finger plays, shape and size perception, likes and differences perception.
6. Communication/Social Interaction - Interaction with his/her peers and with adults, how to care and share, and how to work and play together.

Parent Involvement
We welcome parent involvement in the Early Education classroom, and we feel that it benefits the parent and child as well. Parents are encouraged to participate in the classroom as a helper on a regular basis. Parent participation enables the teacher to offer a variety of creative activities for students. Other ways that parents can participate in the Early Education experience are chaperoning on Level III field trips, special-day theme events and much more.

Field Trips
Children enrolled in our Level III program we will be taking periodic field trips. Before departing the school, a count will be taken of all of the children, and they will be marked on a separate attendance sheet, specifically created for the trip. Upon arrival at the destination, another count will be taken to assure that all of the children have safely arrived. This process will be repeated upon leaving the destination and returning to school. During the course of field trips, each staff member will have specific children that they are responsible for supervising. Before any child participates in either a routine or field trip, the school will obtain written permission from the parent or guardian. No child will be allowed to be dropped off or picked up from the field trip destination. Children must leave and return on the school bus under the direct supervision of a staff member.

Special Event Days
Throughout the school year the Early Education staff plans special activity days. Parents are encouraged to participate by helping with the event by providing special snacks or participating in activities.