| Home | General Information |
|
| Admissions | Classes | |
| Newsletters | Calendar |
Children learn through play and exploration. Good Shepherd Preschool is committed to gently guiding its students’ education during the early years by following developmentally appropriate practices in all areas of the curriculum.
In developing relevant lesson plans, teachers implement curriculum which covers all areas of the developing child – social and emotional development, cognitive development, physical development, and language development. Teachers assess the strengths and needs of each child. Class activities are designed to enhance these strengths and to provide experiences in areas needing reinforcement.
The Maryland State Department of Education recommends that all preschool programs utilize a research based curriculum that aligns with both the new, more demanding national standards and the Maryland Voluntary Curriculum. In July 2008, the Maryland State Department of Education published a list of recommended curriculums which address all areas of the developing child. Good Shepherd Preschool uses two of the recommended curriculum. In specific:
• The Creative Curriculum© is used in Good Shepherd Preschool’s Early Pre-Kindergarten classes. Because the Creative Curriculum© includes material appropriate for preschool students at different stages of development, teachers can tailor the curriculum to meet the needs and abilities of individual classes.
• All Good Shepherd Pre-Kindergarten classes use the Montgomery County Pre-Kindergarten curriculum. Using this curriculum ensures that students who successfully complete a Good Shepherd Pre-Kindergarten class meet or exceed the entrance expectations for success in Kindergarten.
The Daily Program:
Children participate in a variety of activities each day. Circle time includes music, stories, fingerplays, drama, creative movement, science experiments, and math concepts. Centers time provides children the opportunity to choose from the following centers: housekeeping, art, block and construction, games and puzzles, writing, pre-math manipulatives, and computer learning.
The children go outdoors, weather permitting, for thirty minutes each day. On rainy days, the children participate in indoor gross motor activities. Indoor movement activities employ a variety of equipment, including musical instruments and recordings, a balance beam, a parachute, a tunnel, ribbon streamers, and beanbags.
When appropriate, students engage in food preparation as part of cooking/science activities. A daily snack is provided by Good Shepherd during all 2½ hour class sessions. The snack includes 100% fruit juice and crackers or other light snack foods. Class sessions lasting 4 hours include a lunch period during which lunches brought from home are consumed. Good Shepherd provides milk (or soy milk) during the lunch period.
August Class Gatherings:
In late summer, Good Shepherd sponsors class “Gatherings” at local parks or at the Good Shepherd playground. These gatherings provide informal opportunities for children, parents, and teachers to meet one another and to begin forming the relationships which will carry over into the school year.
Open House and Transition to School:
The day before school begins, parents and children are invited to Good Shepherd Preschool to visit the classroom and to become familiar with the environment. The first day of school is a mini-day when students attend in small groups for only 1 hour. For the first few sessions, all Early Pre-Kindergarten classes meet for only 1½ hours per session. This transition period eases the youngest students into school gradually. Pre-Kindergarten students begin their normal class schedule on the second day of school.
Group Music:
Once a week, students participate in group music time. Music time provides experience in a larger group setting, instills a sense of community, and promotes familiarity with other classes.
Chapels:
The Pastors of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and the Good Shepherd Preschool Staff lead students in bi-weekly chapels. During chapels, children experience Christian fellowship through songs, Bible stories and contemporary tales reflecting Christian values. Parents and siblings are welcome to attend these 15-minute programs.
Special Events:
Each year, special programs in language/cultural arts and in science are presented at Good Shepherd Preschool. These on-site “field trips” enhance the classroom curriculum. In addition, Good Shepherd Preschool sponsors the following events which serve to make the school year a memorable experience for both the children and their families (*indicates that parents attend):
Fall Festival*
Thanksgiving Feast
Christmas Chapel and Reception*
Spring Chapel and Reception*
Teddy Bear Picnic
All-School Picnic*
Music and Art Program and Reception*
Last Updated: 01/19/10 10:27 PM