Philosophy of Early Childhood Education
We believe that the primary responsibility for the education of the child rests with the parents. The purpose of the Early Childhood Department is to provide professional support and guidance in the areas of the spiritual, social, emotional, and academic development of the child. It is the desire of this department to strive toward the following goals:
Spiritual
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To teach the child about God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in an alive and practical way in order that the child may develop a personal relationship with Him.
Social and Emotional
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To develop and train Christian character within the child (Proverbs 22:6)
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To teach the child to be well disciplined and to exercise self-control (Proverbs 29:15,17; II Timothy 3:15-16)
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To teach the child respect for authority and peers which is seen as a training ground for respect for God’s authority and the authority of the Word (Hebrews 13:17)
Academic
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To cause the children to thirst after the knowledge of God, His world, and His will for their lives and to increase in wisdom (Proverbs 2)
It is our belief that God has a special plan and purpose for each of our lives. Through building line upon line and precept upon precept, we propose to lay a foundation from which each child might realize who he is in Christ and what his God-given talents, gifts, and abilities are.
PRE-SCHOOL
Three year-old program
Students must be three by September 30th and be completely "potty trained" to be enrolled in the Three year-old Pre-School Program. Three year- olds are very active and have an intense curiosity for their surroundings. They experience those surroundings through play, using their senses and their bodies. Our Three year-old Pre-School is designed to harness that curiosity and energy into productive learning experiences through age appropriate sensory motor activities.
Our curriculum is divided into four quarters, based on the theme of the four seasons. With the coming of each new season our young students will embark on a new adventure. They will hear new stories, engage in crafts, learn readiness skills, and basic math concepts, sing songs, and play games all centered around Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring.
Language Development- Reading classic children's literature to the three year-old is crucial in developing both language skills and a love of reading. Both are necessary in developing successful readers in the years soon to come.
Arts & Crafts- Age appropriate arts and crafts provide the three-year old with practice in developing fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and creativity.
Reading Readiness- As the three-year old becomes increasingly curious about letters, he is provided with simple phonics games, activities, and manipulatives that teach recognition, increase comfort, and instill confidence in the print medium.
Basic Math Concepts- Three-year old children manipulate their surroundings through play. At the same time they are learning basic math concepts such as problem solving through puzzles, spatial relationships through blocks, counting and so on.
Music & Movement- The three year-old has a short attention span and needs to keep moving. Movement activities not only provide for this need but also strengthen large muscle control. Music adds to the movement experience by adding mood, expression, and opportunity to teach rhythm exercises.
Bible- Young children love to listen to Bible stories! These timeless stories teach valuable character traits, which help youngsters understand who God is and how God wants us to treat one another.
PRE-KINDERGARTEN
Reading Readiness
Four year-old program
Students must be four by September 30th to be enrolled in the four year-old Pre-Kindergarten Program. The focus in our Pre-Kindergarten is reading readiness. Readiness is a developmental process, different for every child. Neurological, psychological, and intellectual maturation, experience, and even gender are factors that may influence reading readiness. Readiness occurs at different ages in different children. One cannot wait for readiness, nor can it be accelerated. It must be provided through proper environment and activities through both the home and school experience. Our Pre-Kindergarten curriculum is designed to help the four-year old develop his/her beginning reading skills to the fullest potential.
Our curriculum is divided into eighteen, two-week thematic units. Our Pre-K students continue to develop language skills by exploring the world around them. At the same time they are being introduced to more disciplined phonics instruction. Maturing attention spans also allow students to begin engaging in traditional seatwork. Arts, crafts, play, story time, movement, and music continue to be important parts of the four year-old curriculum as well.
Language Development- Thematic units, ranging from transportation to dinosaurs, give students the opportunity to explore and learn about their world, develop language skills through storytelling, and increase in both speaking and listening vocabulary.
Arts and Crafts- Increasing fine motor skills and eye hand coordination allow students to use simple tools such as scissors and pencils.
Reading Readiness- Our program uses a systematic phonics approach in teaching the sound/symbol relationship of all consonants and the five short vowels, laying a strong foundation for emerging readers. Students will also be able to recognize all capital and lowercase letters as well as explore letter formation.
Mathematics- The mathematics curriculum uses a hands-on approach in teaching number concepts. We use manipulatives to strengthen a young child's concrete perception of numbers, 1-20, and their corresponding symbols. We also introduce adding, sequencing, patterning, sorting, directionality, and shapes.
Music & Movement- An important part of our day, RCS recognizes the four year-old as active and in need of developmentally appropriate exercises that will strengthen gross motor skills. The curriculum is designed to include games, exercises, and music activities that will achieve this purpose.
Bible- Students will learn that we can have a relationship with God as well as proper relationships with one another. Students will also be introduced to the biblical character traits of listening, faith, forgiveness, joy, orderliness, sharing, giving, fairness, and loyalty.
Sample Four year-old Pre-Kindergarten Daily Routine
7:40-8:05 Arrival
8:05-8:20 Centers, Prayer, Pledges
8:20-8:40 Bible (May include stories, music, or dance)
8:40-8:55 Language Experience
8:55-9:10 Phonics
9:10-9:25 Math
9:25-9:45 Restroom Break and Snack
9:45-10:45 Learning Centers
10:45-11:00 Story time
11:00 Dismissal
*Special – Library once a week
Teacher will also include activities such as show and tell, library, music, crafts, games, and movement in the above schedule during the appropriate lessons.
KINDERGARTEN
The Beginning Reading Program
Children must be at least five years old by September 30th. Preferably boys should be five and a half. Children will be tested to determine reading readiness. Class performance will also be a factor. All factors will be weighed in determining acceptance into the Beginning Reading Program… social, emotional, and academic. Children will be evaluated periodically during the program and adjustments will be made as necessary.
Our learning environment is positive, encouraging, and well disciplined. We stress character development. Academics are taught in accordance with a Christian World View.
Bible
The Kindergarten Bible curriculum is designed to impart character development to children. Students will see God as the source and strength of character and will be encouraged to both worship and admire Him. Kindergarten Bible meets five days a week for 15 minutes each session.
Students will be able to define the following and demonstrate an understanding in each of the following character traits:
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Obedience: |
Joshua 24:24; Ephesians 6:1 |
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Godly self-image: |
Phillipians 4:13; Luke 18:27 |
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Thankfullness: |
Psalm 118:28; I Thessalonians 5:18 |
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Love: |
I Corinthians 16:14; John 13:34 |
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Honesty: |
Proverbs 12:22; Leviticus 19:11 |
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Perserverence: |
Ecclesiastes 9:10; Timothy 4:22 |
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Friendship: |
Proverbs 17:17; Proverbs 18:24 |
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Kindness: |
Isaiah 41:6; Ephesians 4:32 |
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Growing in Christ: |
Colossians 2:6-7; Peter 3:18 |
Phonics/Reading/Language
The Kindergarten Phonics, Reading, and Language program builds phonetically line upon line and precept upon precept, laying a strong foundation for emerging readers. The program also incorporates building a basic sight word vocabulary, oral fluency, and strongly emphasizes comprehension of what is read. We understand our God is a God of communication and it is through the reading process that we will come to understand His Word, the Bible.
The combined Phonics, Reading, and Language program meets for 45 minutes a day, five days a week.
The student will be able to demonstrate mastery of the following skills:
- Short vowels
- Consonants
- Blend consonant and vowel sounds
- Sound out one and two vowel words
- Mark words appropriately
- Recognize consonant blends
- Engage in passage reading
- Develop fluency and expression
- Comprehend what is read
- Recognize targeted sight words
- Apply proper use of punctuation when passage reading
Mathematics
The Kindergarten mathematics program lays a foundation for development of both math skills and concepts. Skills are developed through drill and practice. Concepts are stressed through the use of manipulatives. Children will recognize God as a God of order and reason through application of mathematics in creation. Mathematics is taught five days a week in 30 minute periods.
By the year’s end the student will demonstrate mastery in each of the following areas:
- Identify location according to position
- Sort objects according to same characteristics
- Count money and recognize the value of dimes, nickels, and pennies
- Tell time to the hour
- Sequence objects and events
- Recognize simple geometrical shapes
- Compare units of measurement
- Add and subtract sums through ten
- Count, recognize, and write numbers 1-100
- Count by 2s, 5s, and 10s
- Read a calendar
Penmanship
The Kindergarten Penmanship Curriculum is designed to enable students to effectively communicate using the written word. Penmanship is correlated very closely with the Reading, Phonics, and Language Curriculum. Penmanship is taught for 15 minutes each day, five days a week for the entire year.
The student will be able to demonstrate the following:
- Recognize writing is a gift from God used to communicate His Word
- Properly form all Capital and lower case letters
- Properly form numerals
- Properly form basic punctuation
- Enjoy writing for others
- Enjoy writing by others
- Print first and last name
- Use knowledge of phonics to write words, sentences, and short stories
Sample 1/2 day Kindergarten Daily Routine
Arrival: 8:05
8:05-8:15 Pledges
8:15-8:30 Bible
8:30-9:15 Phonics/Penmanship
9:15-9:45 Math
9:45-10:00 Snack/Story
10:00-10:30 Reading Groups/Learning Centers
10:30-11:00 Specials (Physical Education, Art, and Music)
11:00-11:05 Dismissal
We also offer a full day of Kindergarten.
Specials
Library: Students meet once a week in the school library and are permitted to check out books.
Physical Education: Students meet twice a week in the gymnasium for 30 minutes.
Music: Students meet once a week in the music room for 30 minutes.
Art: Students meet once a week in the art room for 30 minutes.
Spanish: Students meet once a week for 30 minutes.
Science Lab: Students meet once a week for 20-30 minutes.