Pre-Kindergarten AT- A - G L A N C E
Why Pre-K? At Echo Horizon School, Pre-K is a warm, nurturing space in which our youngest scholars build self-confidence, develop ownership of their learning, create relationships with adults and students of all ages, recognize themselves as integral members of the school community, and leave the Pre-K year excited about learning. Echo Horizon’s Pre-Kindergarten program is for children who have turned four by September 1st of the school year. Typically, they have outgrown their preschool environment and are ready for more of a challenge. Pre-K may also be appropriate for children who simply want additional time to grow and mature before embarking on their Kindergarten year.
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In Pre-K, our emphasis on social and emotional learning ensures that children gain a deeper understanding of themselves and others. They learn tools for managing strong emotions and for interacting constructively with peers; they know they can make and be a friend. Children go on to Kindergarten with a stronger sense of self-awareness and knowledge of their important role in our school community. - ELLIS ENLOW Pre-K Founding Co-Teacher and Mindfulness Facilitator
CURRICULUM
HABITS OF MIND
HIGHLIGHTS
• An integrated approach in which content—such as Social Studies, Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social/ Emotional Learning—is considered through multiple lenses • Content is explored via Essential Questions, which are designed to support big ideas and concepts • Language Arts: phonics, sight vocabulary, listening skills, printing letters and numbers, beginning writing skills, journaling, and continued reading development • Math: Singapore Math curriculum focusing on number concepts, counting, and patterning • Science and Social Studies: thematic units with many hands-on learning opportunities • Mindfulness program: enhances social and emotional growth by increasing age-appropriate responsibility and independence, improving social skills, and strengthening self-regulation and resilience • Technology: integrated daily by teachers in ageappropriate ways to support learning • i2 Time: experiential learning in centers of Inquiry and Innovation, including STEAM, coding, robotics, and the arts • Cooking: by preparing various recipes, children enjoy cooking and practice social skills, math, and science concepts
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Pre-K students learn about the neighborhood, the city, and the world while building relationships and making connections. Our field trips are designed to deepen children’s understanding of classroom learning.
Self-Awareness Self-Regulation Mindfulness Independence Friendship Kindness Collaboration Curiosity Resilience Decision-Making Interdependence/Community
SPECIALIST CLASSES • • • • • • •
Gardening Program i2 (Inquiry and Innovation) Library Music Performing Arts Sports and Wellness Visual Art
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Santa Monica Farmers Market LACMA Wildlife Learning Center Santa Monica Pier Aquarium Author Visits
SPEAKING & LISTENING • Speak with appropriate tone and volume for situation • Listen and respond to speaker with appropriate answer, comment, or question • Listen to others in a group • Speak on topic during group discussions, with support • Understand and follow three-part oral directions • Make connections between stories and real-life experiences • Become familiar with concepts such as opposite, similarities and differences, and sequencing
Pre-Kindergarten BENCHMARKS PROGRAM
LANGUAGE • Use language and social skills, such as eye contact and speaking another’s name to meet needs • Understand and use category names, such as vehicles, clothing, or vegetables • Use directional prepositions, such as over, under, between, or beside • Demonstrate growth in vocabulary
• Academically rich curriculum that integrates subjects by considering them through multiple lenses • Creative, innovative, hands-on exploratory projects designed especially for our youngest learners • iPads and computers are used to support and enhance learning • Emphasis on social skills including sharing, cooperating, and listening • Focus on social and emotional development • Age-appropriate critical and creative thinking skills, including observation, prediction, and analysis • Motor skill development
SINGAPORE MATH
HUMANITIES
OPERATIONS & ALGEBRAIC THINKING
READING • Recall information in stories and texts that are read aloud • Give thoughtful responses to questions about stories and texts • Identify upper- and lower-case letters of the alphabet • Recognize and generate at least ten letter sounds • Understand that letters of the alphabet are symbols used to make words • Recognize own name in print, as well as some of the names of friends
WRITING • Engage in fine motor activities to aid in beginning writing skills • Independently print own name using uppercase letters • Print all uppercase letters using a model • Print at least half of the uppercase letters independently, without a model • Generate, draw, and dictate ideas and events for student’s journal • Copy simple words to accompany work and play • Print from left to right
NUMBER SENSE & OPERATIONS • Count with one-to-one correspondence, using concrete objects and pictures, at least up to ten • Match a numeral to a quantity, at least up to ten • Represent a number of objects with a written numeral, at least up to ten • Compare sets of objects, at least up to ten, and identify which group has more or less • Demonstrate familiarity with a five-frame and a ten-frame
• Identify, sort, and classify objects or pictures into three groups using one attribute • Identify, extend, and create a simple repeating pattern
MEASUREMENT & DATA • Understand that various tools are used in standard measurement, such as a ruler, cup, or scale • Measure objects using nonstandard units, such as blocks • Compare objects using measurement-related adjectives, such as longer, taller, or heavier • Understand that various tools are used to measure time, such as a calendar, a clock, or an hourglass • Explore shapes, patterns, and graphs and use simple picture graphs to represent and analyze data
GEOMETRY • Recognize and name basic geometric shapes • Identify basic geometric shapes in the environment • Combine basic geometric shapes to make other shapes, pictures, or constructions
3430 McManus Avenue • Culver City, CA 90232 T: (310) 838-2442 • F: (310) 838-0479 • TTY: (310) 202-7201 www.echohorizon.org