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Our Programs

• Toddler

• Preschool

• Kindergarten Programs

• Optional Programs

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Home > Our Programs > Preschool Program Printable version         

Our preschool program has been developed to ensure positive early experiences with school in order to create positive attitudes towards learning. Our goal is for the children to see themselves as learners, which is accomplished in an atmosphere of cooperation and belonging, and where a sense of feeling capable and courageous can grow.

Linking Letters^®

Building the foundation for your child’s early literacy success

The Preschool Program

Linking Letters combines current literacy research and social-cognitive theories to create an emergent curriculum that embraces individual talents and learning potentials.  This program was created by our Curriculum Coordinator, Catherine Ciardulli RECE, who also works as a Course Director for Mothercraft College in addition to being an educator here in our classrooms.  The Linking Letters program believes that information should be taught to the children in a specific order to promote full comprehension and retention: This makes learning holistic and progressive. Through the use of checklists and assessments we are able to individualize group program plans and create group and individual learning goals. Our emergent theme-based programming is modified accordingly to ensure that learning is organized, objectives are focused, and that information is taught in a way that makes sense to each child. All of our preschool classes follow The Linking Letters program to ensure that all children are being held to the same standards.

Teaching Style: Our goal is for each child to acquire their full learning potential! We are able to do this by making children active within their learning, always building upon previous learnt knowledge, and individualizing our group program plans through the use of checklists and assessments.

Curriculum Style: Our curriculum focuses on addressing the question, “How are you smart?” opposed to asking, “Are you smart?” Because not all children learn the same way, it is important to us to determine how your child learns about the world around them. Once we know how your child learns, we can then utilize that strength and natural ability to foster lesser developed domains.

Behaviour Management: Attached information provides more details on our Adlerian Philosophy and 4 ‘C’s motto.  (Every child needs to feel that they are connected, capable, count and have courage.)

When a child does not feel their 4C’s they are so busy trying to retain them that it interferes with the learning that a child may be capable of.  Therefore, a child who has acquired his 4C’s is a child ready to focus, learn and contribute productively in a class.  Because of this, the social-emotional well-being of a child is always our top priority.

By incorporating the above techniques we are then able to really be Adlerian and help children acquire their 4 C’s. This is because this program teaches children to realize how competent and important they really are: Which is why the children in our classes have thrived so much social-emotionally and academically! Making children active within their learning teaches children how to speak up and share ideas in a way that’s informative and purposeful; this is how we build a sense of connection and foster feelings of importance (count). By teaching children in a way that makes sense to them, we our helping them realize just how capable they are. All of this facilitates an environment that shows children that this is a safe place to learn, grow, laugh and make mistakes; thus promoting feelings of courage.

Literacy Goals: Current literacy research links exposure and experiences with these early literacy skills in preschool to be strongly correlated with later literacy success:

• The Full Function of Letters and Print
• Understand the Purpose of Letters and Print
• Enhancing Expressive/Receptive Language Skills and Building Vocabulary
• Increasing Comprehension, Retention and Critical Thinking Skills

The Linking Letters program incorporates all these experiences within our preschool classes.

© 2010 Catherine Ciardulli RECE Curriculum Coordinator NTEYLC