Curriculum/Themes

Joy School

I have chosen to use the Joy School curriculum and philosophy, which was created by Linda and Richard Eyre.  They are Christian authors who have written several parenting books, including a National Bestseller Teaching Your Children Values.  I love the philosophy the Joy School because it builds the curriculum around joy and offering wonderful experiences for children, but not pushing academics on them.  We don't need to force kids to write letters, but expose them to learning letters, colors, and let the children have joy in the process of learning. Here is the official website with more information about the curriculum, including a sample lesson, and more details about their philosophy: http://www.joyschools.com/

During preschool, there is singing time, story time, crafts (almost every day), sensory activities, discussions about the weather, and time to play.  I've enriched the curriculum with monthly themes and activities that relate to the season.

Sample Preschool Schedule:
9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. - Kids arrive, free play time inside and outside. Practice sharing toys, saying please and thank you.
9:30 a.m. - 9:35 a.m. - Use the bell to cue children to line up before going into the singing time room
9:35 a.m. - 10:05 a.m. - Singing time and the weather
10:05 a.m. - 10:25 a.m. - Free time play, play outside
10:25 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. - Clean up toys with clean up song
10:30 a.m. - 11:10 a.m. - Learning centers, which are stations for guided crafts, learning based activities, dramatic play, and building activities.  We often do play dough stations related to the month's theme and then a center (like Tinker toys, Building blocks, Color Sorting etc.)
11:10 a.m. - 11:50 p.m. - Wash hands, eat lunch and have "Story time."  At least one book is usually related to the theme. 
11:50 a.m.-12:00 p.m. - Wash hands, clean up lunches
12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m. Unstructured playtime outside or inside.  We often go outside and play games like "Red Light, Green Light," or "Hide and Seek."
12:30-12:45 p.m. - Parents come pick up their children
The "cubby" hooks for lunches, and backpacks.
What to bring?  Bring a backpack with:

 -A Lunch and drink
-Extra Clothes
-Diapers (I will provide wipes)

I expect the parents to bring a lunch with a drink for the kids, as well as diapers or extra clothes they might need.  This can all be placed in a small backpack or bag that you will bring each time.  I provide aprons for messy crafts, but may need an extra pair of pants for potty training, etc.  I most likely will not refrigerate the lunch and will leave it on the "cubby" hooks until lunch time.  I recommend having an insulated lunch bag to keep drinks cold, especially milk.
Tentative Year Theme Schedule 2014-2015:

June-July: Ocean, Beach, and Water
August: Colors
September: Transportation
October: Halloween and Fantasy
November: Animals, Thanksgiving and Letters
December: Christmas and begin Winter and Snow
January:Winter and Snow
February: Hearts and Shapes
March: Dramatic/Imaginative Play and Naming the Body
April: Weather, Dinosaurs and Numbers
May: Plants, Flowers, Bugs and the Outdoors and Letters
SINGING TIME!

Each song has a picture, and each child gets a turn picking a song to sing.
Most of the songs have actions, but some have added props, like little lambs for the kids to hold during "Mary Had A Little Lamb."  The egg shakers are for "Do As I'm Doing" and the ribbons are like streams for "Row, Row, Row Your Boat."
The kids help put the pictures of the songs up on the board.
Singing Time Song List

Mary Had a Little Lamb
Row Row Row Your Boat
Where Is Thumbkin?
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
It's Raining It's Pouring
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Ring Around the Rosie
Popcorn Song
Snowman Song
Once There Was a Baby
Do As I'm Doing
ABCs
Itsy Bitsy Spider
If You're Happy And You Know It
I'm So Glad When Daddy Comes Home
I'm a Little Teapot
The Wheels on the Bus
The "Elephant Song"
Wee Willie Winkie
Goosey Goosey Gander
Baa Baa Black Sheep
Jack and Jill
BINGO
The Ants Go Marching
Jingle Bells
London Bridges Falling Down
Hickory Dickory Dock
Hot Cross Buns
Pat A Cake
Pease Poridge Hot
Happy Birthday
Rock a Bye Baby
One, Two, Buckle my Shoe
Humpty Dumpty
Old MacDonald Had a Farm
Days of the Week Song

Academically, we explore:
  • Numbers and Counting 1-10
  • Letters
  • Colors, Shapes and Objects (Naming the Body)
  • Cutting and Drawing
  • Socializing and Sharing
I really love this article on "What You Kid Will Learn In Preschool."  
http://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/starting-preschool/curriculum/what-your-child-should-learn-in-preschool/
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