9 am – 12 pm Monday- Thursday
Our PreK 3 program is thoughtfully designed to build upon the foundation established in our PreK 2 classroom. As children grow in confidence and independence, we gradually introduce more structured learning experiences while continuing to preserve what young children need most—plenty of opportunities for hands-on exploration, imaginative play, and joyful discovery.
With a balance of teacher-guided instruction and child-led free play, our classroom helps children develop the social, emotional, and academic skills they need for future success.
Learning Through Play and Structure
Children continue to spend much of their day learning through play. During free play, they develop creativity, problem-solving skills, language, cooperation, and friendships. Throughout the year, we gradually increase the amount of structured learning time, helping children build the attention span and classroom routines that prepare them for PreK 4 and beyond.
Circle Time
Circle time begins as a short, engaging group activity and gradually increases in length throughout the school year as children are developmentally ready.
During circle time, we explore:
- Calendar and daily routines
- Weather observations
- Colors and shapes
- Numbers and counting
- Letter recognition and early literacy
- Songs, stories, movement, and class discussions
Small Group Learning
Each day, children participate in small-group activities with the teacher or classroom assistant. Working with just 1–3 children at a time allows us to meet each child’s individual needs while encouraging participation and confidence.
Small-group activities may include:
- Arts and crafts
- Science explorations
- Math games
- Fine motor activities
- Literacy experiences
- Hands-on learning centers
Building School Readiness
PreK 3 is an exciting year as children begin developing many of the skills they will use throughout their school years.
Children practice:
- Pre-writing skills at their individual developmental level
- Using crayons, markers, pencils, and other classroom materials
- Learning to cut safely with child-sized scissors
- Using glue and other school supplies independently
- Following multi-step directions
- Cleaning up and caring for classroom materials
Monthly Science Explorations
Our science curriculum encourages curiosity and hands-on discovery through engaging monthly themes, including:
- Apples
- Pumpkins
- Leaves and Trees
- The Five Senses
- Animals in Winter
- Winter Weather
- Plants
Children observe, investigate, ask questions, and explore the world around them through age-appropriate experiments and activities.
Social-Emotional Growth
Developing social and emotional skills is one of the most important parts of our program.
Children learn to:
- Recognize and name their emotions
- Develop healthy ways to handle big feelings
- Build friendships
- Practice kindness and empathy
- Take turns and cooperate with others
- Grow in confidence and independence
Our teachers gently guide children as they develop self-help skills and become more capable of managing classroom routines on their own.
Show and Tell
Regular Show and Tell gives every child an opportunity to build confidence while practicing important communication skills.
Children learn how to:
- Speak in front of a group
- Take turns listening and sharing
- Ask thoughtful questions
- Answer questions from classmates
- Build confidence in expressing themselves
Early Academic Skills
Throughout the year, children continue building a strong academic foundation by developing:
- Color recognition
- Shape recognition
- Letter recognition
- Number recognition
- Counting skills
- Vocabulary and language development
- Listening and following directions
Learning is presented through games, songs, stories, movement, and hands-on activities that make education fun and meaningful.
A Small Classroom Community
Our PreK 3 classroom has a maximum of 15 children with one lead teacher and one classroom assistant. This small class size allows us to build meaningful relationships with each child while providing individualized support and encouragement throughout the day.
Potty Training
Children entering the PreK 3 program should be potty trained or very close to being fully potty trained. We understand that every child develops at their own pace, and occasional accidents are expected. Families should be actively working to complete the potty-training process at home so children can confidently participate in all classroom activities.
Preparing for the Next Step
Our PreK 3 program nurtures the whole child by balancing structured learning with purposeful play. Through engaging academics, meaningful social experiences, and opportunities to build independence, children leave the year confident, curious, and well prepared for the exciting challenges of PreK 4.