3 to 5 Years Old
In the Sunflower Sprouts and Redwoods classrooms, you will see children from ages 3 – 5 years old working independently as capable individuals who are familiar with practical life skills such washing hands, serving and feeding themselves, as well as getting dressed independently. Students are also required to be toilet trained by the time they enter our pre-kindergarten classroom. Besides independent activities and projects, the children are often encouraged to work as a group, developing their team work skills and dialogue and communication skills, with teachers present to facilitate positive conversation and planning.
The ratio for the Sunflower Sprouts and Redwoods classrooms, going beyond our DCFS requirements is 3 teachers to 20 students.
Our curriculum at Sprouts Academy has its roots in the emergent curriculum in which students and teachers work together to design mutually-directed activities. As educators, we function to facilitate, observe and document the children’s interests, then incorporate those ideas made possible by the children themselves into teacher-supported learning activities.
Teachers are required to consider the Illinois Early Learning Standards as well as the Teaching Strategies Gold objectives for learning and development when defining the curriculum. For example, Literacy, Math, Science and Art are some of the skill sets that are introduced and practiced throughout the course of the day.
We believe that young children learn best when they are encouraged to ask critical questions then given the opportunity to explore their inquiries through meaningful hands on experiences.
As teachers, we embrace children’s natural curiosity about the world around them as well as fully support their explorations.
Children learn to think about, and reflect on their experiences and projects by reviewing the Reggio Emilia-inspired documentation boards and art gallery walls in the
classroom.
Example Daily Schedule for the 3 to 5 year old classrooms:
- 7:30am School opens
- 8amBreakfast
- 8:30-9:30am Open learning centers, extracurricular activities (music, yoga, foreign language), morning check-in/story time
- 9:30am Morning snack
- 10am Outside Park Adventure
- 11:20am Lunch
- 12:15pm Half-day pick up
- 12:30-2:30pm Nap time
- 2:30pm Afternoon snack
- 2:45-3:30pm Open learning centers and group story time
- 3:30 4pm Monday, Friday Music session
- 4pm Outdoor walk/park adventure
- 5-6pm Open learning centers/afternoon theme activities and stories
- 6pm Full-day pick up, school closes
