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4-Year-Old Program

Curriculum Goals

Whether or not each child has previous preschool experience, teachers lay a foundation of early education for our 4-year-old students. Through a play-based program, routine, and structured activities, teachers will guide children in several areas of development.


Social/Emotional Development

  • Demonstrates ability to adjust to new situations
  • Engages in social interaction/plays with peers
  • Engages in imaginative play/inventive thinking
  • Participates in group time and demonstrates an understanding of rules and social expectations
  • Engages in social problem solving and learns to resolve conflict
  • Seeks adult assistance when needed, follows classroom routines, identifies/labels feelings in self and others

Self-Care/Personal Responsibilty

  • Demonstrates respect and care for classroom materials
  • Participates in clean up, accepts responsibility when asked
  • Takes care of own bathroom/handwashing needs
  • Keeps track of personal belongs at school

Fine Motor Development

  • Cuts without assistance
  • Holds a pencil with ease
  • Begins to make recognizable shapes/letters
  • Manipulates small items, exhibits eye/hand coordination

Gross Motor Development

  • Runs
  • Jumps
  • Hops
  • Gallops
  • Balances
  • Throw/catch a ball

Cognitive Development

  • Observes/examines objects to gather information
  • Demonstrates problem-solving skills
  • Names colors
  • Demonstrates positional words
  • Understands/creates patterns, recognizes/names shapes
  • Recognizes numbers 1- 10
  • Counts objects using one to one correspondence
  • Puts objects in size order
  • Begins to understand simple measurement

Language Development

  • Speech is understandable
  • Communicates in full sentences
  • Answers questions with a complete thought
  • Understands and follows verbal directions of 2 or more steps
  • Recognizes that print carries meaning
  • Recognizes/prints own name
  • Recognizes many alphabet letters/sounds
  • Retells general ideas of stories when asked
  • Recognizes/names opposites/rhyming words
  • Participates in song and movement activities