Preschool Program

Monthly themed calendars are created for the teachers to produce weekly lesson plans. These themes are used center wide, but the activities and lessons are curated and adapted to be developmentally appropriate.

The North Dakota Early Learning Guidelines (ELG) are incorporated in these weekly lesson plans. These are research-based, measurable descriptions of things we expect young children to be able to do at each age and stage in development. Guidelines are a road map for planning, carrying out, and evaluating how effective we have been in reaching our goals. Another important aspect of ELG is that they are designed to align with public school content and standards and expectations. By designing our program around the Creative Curriculum and the ELG, we are helping children develop the skills, knowledge, and dispositions needed for a smooth transition into kindergarten. 

Developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) provides children with opportunities to learn and perform newly acquired skills. It offers the context of a community where children are safe and valued, where their physical needs are met, and where they feel psychologically secure. DAP means teaching in ways that match the way children develop and learn as set forth by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

The Creative Curriculum highlights the important balance between applying a general knowledge of child development with the particular knowledge a teacher gains by forming a relationship with each child and family. Creative Curriculum supports children's academic progress while respecting the way they grow and develop. It encourages children to experiment, explore, and pursue their own interests. The philosophy behind our curriculum is that young children learn best by doing. Learning isn't just repeating what someone else says; it requires active thinking and experimenting to find out how things work and to learn firsthand about the world we live in.

The most important goal of our early childhood curriculum is to help children become enthusiastic learners. This means encouraging children to be active and creative explorers who are not afraid to try out their ideas and to think their own thoughts. Our goal is to help children become independent, self-confident, and inquisitive learners.