Curriculum

The infant class is for children 3 - 12 months of age. The toddler class is for children who will turn one year of age by September 1 of the current school year.  The goal of this class is to provide an environment of love and security for both the child and the parent.  For most children this will be the first experience to be in a preschool setting.  We recognize that adjustments are needed for the child and the parent. We try to make this first separation a happy experience for each family.  There are 2 teachers in each classroom.   In these classes there is a lot of holding, singing and listening to music, rocking, playing with toys, puzzles, and looking at picture books.  The schedule is sensitive to the needs of each individual child.  The schedule is made around the child’s schedule of eating, sleeping, and playing.

 

The Two Year Old Class is for children who turn two years of age by September 1.  It is designed to give structured play experience with others of the same age.  This class works hard to help children develop socially.  Children learn to play with others, to learn how to share, and are encouraged to use the imagination and creativity that God gave them. Simple craft projects are planned. Our teachers allow the children to do the work for themselves as much as possible.  Artwork may not always be recognizable--the important thing is the child is proud of their work. 

 

Weekly units are planned, but the schedule is flexible with indoor and outdoor play, work, and a snack.  Every child will be challenged but no child will be pushed to do something for which they are not developmentally ready.  Each child is accepted where he or she is.  Children are made to feel good about themselves through activities that are challenging but allow for success.  Teaching and learning takes place in a variety of ways.  Activities include: music, art, blocks, books, home living, nature center, observation, number introduction, celebrating holidays, birthdays, and other special occasions, alphabet introduction, and free play in the room and playground. Two-year-olds are learning to become more independent and appropriate choices are provided to build self-esteem in making right choices.

 

The two-year-old is also being potty trained.  Our teachers work with the parents on this goal.  Let our teachers know the system you are using to train your child.  It will help the child to have consistency at home and at school.  Remember, children must be potty trained when entering our three year old classes.

 

It is a big step for three-year-olds as they begin to experience more independence.  While experiencing independence for the first time, the child needs an environment that is safe and secure. At Hebron DaySchool, children are provided the opportunity to experience making safe appropriate choices. The Three Year Old classes help children grow and adjust socially.  Some of the social skills that the three year old will experience are sharing, listening, helping others, to take care of our things, and learning to relate to other children and their teacher.

 

Gross motor skills which are stressed during the year are things such as running, hopping, throwing and catching a ball, and balance.  Fine motor skills include learning how to button, zipping, folding paper, and cutting with scissors.  The three-year-old is also introduced to Language Arts.  The child will be given many experiences to help him learn how to hold a pencil correctly, copying letters, shapes, numbers, and their own name.  Math and Science skills are introduced in a manner that is fun.  Children will have opportunities to learn parts of the body, the seasons, days of the week, matching colors, shapes, and sequencing.  

 

The most important thing teachers give each child is LOVE.  Next to love, the teacher provides numerous opportunities for the child to develop a desire to find out more about his or her world.  The teacher uses the child’s natural curiosity to help him or her learn.  Opportunities are provided to help a child gain confidence in him or herself.  Whatever the activity is that the child is engaged in, he or she is learning. 

 

Weekly units are designed to broaden the four-year-old’s knowledge of things with which he or she is already familiar.  In addition, he or she will learn through many new experiences. The four-year-old will build upon the knowledge learned in the three-year-old class.  The child will develop the ability to repeat and participate in Nursery Rhymes, fingerplays, counting with objects, recite their phone number and address.  Also in Language Arts the four-year-old will learn to recognize words with same sounds, different sounds, rhyming words, and words with same beginning sounds.

 

We recognize that children develop at different levels.  Children have different interests.  We work to help each child learn who they are in God's image.  Parent conferences are held in the spring of each year. However, teachers are always willing to meet with parents to discuss any concerns a parent may have.

 

Our world is changing greatly.  Public schools are requiring more of students in the first grade.  We take our job very seriously to prepare your child.  The kindergarten classroom is set up very similar to a public school classroom. We follow the standards and goals set forth by the SC Department of Education to insure that your child will be ready for first grade.

 

The teacher in this classroom is required to have a current teacher certification with the South Carolina Department of Education.  The five year old is a year of transition.  They are leaving the preschool years behind and heading toward early childhood.  This transition is handled in a very supportive manner.  The five year olds are given more independence to do their work, yet a loving teacher is right there to give them the support and encouragement needed.  While still allowed to be a preschooler the emphasis in the classroom shifts from learning through play to learning in a more structured environment.

 

Hebron Day School is proud of it’s art program.  Rebecca Weber is has a degree in art education and has been teaching art at Hebronfor over 10 years.   The first few years of lifeare the most vital in a child’s development. Art can contribute a tremendous amount to this development.  Art education has become recognized as animportant part of the curriculum. Although the early marks that children make on paper may not make much sense to adults, these scribbles are an important part of growth and needs encouragement.  Touching, feeling, and manipulating the art materials are learning in itself.  This is why art education should start at the preschool age. Two and three year olds goto art every other week for thirty minutes. The four and fives go to art every week for thirty minutes.  One thing that we feel strongly about at Hebron Day School is that everything the child produces inart will be his or her own original work. Children will be taught how to cut, paint, draw, and use other art mediums for themselves. The students will be introduced to three aspects of artistic learning.

1.  Studio Art, which is the actual activityperformed by the child, the end product such as a painting or drawing.  The child will be introduced to sculpture,ceramics, weaving, or collage and printmaking.

2.  Art History – learning techniques of famousartist of past and present.

3.  Art Criticism – teaching young children toobserve works of art.  This teachesvisual and verbal literacy.

God’s love and His creation can be shared through art.  We know that children will benefit greatly from their time in art class.  At the end of each school year we have a school wide art show where all children have the opportunity to share their work with others.

 

Recent studies have shownthat when children are introduced to music at an early age it has an impact on success in school later in life. The music program offered at Hebron Day School gives the opportunity for children to express thoughts and feelings, learn musical concepts, and learn how to perform in public.  Through songs children learn about God and His world.  They also learn to tell stories with songs as they work on musicals that are presented in the fall and spring.   The music program at Hebron Day School lays the foundation for a knowledge andlove of all music types.  The students are exposed to different instruments and types of music.  Our goal is for the preschoolers to have an opportunity to learn that music is more than singing.