Pre-Kindergarten

Mrs. Salmon teaches one Pre-Kindergarten class Monday through Thursday mornings.  For more detailed information, select a topic from the menu on her homepage, or contact her directly at [email protected].

 

Here is a little information about early learning:

 

Early education in Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten

During the early and formative years of a child's development, it is important to nurture and encourage proper growth and development. Research shows the amazing fact that in the first five years of life, a child develops 90% of his/her adult-size brain.

Early education in both Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten levels at St. Louise prepares students socially and academically for structured classroom learning. Not only does early education during the ages of 4-5 years ignite social development and literacy skills, but fosters math and science proficiency as well.

Socially, early childhood education in Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten allows children to interact with their peers in a fun and exploratory environment. Students practice basic social development skills such as cooperation with others, sharing, taking turns, and conflict resolution. Most essentially, children begin to understand the concept of belonging to a larger community comprised of all types of people with differing points of view.

Literacy skills taught in Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten are the basic building blocks of learning reading and writing. Students begin to recognize letters, practice sounds each letter makes which leads to the ability to spell and write their own name.

Students begin to recognize numbers and learn basic math skills as well. They practice telling time, learn about different units of measure such as minutes, hours, and days of the week. An introduction to science is achieved through many exploratory means such as plant and animal life, the five senses, weather, and seasons.

Typically at St. Louise, teachers at the Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten have students participate in simple experiments and experiences to learn the concepts of observation and of questioning outcomes. In addition, students write or speak about their experience to practice Language Arts and Reading.  A prime example of Kindergarten students learning concepts through hands-on experience is shown here with their visit from Animal Encounters, in Redmond.  http://www.animalencounters.com .  The experience reinforced their study of spring and baby animals taught with the assistance of a science Foss Kit. Students held baby rabbits and discussed baby chicks. They also handled other animals like a Wallaby, pigs, goats, and a chicken.