GOALS OF OUR SCHOOL

Our goal is to implement a well-rounded curriculum that balances the essentials social skills with a solid foundation in academic readiness that speaks to the individual and age-appropriate needs of each child.

Socialization is primary to good early childhood education. Children are encouraged to share, take turns, to listen to others' words, to work and play together. Children should learn to feel confident, competent, and to know that learning is important and fun. By setting up a child-centered environment with many types of creative materials and warm adult guidance, we allow children to express their feelings and ideas through age-appropriate and healthy activities. Respect for one another is stressed. Children do best when reasonable, clear and consistent expectations are set for them. Simple procedures and rules are provided for each class. Children learn to accept the guidance of their teachers and to feel comfortable with the group.

At the same time, activities at North Shore Nursery School are carefully selected to teach academic skills in a fun way. The goal is that children should enjoy school while acquiring the knowledge they will need to be successful learners. Language Arts, the foundation of reading skills are promoted in a print-rich environment. Letters and rhymes, stories, games, discussions, dramatic play and labeling items in the room are a few of the tools we use for hands on learning. Children are encouraged to listen to the sounds that letters make through songs games and rhymes. Their handwriting skills begin with developing small muscle coordination and eye hand coordination as they learn to control a crayon, paint brush or scissors. All of the manipulative toys that are in each of our classrooms help to train those little muscles that must learn to form letters. Math skills are presented with countless counting experiences such as taking attendance by bar graphing with blocks and voting for our favorite story. Building with unit blocks provides geometry and physics as well as opportunities for Social Studies as hospitals, fire stations, farms and train stations are constructed. Learning takes place in ways that children can understand and enjoy. Science is covered in many observations and seasonal activities as well as lessons on magnets, animals, measuring, melting and freezing, floating and sinking, cooking, health and nutrition. Music and Art are enjoyed as creative experiences as well as to reinforce and expand the concepts that are part of the curriculum.