Classes
Ones
In the One-Year-Old Classes, children are given the opportunity to play, listen, and learn in a loving and supportive environment. Children play indoors and outside, participate in stories, interact with songs, and develop fine motor skills through painting, coloring, and crafts. Children enjoy lunch at school and are encouraged to nap at the end of the day.
In the One’s Class, children will learn to:
Develop a sense of trust with someone other than a family member.
Recognize colors, shapes, and other basic concepts.
Participate in “Baby Doll Circle Time”, a program that provides experiences that promote attachment, attunement, attention, self-regulation, working memory, empathy, and social play required for optimal brain development.
Understand the concept of who Jesus is and that He loves and cares for them.
Twos
The Two-Year-Old classes foster a sense of growing independence while working on fine and gross motor skills. Children will develop language skills through exposure to books, music, circle time, and creative play. They will also learn to interact with peers and adults one-to-one as well as in small and large group activities. The Two-Year-Olds enjoy outdoor play, snack, and lunch at school and are encouraged to nap at the end of the day.
In the Two’s Class, children will learn to:
Follow one and two step directions.
Follow classroom routines and a daily schedule.
Successfully transition throughout the day.
Participate in fun, developmentally-appropriate activities.
Learn about God’s creation, His love for them, and how special they are to Him.
Participate in “Baby Doll Circle Time,” a program that provides experiences that promote attachment, attunement, attention, self-regulation, working memory, empathy, and social play required for optimal brain development.
Threes
In the Three-Year-Old classes, teachers plan theme-based activities throughout the month. Threes are an age when we encourage friendships and kindness towards others through God's teachings. The Three-Year-Old program encourages children to talk through problems and frustrations in a safe environment. Independence is encouraged through daily classroom jobs as well as taking care of personal belongings.
In the Three’s Class, children will learn:
Pre-literacy and emergent reading skills through nursery rhymes, poetry, and songs.
Early and emergent math skills that lay a foundation for conceptual understanding, procedural skills and fluency, and the ability to solve problems.
Executive functioning skills that encourage children to play and work cooperatively.
Healthy habits through outdoor exercise and physical activity.
Classroom behaviors that lay the foundation for future school success.
Pre-K
The Pre-K classes use the Morning Welcome, Center Time, and free play to develop the socialization skills of sharing, taking turns, and making friends. Pre-K children learn to take responsibility for the jobs assigned each day as well as their personal belongings. Our goal is to develop a well-rounded, Christ-centered student with a solid foundation that will prepare each child for successful future academic and spiritual endeavors.
Circle Time develops:
Listening skills.
Group discussion skills.
Basic phonetic awareness.
Letter recognition.
Pre-literacy skills through the “Let’s Begin with the Letter People” curriculum.
Math skills through the “Every-day Mathematics for Pre-K.”
Center Time helps develop concepts and skills for visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners. Activities are designed to meet each child’s needs on a developmentally-appropriate level.
Outdoor Play develops gross motor skills through exercise and physical activity. It is a time for large group interaction and cooperation.
Specials
Chapel
Children in the Threes, Pre-K, and Kindergarten have chapel once a week for an interactive Bible based lesson. The Children’s Pastor, Kim Eskridge and Teri Stewart, Director of Weekday Childhood Ministry, lead the children as they sing and move to music, listen to a Bible story as it unfolds on the flannel board and pray. Bible stories are developmentally appropriate and have been chosen to highlight the fact that God loves us and is always there for us. Each week the children receive a story sheet and a small item that relates to the Chapel story.
Music
All children attend music class once a week. Children love the repetitiveness of songs and moving in a wide variety of ways to explore all their bodies can do. Music Class is an action-packed time where they listen to, sing with and move to different types of music. Children will also use a variety of instruments and other manipulatives to learn about rhythm and motion. They will use music to learn fast and slow, loud and soft, and high and low. One of the most memorable events of the year is the Christmas Concert where all classes perform for family and friends in the FBCA Worship Center.
Science
The Science teacher meets with every class once weekly. Children develop scientific knowledge as they observe the world around them, ask questions, make predictions and reflect upon their experiences. As learners, our students are powerful thinkers and theory makers who are naturally curious. The science program at FBCA Weekday Childhood Ministry allows the children to explore and observe through group lessons and individual inquiry. Classes may be held in the classroom or outside as weather and the topic of study permits.