4’s PreschoolRevised 2011

CHILD CARE PROGRAM PLAN

Berean Education Center is licensed by the Department of Human Services to serve children 33 months (toilet trained) to 12 years old. The total enrollment at BEC is approximately 110 children, (license capacity 85 children at a time).

Day Care and School Age hours are 6:30 am to 6:00 PM Monday through Friday.Preschool, Pre-K hours are:

AM class - 9:30 - 11:55, PM class 12:35 - 3:00.

BEC is dedicated to support and augment the training in the home which we believe was ordained by God to be carried out by loving parents (Deut. 6:7). Our qualified staff is here to offer expert guidance for each child to grow physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, and spiritually in a loving setting.

BEC is a center with a Christian staff committed to the principles of love and excellence. Our experienced teachers will reflect God's love through social and emotional values and units appropriate to your child's age.

Your child will always be supervised by a skilled teacher or teacher assistant who will give him/her the freedom to explore his/her room filled with educational toys and preschool learning materials.

The Berean Education Center will seek to model and educate toward basic Christian principles in the following areas:

1. Developing a positive self-concept in relation to God and others;2. Appreciation of God's creation;3. Discipline;4. Pre-reading skills;5. Pre-math skills;6. Large and small motor development;7. Art and music appreciation and involvement;

BEC is committed to work hand in hand with you for your child's growth and development. We regard discipline as a part of the total relationship between each staff member and his/her group of children. We believe that when children engage in an enjoyable activity, discipline problems are at a minimum. Harsh or threatening methods will not be used. Instead, encouragement and praise will be used along with firm and loving correction and guidance.

Conferences are held twice a year. During this conference time your child's teacher will inform you of your child's emotional, intellectual, physical, social, and spiritual progress. This information will be documented and in your child's file. This child care program plan is available for review by parents upon request.

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4 Year Old Flexible Daily Schedule

9:30 - 9:45 Arrival time (small manipulatives, science table)

9:45 - 10:20 Opening (calendar, pledge and songs, Bible words, Unit discussion) Project

10:20 - 10:50 Free Choice Play

10:50 - 11:10 Bathroom and snack

11:10 - 11:30 Music and RhythmsStoryGroup Readiness/Alphabet Time

11:30 - 11:50 Gym or outside

11:55 Dismissal

This schedule may change according to children’s needs.

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Intellectual Development

Goals

Provide an environment where learning, thinking and experimenting are fostered.Children learn to recognize basic colors, shapes, numbers and sounds and letters.

Objectives

To better understand colors, shapes, numbers and sounds and letters.To increase visual perception by matching shapes.To establish a basis for understanding math by naming numbers.To recall data necessary to name colors.Help children problem solve.Expose children to a variety of activities to promote curiosity and creativity.Exploring senses.

Activities

Matching games for shapes, numbers, and letters.Color and shape bingo.Science activities-color mixing, color paddles, magnets, prisms, feel boxes, experiments etc.Books and storytelling.Calendar- saying the days of the week, counting the days.PuzzlesManipulativesFollow 3-part directionsListen to stories and participate in discussion questionsBegin to copy or print own name

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Social Development

Goals

To teach a child how to interact with other children and adults.To help a child learn to share with other children in the class.To prepare a child for Kindergarten.

Objectives

Listen quietly while someone else is talking.Raise hand for turn to talk, not interrupting.Sit without bothering neighbor.Find place in line.Follow directions.Be willing to share.Willing to help in clean up activities.

Activities

Each child will have a special day that they are able to share things about him/herselfChildren will be exposed to a wide variety of materials and experiences, such as,Show and tell, free playScience experimentsField trips

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Emotional Development

Goals

Each child would feel good about him/herself and the children around him/her.Develop a positive self - image.Demonstrate increasing self – direction and independence

Objectives

Easy and happy separation from mom and dad.Begin to show self-regulation to handle emotions appropriatelyBegin to show confidence in own abilities

Activities

Free play, singing, projects, discussions & games, in a physical environment, using a schedule and routine, which promotes self-control and self-regulation.The Name Game. The Pledge of Allegiance, Bible Stories, & discussion.Bible Verses and discussion & Finger Plays.

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Spiritual Development

Goals

Develop a positive self concept in relationship to God and othersDevelop a relationship with GodUnderstand God’s loveRealize God made each person specialTo give each child consistent, firm, loving controlDevelop a sense of belonging to God’s family

Objectives

Learn about God’s loveLearn about God’s worldModel Christian principlesLearn about Jesus, God’s son

Activities

Bible versesBible storiesUnderstanding of the meaning of Christmas, Jesus birthUnderstanding of Easter, the resurrection

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Physical Development

Goals

Move through space safely.Development of a variety of large motor skills and small motor skills.Create an atmosphere in which each child can reach his/her potential.

Objectives

Develop basic motor skills.Develop small motor skills.Develop eye/hand coordination.Foster group cooperation.Encourage a positive self image.

Activities

Games for hopping and gallopingPrinting nameCuttingColoringPuzzlesSmall manipulativePlaying group gamesBall bouncing, catching, throwing.Paintingstirring

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Possible Field Trips

September Applewood Apple Orchard

October Richardson Nature Center

November Cub Foods, Apple Valley andKinderkonzert

December None

January Galaxie Library

February Mailbox at Byerly’s

March Science Museum

April Minneapolis Institute of Arts and Firemen visit B.E.C.

May None

Field Trips that require bus transportation will be scheduled in the morning and both a.m. and p.m. classes will go at the same time. This is because the busses need to be back to cover the normal public school routes.

Visitors to our Classroom

Firemen, fire truck and rescue truckMoms or Dads who would like to share their occupations or special interests with us – Dentist, Nurse, Doctor, Musicians, etc.

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Monthly Bible Words and Story

Sept. Bible Words “Do what is right and good.” Deut. 6:18Story Adam and Eve

Oct. Bible Words “God made everything beautiful.” Ecc. 3:11Story Joseph

Nov. Bible Words “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good.” Ps.136:1Story Thankfulness to God and story of the 10 lepers.

Dec. Bible Words “God loved us and sent His son Jesus.” I John 4:10Story “Jesus’ Birth”, Book and Video

Jan. Bible Words “God cares for you.” I Peter 5:7Story “How Jesus Grew”

Feb. Bible Words “Love one another.” John 15:12Story “The Good Samaritan”

Mar. Bible Words “Tell what God has done for you.” Mark 5:19Story Noah

Apr. Bible Words “Sing and .rejoice.” Proverbs 29:6Story Jesus death and resurrection, book and video

Note: the April and March Bible lessons may alternate depending upon which month Easter falls.

May Bible Words “I will trust and not be afraid.” Isaiah 12:2Story Daniel

There will be an atmosphere of Christian love throughout the whole day. You will hear comments such as, “God planned for it to be this way”, “I’m glad God gave us strong legs to do jumping”, or “Do you think this is something God would like to have you do?”

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MONTHLY UNITS

SEPTEMBER FRIENDS, APPLES

OCTOBER FIREMEN, SEASONS, WHAT IS FALL?, PUMPKIN PARTY

NOVEMBER FAMILIES, FOODS, THANKSGIVING, KINDERKONZERT

DECEMBER SHAPES, CHRISTMAS SIGHTS, SOUNDS AND SMELLS, PARTY, THE REAL MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

JANUARY START SPECIAL CHILD, WHAT IS WINTER?, WINTER BIRDS,PEOPLE AND ANIMALS WHO LIVE IN COLD LANDS, HEALTH,HOSPITAL AND DOCTORS, BEGIN ALPHABET TIME

FEBRUARY VALENTINES DAY PARTY, PRESIDENTS, HOW A LETTER TRAVELS

MARCH SPRING, EMPHASIZE THE REAL MEANING OF EASTER

APRIL HOW DO PLANTS GROW

MAY CHANGES-- IN NATURE, IN OURSELVES, HATCHING BUTTERFLIES, MOTHERS

DRAMATIC PLAY AREAS

OCTOBER DRESS UP AS FIREMENNOVEMBER GROCERY STOREDECEMBER PLAYDOUGH BAKERYJANUARY DOCTOR’S OFFICEFEBRUARY POST OFFICEMARCH PIZZA SHOPMAY FLOWER SHOP

COOKING PROJECTS

SEPTEMBER APPLE TREATOCTOBER PUMPKINS COOKIES OR PUMPKIN BARS or POPCORN BALLSNOVEMBER STONE SOUPDECEMBER GINGERBREAD BOY COOKIES OR CHRISTMAS COOKIESJANUARY ICE CREAMFEBRUARY CINNAMON TWISTSMARCH INDIVIDUAL PIZZASAPRIL SPRING MUDMAY INDIVIDUAL MUFFINS

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MATH READINESS

Numbers are all around us and there are endless opportunities to give children exposure to math concepts. But we must be careful to lay good foundations and not to assume too much. For example, a child who knows how to count from one to ten does not necessarily understand the concept of numbers and what they stand for. Very often a child will say ‘ I can count to ten’ and proceed to do so correctly. But if seven objects are placed before him, he may point to each object and still count to ten. Each month we will try to emphasize a specific math skill.

Cardinal numbers ( how many) rote counting. Sets.Pairing and matching.Beginning money concepts. Recognizing basic geometric shapes. Comparisons, more or lessRecognizing numbers and telling how many. Ordinals--first, second, etc. MeasuringSpatial relationshipsPatterns

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Language Arts Readiness

We will give the children opportunities to develop oral language skills through large and small group discussions.

These guidelines were taken from Ready Steps, by Houghton Mifflin

Following oral directions with a 2 or 3 step sequence of actionsListening with understanding to stories, directions, and conversationsBegin alphabet unit, recognizing the letters and become familiar with some of the beginning sounds. Initiate, ask questions, and respond in conversations with othersRetell information from a storyPredict what will happen nextRhyming words, and oppositesCommunicate needs, wants and thoughts none verbally and by using words. Rhyming words, and opposites

Monthly Science Table Activities

September – Sinking and FloatingOctober – WindNovember – How animals eat/ Food chainDecember – Christmas ScentsJanuary – The SensesFebruary – WeatherMarch – MagnetsApril – PlantsMay – Caterpillars to Butterflies

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