Our comprehensive and developmentally appropriate program is designed to promote each child’s intellectual, social, physical and emotional growth. All games and activities are skill-based and goal oriented, so that the children grow with everything that they do. The curriculum at our school is based on age-appropriate best practice. The classroom set up consists of learning centers which include blocks, art, dramatic play, books, manipulatives and scientific discovery. These centers allow the children to have choices and to actively explore. They learn by interacting with their peers, teachers and the varying things in their environment. Each center has a specific aim and with the teacher’s guidance, helps the children’s emotional, cognitive and physical growth.

 

The daily schedule is planned to include active and quiet times, gross and fine motor activities and child-initiated as well as staff-initiated activities. Outdoor (in our outdoor-covered classroom!) or indoor play is scheduled each day.

​Planning for the classroom involves consideration of the age appropriateness for the group and individual abilities of each child. With the knowledge that every child learns differently, we use various mediums to teach each lesson. Children’s interests are explored through inquiry and research methods.

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Our children eagerly anticipate holidays such as Rosh Hashanah, Chanukah, Purim, and Passover and understand how to meaningfully and joyfully participate in each holiday. In addition, each holiday becomes an opportunity for new scientific and cultural experiences and discoveries. For example, during the season of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, we share in the tradition to dip apples into honey and blow the shofar (a ram's horn). The children learn all about apples, honey-bees and how they make honey and about the different kinds of animals with antlers.  During Chanukah, when it is traditional to light a Menorah in the home, the children learn about fire safety, firefighters and how they help our communities. This pattern follows our curriculum throughout the year and provides the children with experiences that give them pride in their tradition. At Queen Anne Jewish Preschool, we carefully select teachers who model and nurture Jewish values such as kindness, friendship, empathy, and respect for the environment and the rights of others. Our children learn the customs, traditions, and moral values of Judaism. These lessons are woven naturally through all of our disciplines so that they become both a meaningful and treasured part of each child’s personal milieu.