Curriculum

   

Children who attend teaching preschools tend to be more prepared for a higher level of achievement in elementary school.  Selecting the best preschool can be an overwhelming task; however, it is one of the most important decisions you'll ever make concerning your child.  These years lay the foundation for a child's entire educational experience.

Teaching young children effectively depends on an appealing curriculum that includes the philosophy, goals, and objectives of the school while addressing all aspects of the child's development - from the social and emotional to the cognitive and physical elements.  Early childhood education is also a creative process that focuses on helping young children use the environment productively and on seeing themselves as capable, successful learners.

At Longleaf Learning Center (LLC), we use a framework for teachers and children to plan and implement an exciting variety of activities, projects, and key experiences in literacy, math, science, social studies, the arts, and technology.  Our program, based on accepted theories of child development and learning, features goals and objectives linked directly to a valid and reliable assessment instrument.  In addition, proven methods of instruction are used to teach phonics, listening skills, numbers, and writing activities.  Children learn new concepts through engaging audio, visual, oral, and written techniques as well as "hands-on" activities.

Our approach helps children become enthusiastic, self-confident, lifelong learners in a stimulating environment where they can explore and learn about the world around them.  The LLC curriculum also includes self-help skills and kindergarten readiness.  This well-balanced program features fun, active outdoor play and quiet indoor play as our highly qualified teachers guide them through a wealth of absorbing activities.

LLC offers a variety of exciting extracurricular activities:
DANCE, KARATE, GYMNASTICS, COMPUTER TOTS, AND SPORTS FUN.

 

The Creative Portfolio

When your child enters Longleaf Learning Center, we start a Creative Portfolio that is a collection of your child's work and periodic progress assessments.  The portfolio becomes a scrapbook of his/her development throughout the preschool experience.  Each entry is dated, and the portfolio follows your child through the years at LLC.  It is used as the basis for parent conferences and is accessible to you at any time.  We encourage you to add items your child has created at home!

Examples of the Creative Portfolio's content:

• Samples of drawings, number and letter formations ("writing"), and "dictated" descriptions
• Samples of cutting skills
• Photographs of creations such as block and Lego® structures and clay moldings
• Photographs of your child playing in a variety of settings
• Anecdotal notes made by teachers as they observe and record behavior
• Audio tapes of your child talking or singing and of "interviews" with your child

 

The Daily Schedule

The curriculum at Longleaf Learning Center provides the framework for an exciting variety of developmentally appropriate "hands-on" activities.  A typical day includes the following events:

• Stimulating active play and soothing quiet play
• Playing indoors and outdoors (including physical fitness programs)
• Time to run, climb, slide, ride, skate, play ball, jump rope, and exercise
• Music opportunities: quiet listening, joyous singing (in Spanish too), instrument playing, and animated dancing
• Time for science: exploration, experimentation, and discovery
• Story time, circle time, and sharing time (Show and Tell)
• Occasions for pretending and imagining and role-playing
• Teacher-directed and child-selected activities
• Computer experiences
• Snack time (including preparation, serving, and cleaning up responsibilities)
• Rest/nap time

One exceptional program is presented each month, spotlighting special guests such as firefighters, police officers, dental educators, and even zookeepers.