Axe ’Em, Jacks!
Serving 20 children between the ages of four and five years, the curriculum of expanded "learning centers" is geared to meet the cognitive, physical and social-emotional needs of this age group.
Children continue to build the foundations necessary to learn to read and write as well as developing math and reasoning skills.
Each of our classrooms has a dedicated lead teacher and assistant teacher. Children also are cared for by our teaching assistants.
Meet your lead teacher, Ms. Keeley Suggs
Hello! My name is Keeley Suggs, and I'm the pre-K I lead teacher here at the Early Childhood Laboratory.
I earned my bachelor's degree in human development and family studies at SFA. I have a huge love for children and have worked with kids and their families for most of my life. It's exciting to begin my teaching journey here at the ECHL!
In my free time, I love to be outdoors. I also love to read and spend time with my friends and family. I'm so excited to meet you and your child this year!
Meet your assistant teacher, Ms. Ana Olguin
Hello, ECHL family! My name is Ana Olguin and I'm the assistant teacher in the Pre-K II classroom at the Early Childhood Laboratory. I've worked in early childcare for over five years and am working to further my education here at SFA.
My favorite things to do in my spare time are reading, creating art and traveling. I'm so excited to work alongside you and your child this school year!
Activities and development
Early Childhood Laboratory classrooms follow the Constructivist Theory approach. Our teachers develop outdoor lesson plans to correlate with weekly lesson plans that reinforce indoor learning and structure playtime to optimize learning. Using curriculum and assessments for guidance, design of the learning centers is based on the learning needs of each individual child.
In the Pre-K II classroom, we use a project approach to learning:
- Topic investigation
- Field work: Observation, exploration and predictions of new understandings
- Culminating and debriefing events: Display of findings and presentations
Children utilize math boxes and writing boxes to further develop their emerging skills. Learning centers allow children to work cooperatively in small and large group activities. "Rug-time" group experiences include a morning meeting, stories and music.
Daily schedule
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:10 to 8:10 a.m. | Arrival and sign in, limited learning centers |
| 8:10 to 8:15 a.m. | Clean up |
| 8:15 to 8:30 a.m. | Read aloud |
| 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. | Snack, outdoor learning centers and play |
| 9:30 to 9:45 a.m. | Wash hands, transition, prepare for morning meeting |
| 9:45 to 10:05 a.m. | Morning meeting, preview new centers |
| 10:05 to 11 a.m. | Learning centers |
| 11 to 11:15 a.m. | Reading workshop, project work |
| 11:30 to 11:40 a.m. | Lunch |
| 11:45 to Noon | Naptime story, lights out |
| Noon to 1:30 p.m. | Naptime, quiet time |
| 1:30 to 2 p.m. | Quiet wake up, reading |
| 2 to 2:20 p.m. | Snack |
| 2:30 to 3 p.m. |
Mondays and Wednesdays: Math Boxes |
| 3 to 3:15 p.m. | Review calendar |
| 3:15 to 4 p.m. | Outside learning centers and play |
| 4 to 4:15 p.m. | Read aloud |
| 4:15 to 5 p.m. | Learning centers |
| 5 to 5:20 p.m. | Music, limited centers, departure |
Stocking their cubby
Here's a quick checklist of items to keep in your child's classroom cubby:
- Lovey (small comfort item)
- Two to three sets of season-appropriate clothing
We provide naptime items (cot, pillow and blanket), toothbrush and water bottle.
Toys must stay at home. Once a month, your Pre-K II child will have their own "share day" that allows them to bring an item from home and share it with their classmates. The teachers will communicate the calendar and all appropriate guidelines.
New families:
Bring three to four photos of family members for your child's scrapbook collage page.
