This program is designed to provide an additional year of social, emotional, and academic experiences for children who will be going to kindergarten the following year, whether you are a “young” five, or turn five during the school year.  It is a bit more structured than Preschool and Prekindergarten; the expectations are higher regarding completing activities, and setting time limits.   TLC Preschool’s  Jr. Kindergarten program is unique to neighboring preschools. It is not a Pre-K program!  It was designed over 18 years ago, and aligns the CK Kindergarten Curriculum.

Our schedule offers a balance between academics, arts, music and movement. It also provides many opportunities for children to mature socially and emotionally. In the Jr. Kindergarten program children are provided many new hands-on learning opportunities in which they will learn to gain more focus, increase their attention span, improve work habits, and work quality. These are skills necessary for the success of all children entering kindergarten. This additional year of early childhood also provides children time to develop their leadership skills, self-confidence, and self-esteem. Children want to become more independent. They learn to be more responsible for their own actions and belongings by placing higher expectations upon them. Children’s fine motor development increases at a rapid rate around the mid-year mark and there is vast improvement in eye-hand coordination. Reading, Math and Language development readiness skills are increased and children are once again, better prepared for kindergarten.

In the Jr. Kindergarten classroom snacks are served as a center and children are taught to serve themselves and develop self-help skills. Most Social Studies and Science projects are child-initiated which helps children to develop critical thinking skills.

SAMPLE JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN SCHEDULE

8:00-9:00 Students Arrive (Attendance, Jobs, Journal Writing, Math Centers, Construction Play

9:30-10:00 Circle Time (Morning Meeting, Calendar Activities

10:00-11:00 Instruction for Large Group Work (Math, Language Arts, Writing Activities)

11:00-11:45 Recess

11:50-12:00 Prepare for Lunch (Wash Hands, Get Lunches, Set Tables)

12:00-12:30 Lunch Time & Clean-Up

1:00-1:30 Quiet,Rest Time

1:30-2:15 Small Group Activities

2:15-2:45 Clean-Up/Daily Review/Story time/Star Student Presentation/Show and Share

2:45 Dismissal