"We weren't sure Anna was ready for public Kindergarten, and our experience at 3,4 had been so good so far that we decided to enroll in the 5s program. It was one of the best decisions we've ever made and she's gone on to do extremely well in school ever since. That year in the 5s gave her so much self-confidence and a great foundation of math and reading moving forward, we were so happy we did it!"
Our Fives and Kindergarten programs are designed for children who may not be ready academically, socially and/or emotionally to attend Kindergarten in a public or private K-12 school. We feel these children benefit profoundly from our small class size and the ability of our teachers to focus on each of our students' strengths and areas that we can help develop, preparing each for their journey beyond 3,4 and giving them a wonderful foundation for a lifetime of learning.
The goals of our literature-based reading program are to improve decoding, fluency and comprehension skills. The personal goal for each five year old and kindergartener is to become a lifelong reader. We continue to use "Fundations" for our Fives and Kindergarten to ensure each child's individual learning style and pace are being addressed.
During writer's workshop children write in their journals at least twice weekly, initially one-on-one with a teacher. 3,4 Open the Door utilizes invented spelling. Sentence structure, grammar and the mechanics of writing are addressed in writer's workshop. Creativity is fostered and attention is paid to expanding each child's areas of interest.
Handwriting is addressed daily using a variety of writing programs including "Fundations", "Handwriting Without Tears", and "Box Dot".
Early math concepts are taught through the use of the "Stern Math" program and an application-rich curriculum. Meeting in small groups in order to address different levels of learning, and through the use of manipulatives and games, our children develop a concrete understanding of the meaning behind the concepts. Math units include place value, addition and subtraction of whole numbers, time and money, estimation and measurement, geometry and graphs, and real-life problem solving.
Our Social Studies curriculum is disseminated across a variety of disciplines. Our multi sensory approach reinforces concepts pertaining to early American history, geography and different cultures. During our study of "Colonial America" many local field trips help to bring about a better understanding of life during that time period.
We understand that young children are natural scientists. By means of hands-on activities their curiosity is furthered as they develop a deeper understanding of how science relates to their everyday lives. Our outdoor play area is a natural laboratory.
Spanish is taught through an interactive curriculum using songs, stories and props.
Utilizing an interdisciplinary curriculum, art is ribboned throughout our day. Our children are encouraged to explore and discover their own talents through drawing, painting and sculpting. Art history and historically significant artists and their styles are studied as part of our "Art Smart" program.
Music and Drama are important elements of music education at 3,4 Open the Door. A wide variety of musicians, techniques, instruments and sounds are introduced. Group performances, school plays and instrument making are taught.
We go outside daily throughout the year except when the weather prohibits, and outdoor activities take place on our large playground and play structures. We firmly believe that the children need abundant time during the day to step away from the classroom and work time, to play and express themselves physically.