Teddy Bear Junction provides
child-centered classrooms designed to balance child-directed and
teacher-directed activities. This provides an atmosphere of play which
develops multiple skills and abilities for each child.
FOUR YEAR OLD CLASS DESCRIPTION
Four-year-old classes at Teddy Bear Junction provide a child-centered
environment carefully arranged to develop intellectual, emotional,
social and motor skills. Two teachers in each classroom actively
interact with a maximum of fifteen children. Although our teachers
are encouraged to rely on their own initiative and creatively to tailor
their classrooms to meet the needs of their individual students, some
general attributes are characteristic of all our four-year-old classes.
Each classroom is set up in learning centers to allow children to make
choices. Teachers provide a variety of experiences designed to
build specific developmentally appropriate skills. Children are
encouraged but not required to participate in each center. Centers
include simple science demonstrations; a manipulative area for
developing abstract or logical reasoning as well as small muscle
control; and a block center for math readiness and cooperative play.
A computer with Early Childhood Education software is available to our
four-year-old classes on a weekly basis. A home living center
provides opportunities for dramatic play and problem solving. The
sand and water tables are favorite "hands on" activities. Children
visit the art center to work on prewriting skills, to express themselves
creatively and to explore various media. Occasionally, an art
project will be teacher-directed, providing the children the experiences
of following a specific sequence of instructions. The use of
learning centers throughout our programs allows children to become
comfortable with consistent routine of center time as they move from
toddlers and twos to threes and fours. Each age level uses
developmentally appropriate activities and materials.
Language arts at
this level continues whole language concept development as well as
introductory phonics and developmentally appropriate writing
experiences. Being "Star of the Week" provides the child with
motivation for communication information about his family and favorite
toys. Circle time becomes longer and more important as the group
comes together to discuss the calendar and helper chars. Circle
time also includes language awareness, phonics, and math activities.
This is also the time for stories, songs and finger play, a "letter of
the week", or for sharing information about the unit being discussed.
Each week our classes enjoy 25 minute classes with our music and Spanish
teachers. Additionally, they have a daily 30 minute recreation
period on the preschool playground. During inclement weather, we
have the use of the Fellowship Hall for exercising those large muscles.
Our curriculum is also enhanced by a variety of enrichment
resources: Plano fire fighters with their truck and equipment, a visit
from the dentist and dramatic presentations by a number of local
artists.
Fours participate in a monthly Children's Chapel with one of
the Pastors of the Reformed Church. This 10-15 minute service
includes song, prayer, and a brief illustration about the Good News of
Faith. Parents are invited to observe Chapel.
