Four Year Olds
Children who are 3 years old by December 31st of the school year are eligible for this program which meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:15-12:00 noon. The day begins with a personal greeting for each child and a few words describing the materials available for the day. Children have free time to explore the various centers in the room: media table, easel, writing table, manipulatives, blocks, dramatic play, playdough, floor toys, etc. The children will have opportunities to make discoveries about art, the natural world, literature, construction, math and music while gaining experience and confidence in their emerging fine and gross motor skills.
Children who are 4 years old by December 31st of the school year are eligible for this program which meets three days a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:15-12:00 noon. Each classroom has its own schedule which teachers follow, but a normal day is similar to the 3s program in that there is generally a free-activity period, followed by a circle time with story, songs, games, then a project time followed by a second circle with math activities, games, etc., and then snack and outdoors.
The program differs very much from the 3s in the content rather than the structure. The 4s generally arrive at preschool in September with confidence and the ability to begin exploring the curriculum quite quickly. They more readily adapt to new teachers, a mix of new and old friends as classmates, and they generally separate from their parents successfully after realizing that the classroom is comfortable, well-equipped and fun.
The first day consists of half of the children accompanied by a parent to meet the teachers and make their bags, followed by the other half of the children with a parent to do the same. The next class is the full session with the full number of children. We have found that 4s do not need the shortened day to adjust to preschool. The children get acquainted with the facilities quickly (getting ready for snack, where to go for music, where to go to the playground) which gives the teachers more time to focus on activities which benefit four year olds. Of course, all children react to new situations differently; it is understood that the teachers and staff will work very hard to make sure that your child has a successful experience with his/her new classroom, and will make any accommodations to ensure this.
This is a social year for children where they eagerly seek other children to help incorporate dramatic play, ask other children to paint at the easel with them, and make up more elaborate building activities in a group. Greater emphasis is given to group accommodation and problem-solving.
At the same time, 4 year olds are also eager to acquire new information. This is the time when they will surprise you with what they recall and the new information they can remember accurately and in the proper context. While some curriculum "themes" will be the same as for the 3s, much greater factual information is shared. All classes observe the butterflies in the classrooms, but the 4s will learn about symmetry, the stages of growth, conditions needed for the pupa to emerge, etc. Field trips support the curriculum, and children will visit area parks, listen to naturalists, observe wildlife, etc. We continue to offer a developmentally appropriate, hands-on curriculum with many activities to appeal to varied learning styles, and you will find that your child will participate more fully in all of the classroom centers.
The teachers of 4 year olds are very aware of their responsibility to prepare many of the 4s for kindergarten. They present many activities that include writing, cutting, and fine motor skills, and rich literacy and math activities. Books are read and discussed daily. Children will dictate and illustrate stories, make graphs, lists, comparisons. They will begin to replace their rote knowledge of number and letters with real concepts that they can use in varied situations. Frequent activities promote learning of alphabet sounds and understanding of symbols in books. They will recognize each others names and learn simple words that they request - "Mom", "Dad", "Love". The children will be encouraged to visit the writing table and the manipulative table if they do not already spend time there. Some children who are reluctant to use a pencil will gladly make "tickets" for the boat that is being constructed in blocks. All of the activities presented by the teachers are carefully evaluated for a positive educational outcome that can be incorporated into child's play while giving them lots of practice of important skills.
The general philosophy and goals of Fairfax United Methodist Church Preschool will guide the 4 year old program. It will be developmental, committed to balanced growth in all areas: social, emotional, intellectual, physical, creative, and spiritual. Because we believe that play is the most developmentally appropriate and effective avenue for learning for the child under six, guided creative exploration and play will be the foundation upon which all learning opportunities are built.
Eligibility
Children must be 4 years old by December of the calendar year in which they are enrolling, and toilet trained.
Days
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Time
9:15 to 12:00 noon
Class size
Two teachers and a maximum of 18 children per class.