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.
Children are cared for by a lead teacher, assistant teacher and our student teaching assistants.
Ms. Jonie
I went to SFA for my Bachelor of Science in deaf education, ASL interpreting and specialization in English. I worked as a teaching assistant during that time at the Early Childhood Laboratory in infant, toddler I, toddler II, pre-K I, pre-K II, afterschool care, front office, cook and, yes, even dishes.
I went on to work as business office manager assisting human resources, payroll, accounts receivable and accounts payable while wearing many additional hats. I felt like something was missing and decided to follow my heart back to teaching.
I can honestly say that I get paid to play! As my mother always told me, no matter how old I get, I will always be the oldest kid in my family.
Ms. Keeley
Hello! My name is Keeley Ragano and I'm the Pre-K II lead teacher here at the Early Childhood Laboratory. I graduated from SFA in 2023 with my bachelor's degree in human development and family studies. I have a huge love for children and have worked with kids and their families for most of my life.
In my free time, I love to be outdoors and travel, read and spend time with my husband, friends and family. I'm so excited to meet you and your child this 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.
