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| The purpose of the Prekindergarten Early Intervention Program is to enhance the lives of children by helping to develop the skills necessary for future success in school. The latest research on the effects of preschool education reinforces what educators have felt for many years: "A solid preschool program not only helps children develop necessary skills to be more successful throughout their schooling, but benefits society economically" (Changed Lives! The Effects of the Perry Preschool Projects on Youth Through Age 19). In this program, special attention is focused on the curriculum, the characteristics of the child, the role of the teacher and the atmosphere in which learning takes place. The Prekindergarten Early Intervention Program is designed to stimulate the oral language development and school readiness of the three, four and five year-olds. The goals of the program serve as a conceptual framework within which the foundation for later academic success is developed and implemented. The goals are to: 1. enrich the language skills of the prekindergarten child. 2. develop a positive self-image in the child. 3. provide experiences that will enhance the child's knowledge of the world around him. 4. encourage the development of a system of support between the parents and school. 5. promote social, emotional, physical and cognitive development through developmentally appropriate activities. 6. impart skills that are necessary for future success in learning. The traditional practice of utilizing workbooks and Xeroxed worksheets as instructional tools in early childhood education has been determiner to be effective and appropriate when used without pressure. Early childhood educators know that young children learn best through active participation and manipulation of objects and language. The prekindergarten program at AYUDA/Happy Kids School has therefore selected High/Scope, which is nationally regarded as a curriculum for the prekindergarten program. The High/Scope curriculum, developed over a period of twenty years, provides an organizational framework for the teacher, with three areas of emphasis: Active Learning Socio-dramatic Play Verbal Stimulation and Interaction A curriculum that effectively covers these areas must be both structured and flexible to meet the needs of the children. High/Scope offers the appropriate framework that teachers can use to organize the physical environment and promote their interaction with children in ways that are responsive to the children's needs. GOOD BEGINNINGS NEVER END... |