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Our fully academic program, based on kindergarten-level skills in reading and mathematics as well as science and social studies, is delivered with an individualized approach.

During reading and math times, the class becomes a laboratory with three separate stations: primary instruction, lesson reinforcement, and exploratory play. Children are assigned to their own small group of 4 to 5 according to skill level, and rotate through each station. Children receive initial exposure to major concepts in their teacher-facilitated primary instruction groups, then move to an educational assistant-facilitated group in which the primary lesson is reinforced through alternative activities such as art and cooking. Children share the learning experience with peers who share their up-to-the-minute educational needs, ensuring an environment in which all can participate.

Learning to read

• Approach to literacy. LHS employs a phonics approach to reading. This encourages children to use their auditory and visual skills to learn to identify individual letters and sounds. The phonics approach also builds later skills for decoding and spelling. The individualized instruction and advanced skill development LHS offers allows some children to finish preschool reading at the level of a child who has completed kindergarten.
• Instructional strategies. Our experiential instructional strategy includes puppetry, music and games to introduce children to letters and sounds. Each letter is presented in the form of a “letter person” that children can hold and interact with. Letter people have their own special characteristics as well as songs. The many levels of interaction with each letter allow children to internalize the essential phonetic information included in the lesson and heightens the phonemic awareness in general.
• Library links. There is no better way to encourage a love of reading than to read with our children! Ongoing sharing of literature with children helps to build comprehension skills and reinforce concepts taught in class. Teachers ensure that these are interactive experiences with plenty of Q&A built in. Immersion of our students in literature is a focal point of the LHS experience.

Mathematics

• Exposure to concepts. The preschool mathematics program develops children’s spatial skills and familiarity with number concepts in addition to counting and number value skills. Children are taught number concepts (more than, less than), sorting and classifying, and pattern building, as well as number sequencing, telling time, coin identification, and numerical value identification.
• Instructional strategies. Here too, LHS utilizes an experiential approach, teaching math concepts with the use of manipulatives such as place value blocks, geo boards, and shape cards. Mathematical concepts are continuously reinforced through games.

Science

• The discovery-oriented science program exposes children to major concepts in natural science, and allows them to explore the natural environment hands-on. Each month, teachers create in-class experiments and field experiences to help children absorb topics such as the four seasons, the five senses, water, light and air, seeds and plants, marine life, magnetism and sound vibrations. Children’s natural curiosity about the natural environment is stimulated through these activities. Here again, literature is utilized to enhance and enrich exploration of the world of science.

Social Studies

• The world comes into the classroom during social studies! Every two weeks, a brand-new theme is introduced. Themes span historical topics such as Native American culture and the discovery of America, holidays such as Earth Day and Thanksgiving, social issues such as fire safety, and political topics such as Martin Luther King Jr.’s civil rights movement, the White House, and elections. It’s not unusual to spot our preschoolers composing letters to the President or acting out the arrival of the Pilgrims. Social studies topics are taught using modalities of creative drama, music, and cooking, reinforced with literature

EVALUATION

•  Laurel Hill considers it essential to keep you apprised of every aspect of your child's progress.  Children are informally evaluated through game challenges several times during the year to assess their accomplishment of milestones and absorption of concepts learned in class.  Twice a year, parent-teacher conferences are held to give you an opportunity to discuss your children's growth.  Prior to the conference, teachers assess students progress on a one-to-one basis.  The results of these assessments are described in a Progress Report which is reviewed during the conference.