Stepping Stone School’s unique Early Achievers Program™ provides the ideal academic elements to ensure your child’s smooth transition to elementary school, and is therefore the foundation for our Kindergarten Readiness Academy™.
This curriculum is based on seven key learning areas and tailored according to age group, as well as to each individual child. With a strong concentration on writing, literacy, reading and language development, our Early Achievers Program™ also covers math concepts, sciences, physical, social/emotional and character development, and creative expression.
ACADEMIC AREAS WITH CORRESPONDING SKILLS
Writing & Literacy Advancement
- Fine motor muscle memory
- Print knowledge strategies
- Progressive sentence structure
Reading Phonological Language
- Letter-sound connections
- Connecting narrative events
- Multiple-step instruction
Social Sciences
- Computer integration
- Foreign-language integration
- Natural origins
Mathematical Concepts
- Cause-and-effect problem-solving
- Sorting & grouping
- One-to-one number correspondence
Physical & Emotional/Social Development
- Gross motor progression
- Advanced hand-eye coordination
- Independence & self-reliance
Character Development
- Cooperation & social etiquette
- Thoughtful decision-making
- Perspective talking & moral reasoning
Art & Creative Expression
- Open-ended art
- Music & rhythmic recognition
- Imaginative & dramatic expression
CALENDAR OF CURRICULUM THEMES
The Stepping Stone School Calendar of Curriculum Themes™ is our own publication, developed to help our talented teachers implement our Early Achievers Program™ in a consistent, effective and fun way, centered around play-based learning.
Based on the nationally recognized text Creative Curriculum for Preschoolers by Diana Dodge, our Calendar of Curriculum Themes follows the accreditation guidelines of the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the National Association of Child Care Professionals.
Stepping Stone School teachers use our Calendar of Curriculum Themes, along with our thoughtfully selected Curriculum Resource Guides, to develop their weekly learning plans. A monthly theme links lessons together cohesively, along with concepts and skills to be taught over the course of the month; ideas for activities related to the theme, concepts and skills come from our Curriculum Resource Guides, as well as our teachers’ own experience, expertise and limitless imaginations.
CURRICULUM RESOURCE GUIDES
The publications Stepping Stone School educators use to support our Calendar of Curriculum Themes™ and develop weekly learning plans:
- Creative Curriculum (Dodge)
- Anti-Bias Curriculum (Sparks)
- Classics for Young Readers (Loer)
- The Complete Resource Book (Schiller)
- Creative Resources (Herr/Libby)
- Emergent Curriculum (Jones/Nimmo)
- Learning to Read and Write (Neuman/Copple/Bredekamp)
- Literacy: The Creative Curriculum Approach (Heroman/Jones)
- Peaceful Classroom (Smith)
- Reaching Potentials (Bredekamp/Rosegrant)
- Signing for Me (Bahan/Dannis)
