Nominated for best preschool in Austin, TX. Vote now!
Kindergarten Readiness Academy
(3 - 4 years)
Our respected and proven curriculum continues to promote cognitive and positive development in these eager learners!
Our well-trained teachers take an active role in each child's development by preparing weekly, theme-based lesson plans that respond to the interests and stages of both the individual child and the group. Daily schedules and consistency help build the trust that is blossoming in this stage of development. American Sign Language (ASL) instruction continues, building upon the signs introduced in the previous age groups. Research indicates that signing encourages language development for small children.
Curriculum Components
Language Development: Phonetic awareness is promoted through books, songs and activities while literature is introduced in displays, readings and conversations. Print concepts, such as letter and word recognition and learning to track left to right and top to bottom, are illustrated and practiced. Children build vocabulary as words are introduced in stories and reinforced through play. Many activities focus on letter names, shapes, and sound recognition. Correct grammar and sentence structure are modeled by teachers, and there is plenty of practice at asking and answering questions!
Motor Development: Three year olds are really discovering what a human body can do! Vigorous physical exercise is encouraged both inside and out, and large movements like dancing, climbing, running and throwing, kicking, and rolling balls develop your child's strength, fitness and coordination. Many engaging toys, games and writing materials also develop the finer muscle development of the hands to prepare children for more refined tasks. Healthy eating habits are reinforced through family-style lunch and self-serve snacks.
Emotional/Social Development: Around the age of 3, a strong sense of individual identity is beginning to develop. In a supportive, secure environment, children are now encouraged to identify their own feelings as well as to empathize with the feelings of others. Exploration and discovery are strongly encouraged, and simple rules and routines are added so that children can internalize a sense of structure. There is an emphasis on self-expression and self-direction, while at the same time learning to recognize the rights of others and to establish healthy, friendly relationships with peers.
Cognitive Development: More and more complex problem solving skills are practiced in the 3-year-old classrooms. Materials supporting advanced skills like sorting, stacking, counting, matching and one-to-one correspondence are used. The concept of cause-and-effect is now demonstrated through scientific observations of the natural world. Open-ended questions are asked by teachers to encourage critical thinking. Open-ended art projects and dramatic play encourage creativity and imagination.
Our respected and proven curriculum continues to promote cognitive and positive development in these eager learners!
In a current nationally recognized, federally-funded research program, Stepping Stone School Pre-K children excelled in Pre-literacy Experience and Reading Success Preparedness.
- Early Childhood Developmental Nurturance Program (6 weeks - 18 months)
- Developmental Preschool Program (18 months - 3 years)
- Kindergarten Readiness Academy (3 - 4 years)
- Advanced Kindergarten Readiness Academy (4 - 5 years)
- Future Leaders and Inventors School Age Program
Click one of the links above to learn more about how Stepping Stone School will inspire your child.