Our Learning Standards
We know that when adults provide loving and intentional learning environments children will thrive. We believe that children construct their own knowledge about themselves and the world around them over time. Based upon developmentally appropriate practices as described by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the Arizona Department of Education’s Early Learning Standards, Pinnacle has created a learning community that puts into practice what is known from research of how children learn and best practices in early childhood education.
As all children learn differently and obtain specific abilities at varying times, all age level classrooms are working toward mastery of the skills listed below.
Expectations for 3-Year-Old Classes
Pinnacle Presbyterian Preschool offers two class levels for 3-year-old children.
-
The Mini 3s is designed for children that were born after Sept. 1. Our Mini 3s focus on self-identity, self-control, social development and motor skills. Over the course of the year our Mini 3s are expected to accomplish the following milestones:
Separates from parents without difficulty
Can make activity choices without teacher help
Seeks out other children in play
Follows two-step directions
Displays enthusiasm about doing things for themselves
Can express with words rather than actions
Shows interest in letters and words
Is curious about print in the environment
Shows appreciation for books
Represents ideas in stories through pictures, dictation and play
Uses scribbles and draws unconventional shapes to write
Learns to interact with peers, to give and take
Engages in make-believe play and imitates adult roles
Climbs up and down playground equipment
Demonstrates fine motor development such as beading, opening lids on jars, Velcro, zippers, buttons, drawing tool control and use of scissors
Approaches new tasks and solves problems through observation, hands-on trial and error, and repetition.
Is beginning to sort objects based on simple categories
Is beginning to count objects
-
The 3-Year-Old Class is designed for children that were born on or before Sept. 1. Like the Mini 3s/Co-Op, this class focuses on self-identity, self-control, social development and motor skills. In addition, during the course of the year the following learning standards will be met:
Gains knowledge by listening
Follows two or three-step instructions
Is beginning to read print in the environment (names, letters, signs, labels, logos)
Plays at reading by looking at pictures and composing the story
Shows appreciation for books and enjoys stories
Is curious about words and letter organization (left to right, beginning letter and ending letter)
Demonstrates ability to ask appropriate questions in a group activity
Sings and moves to familiar rhymes, songs and chants
Is able to modify behavior for various situations and settings
Plays in group and begins to organize activity showing increased complex dramatic play
Uses objects to represent other objects in play (broom is a motorcycle)
Helps others with tasks, helps another in need
Verbally expresses personal knowledge about themselves
Responds appropriately when adults or peers initiate interactions
Is able to initiate and sustain positive interactions with others
Expresses empathy for others
Demonstrates positive ways to resolve conflict
Respects the rights and property of others and the learning materials in the classroom
Shows awareness of differences and similarities between themselves and others
Moves legs, hands and feet in rhythm
Uses pencil and drawing tools with confidence
Writing advances from scribbling to recognizable letters
Demonstrates ability to write their own name
Demonstrates ability to recognize their own name in print
Uses scissors with control
Uses a variety of materials, media, tools and techniques to create original works of art
Recognizes basic geometric shapes
Recognizes colors, size differences
Copies simple patterns through matching and imitation
Verbally describes similarities and differences in patterns and objects
Sorts objects by two recognizable attributes (size, color, shape, function)
Counts to 10 or higher with emerging one-to-one correspondence
Recalls words in a song or poem
Is comfortable exploring the immediate environment and the school environment beyond the classroom
Demonstrates increased awareness and eagerness to participate in classroom activities that ask questions, seek predictions and hypotheses about how the world works
Uses a variety of tools (magnifying glass, ruler, scales) and materials to investigate the world around them
Demonstrates ability to persist with an investigation over a period of time
-
The 3-Year-Old Class is designed for children that were born on or before Sept. 1. Like the Mini 3s/Co-Op, this class focuses on self-identity, self-control, social development and motor skills. In addition, during the course of the year the following learning standards will be met:
Gains knowledge by listening
Follows two or three-step instructions
Is beginning to read print in the environment (names, letters, signs, labels, logos)
Plays at reading by looking at pictures and composing the story
Shows appreciation for books and enjoys stories
Is curious about words and letter organization (left to right, beginning letter and ending letter)
Demonstrates ability to ask appropriate questions in a group activity
Sings and moves to familiar rhymes, songs and chants
Is able to modify behavior for various situations and settings
Plays in group and begins to organize activity showing increased complex dramatic play
Uses objects to represent other objects in play (broom is a motorcycle)
Helps others with tasks, helps another in need
Verbally expresses personal knowledge about themselves
Responds appropriately when adults or peers initiate interactions
Is able to initiate and sustain positive interactions with others
Expresses empathy for others
Demonstrates positive ways to resolve conflict
Respects the rights and property of others and the learning materials in the classroom
Shows awareness of differences and similarities between themselves and others
Moves legs, hands and feet in rhythm
Uses pencil and drawing tools with confidence
Writing advances from scribbling to recognizable letters
Demonstrates ability to write their own name
Demonstrates ability to recognize their own name in print
Uses scissors with control
Uses a variety of materials, media, tools and techniques to create original works of art
Recognizes basic geometric shapes
Recognizes colors, size differences
Copies simple patterns through matching and imitation
Verbally describes similarities and differences in patterns and objects
Sorts objects by two recognizable attributes (size, color, shape, function)
Counts to 10 or higher with emerging one-to-one correspondence
Recalls words in a song or poem
Is comfortable exploring the immediate environment and the school environment beyond the classroom
Demonstrates increased awareness and eagerness to participate in classroom activities that ask questions, seek predictions and hypotheses about how the world works
Uses a variety of tools (magnifying glass, ruler, scales) and materials to investigate the world around them
Demonstrates ability to persist with an investigation over a period of time
About Pinnacle Presbyterian Preschool
-
Our Approach To Learning
-
Our Learning Standards
-
Our Learning Environment
-
Preschool Staff
-
Preschool Calendar
-
Family Tours