Learning Through Play and Exploration

We introduce a variety of hands-on activities that not only enhance fine motor skills but also encourage creativity, independent thinking, and foundational math concepts like sorting, classifying, and counting. These engaging manipulative tasks provide a fun way for children to develop important cognitive abilities.

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Building Literacy in Many Ways

Every child progresses at their own pace, and our teachers carefully support each preschooler’s journey with a range of literacy experiences. Children explore stories by “reading” on their own, listening to read-alouds, participating in author studies, acting out tales, inventing new endings, and even creating their own stories. Storytime emphasizes communication, collaboration, and understanding different perspectives while also building vocabulary, sequencing skills, making predictions, and drawing conclusions. At POTA, we focus on phonemic awareness—an essential skill for reading and writing—and provide daily opportunities to practice sounding out and writing words. Children express themselves through inventive spelling as they label artwork, write menus, and create signs during dramatic play.

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Deepening Creativity with Process Art

Our preschoolers engage with more sophisticated art materials and often revisit projects over time, allowing them to think more deeply about their creations. Using smaller, more precise tools helps develop their fine motor control and artistic confidence.

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Growing Social Skills

As friendships become more important, our program offers many chances for children to practice collaboration, empathy, and effective communication. Group discussions teach valuable skills like turn-taking, listening, and considering different viewpoints. Preschoolers enjoy sharing their ideas and experiences, which further expands their vocabulary and confidence.

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Cultivating Independence

Our classroom environment is intentionally organized to promote independence. Children take pride in everyday responsibilities such as hanging their coats, setting the table, cleaning up after meals, and tidying their own play areas. They learn to care for their belongings and classroom materials, fostering a sense of ownership and pride in their community.

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Sample Schedule:

8:30 - 9:30 - Morning Discovery Centers 
9:30 - 9:45 - Snack
9:45 - 10:00 - Circle time 
10:00 - 10:30- Specialist / music and movement
10:30 - 11:45 - Outside time
11:45 - 12:15 - Group activity
12:15 -12:45 - Lunch
12:45 - 1:00 - library time 
1:00 - 2:45 - Nap/rest time
2:45 - 3:00 - Afternoon snack
3:00 - 3:20 - Closing circle
3:20 - 3:30 - Dismissal for Full Day friends
3:30 - Extended day begins, open centers
4:00 - 5:00 - Outside 
5:00 - 6:00 - Small group centers and gradual goodbye