Preschool (Pre-K) Overview
Inspiring Inquiry Through Progressive Education
CIJS Pre-K students have scored in the top 10-15% in the state overall since we opened in 2014!!
CIJS uses blended instruction with both traditional and Reggio approaches to education. We include typical curriculum programs in addition to hands on, interdisciplinary methods through direct instruction, partner work, small group, and individual lessons.
CIJS is tremendously unique. It began its first preschool class in 2014 and has been successful, because it puts children at the center of their education. We create an environment for active learning and exploration while molding scholars into life-long learners.
“Learning and play are not separate activities; they are intertwined.” – Loris Malaguzzi
Preschool Curriculum
MATH
Students at CIJS master math through invitations and provocations such as seen in the picture above as they explore through direct experimentation and observation. In addition, math concepts are incorporated through real life problem solving and projects as teachers integrate math with other disciplines such as science, social studies and language arts.
SCIENCE
Children are naturally curious and inquisitive which is why our scientific investigative approach to learning lends itself well to the development and understanding of science concepts through project-based learning. Students at CIJS explore science topics through investigation just like real scientists, as they learn by interacting with others and the world around them.
SOCIAL STUDIES
Because CIJS students are active participants in their own learning, they are viewed as curious, capable, competent and full of potential. This allows children opportunities to engage in research allowing deep discussions that consider different points of view regarding community roles/responsibilities and historical real life events, even with our youngest scholars.
ELA
Students create a positive disposition towards early literacy as they engage in social interaction while learning to read and write through exploration. Their experiences not only include research, but journal writing through the use of emergent spelling along with technology use, small group, whole group and independent instruction,
Lessons Are Interdisciplinary And Project-Based...
Interdisciplinary means that several subjects are integrated into single projects. Rather than dividing lessons into “reading, spelling, writing, social studies and math,” all of these are integrated into every project through hands-on activities. Lessons integrate subjects in a meaningful way, just as they occur in real-world problem solving rather than artificially isolating them. This allows students to make connections between the different subjects, and to the real world.
Literacy and pre-literacy, social studies (history, civilizations, geography), and math are taught through hands-on activities and projects. Projects are in-depth studies of concepts, ideas, and interests which arise from the children. Considered an adventure, projects may last one week or could continue throughout the school year.
Throughout a project, teachers help children make decisions about the direction of study, ways in which the group will research the topic, methods to demonstrate and showcase the topic, and selection of materials needed for the work. Children act as researchers, guided by their teachers to find answers to their questions.
Student Researchers
Eco-Friendly
Inquiry-Based
Experiential Learning