Our seasoned Pre-K teachers are passionate about education and use every opportunity to make connections between playing/our environment to learning. The following are the skills children who graduate from Grace Christian Learning Center typically achieve in Kindergarten Prep:

• Recognition of all upper and lower case letters
• Recognition of numbers 1-20 (many students excel beyond this)
• Recognition of alphabet phonetic sounds
• Recognition of sight words
• Handwriting abilities
  • Upper & lower case Alphabet
  • Numbers 1-20
  • First & last name (with upper case first letter/lower case remainder)
  • Sight words (number of sight words differs depending on child)
  • Shapes
• Math skills
  • Counting
  • One-to-one corresponding
  • Matching
  • Sorting
  • Patterns
  • Simple addition/subtraction
  • Shapes
• Science skills
  • Introduction into observation and predicting
  • Real life sensory exploration through sight, touch, smell, taste, and hearing
  • Exploration of the world around us through experiments

Our wonderful Preschool teachers have a heart for education and make learning fun by incorporating games and play to academic learning. The following are the skills children who complete our Preschool program typically achieve prior to Pre-K:

• Recognition of all upper case letters and beginning to recognize lower case letters
• Recognition of numbers 1-10 and beginning to recognize numbers 11-20
• Beginner understanding of phonetic sounds
• Handwriting abilities
  • Upper case alphabet
  • Numbers 1-10 and beginning to write 11-20
  • First name (upper case letters)
  • Shapes
• Math skills
  • Counting
  • One-to-one corresponding
  • Matching
  • Sorting
  • Patterns
  • Simple addition/subtraction
• Science skills
  • Real life sensory exploration through sight, touch, smell, taste, and hearing
  • Exploration of the world around us through experiments

Our patient and loving Little Explorers teachers are excited to help children learn the art of structure, which may be the most important skill needed when preparing for Preschool, Pre-K, and especially Kindergarten. We know that being able to sit at circle time and follow directions is essential for a child's classroom success. Our teachers also work along side parents with the goal of being potty trained prior to Preschool. The following are the academic skills children who complete our Little Explorers program begin prior to Preschool:

• Introduction to upper case letters
• Introduction to numbers 1-10
• Colors
• Fine motor skills
  • Using tools like paint brushes, crayons, markers – precursor to writing
• Gross motor skills
• Math skills
  • Counting
  • Sorting
  • Shapes
• Potty training
  • When parents request or child shows interest, we begin placing child on the potty at each diaper change (every 2-2½ hrs)
  • Praise, stickers, and prizes are given at different stages of potty training for encouragement
  • Teachers will shorten the amount of time between potty breaks when a child is further along in the potty training journey

Once those toddlers start running it's hard to keep up! Our energetic and caring teachers are skilled at helping children transition from our infant room or from home into a loving classroom setting. In the eyes of our toddlers, everything is new and exciting, and our teachers approach teaching as an adventure. Bubbles and dancing, singing and sensory table splashing, reading and exploring; our toddlers have so much fun! We begin the introduction into structure with 10-15 minute activities. The following are the academic skills children who complete our Shepherd's Flock program begin prior to Little Explorers:

• Recognition of animals and animal sounds
• Introduction to numbers 1-5
• Introduction to colors
• Introduction to structure
• Fine motor skills
  • Master self-feeding with spoon
  • Introduction to tools like crayons, paint brushes, markers
  • Exposure to many sensory items
• Gross motor skills
• Potty training
  • It is not typical for children to potty train in this age group, but when a child shows interest, we begin placing child on the potty at each diaper change (every 2-2½ hrs)
  • Praise, stickers, and prizes are given at different stages of potty training for encouragement
  • Teachers will shorten the amount of time between potty breaks when a child is further along in the potty training journey

As a parent there is nothing like the peace of mind that comes with knowing your child is being loved and having all of their needs met while you are away. Giving parents that ‘peace’, while pouring the love of Jesus onto our babies, is the heartbeat of Grace Christian Learning Center. Daily communication with detailed information concerning your child will be sent home each day, and parents are encouraged to call whenever they need a little update. Each baby is unique and requires their own special schedule which is provided by the parents. Throughout the day, in between diapers and feedings and naps (oh my!), our talented teachers incorporate the following:

• Reading books
• Singing songs
• Bubbles
• Dancing
• Sensory exploration
• Tummy time
• Play