SMALL GROUP

Small Group Time is a special time designed for the teacher and children to come together to talk about interests and share experiences in a more intimate setting.  Children are grouped by chronological age and group time is determined by the developmental needs of the children.  While two year olds will participate in small group time for 10-15 minutes based upon their abilities, the Pre-K children may stay for 30-40 minutes based upon their preferences and interests. 

While in Small Group children can revisit their experiences and share details about their interests.  These “revisits” benefit the child’s intellectual and social/emotional growth.  This is also a time for reading, exploring math and science, writing, acting out stories, researching special projects and learning through song and dance.  Teachers prepare small group plans each week after a collaborative meeting in which we discuss on-going interests we’ve seen played out in the program.  We in turn, collaborate with the children in developing their further interests and providing meaningful activities for continued growth in every domain.  We value our relationships with the family and invite them to participate in furthering the child’s knowledge and understanding.

Each Small Group has specific developmental goals that build upon previously learned skills in our play-based environment.  Expectations are modified and/or expanded to meet a child’s individual needs and abilities.  All Small Groups have a curriculum design which the teachers plan and that meet the developmental year-end-goals for each age grouping.

With emphasis on the children’s interests, these plans may include:

• Children’s literature accompanied by the child’s representational drawing to aid in comprehension
• Music and Movement to coincide with the literature or the group’s special project
• A special project day for collaborative, small group work and/or sharing
• Math and science discovery
• Drama, puppetry and storytelling