List of 10 items.

• Language Arts

  Reading is an essential component of all learning. The program is designed to foster a love of books, an understanding of how to properly care for and use books, the desire to read and to be read to, and an appreciation of literature.
  
  

  The reading readiness curriculum uses many hands-on materials to support sound-symbol correspondence and beginning writing. The ECC classrooms are print-rich environments. Many of the activities provide experiences which help develop fine motor skills.
  
  

  Circle time incorporates several activities, such as story time, science, the introduction of new concepts/themes, and provides opportunities to increase vocabulary and develop public speaking and listening skills.

• Mathematics

  The math readiness curriculum uses many hands-on, concrete experiences to teach classification, pattern recognition, numeral recognition, number concept development, shape identification and estimation. Students develop skills to sort and classify by color, shape, size and number. They gain and extend the ability to sequence, count and develop one-to-one correspondence. The concepts of number, numeral recognition and writing numerals are emphasized.
  

• Science

  The ECC science program, “Discover the Wonder,” is experiential, based on natural phenomenon that can be observed by the child. An important part of the science experience is asking questions, speculating and experimenting with materials to discover possible answers. The units of study for Tiny Torreys include:
   

  • The Five Senses
  • Growing Plants
  • Earth, Moon and the Sun
  • Animals and Insects
  • Health and Hygiene

  
  Jr. kindergarten’s units of study include:
   

  • Wonderful Water  
  • Five Senses
  • Solar System
  • Growing Plants
  • Geology
  • Marine Biology
  • Animals, Insects and Spiders

• Art

  Children have daily opportunities to experiment with and enjoy a variety of art media, such as markers, crayons, paints, clay, play dough and paper. The program emphasizes the process and creative expression more than the end product.

• Music

  Music is a vital part of every Tiny Torrey and Jr. Kindergarten child’s school day. The goal of the music classes in the ECC is to develop a sustained singing tone, demonstrate steady beat using movement and instruments, and develop listening skills for a variety of musical styles. Children sing songs and respond rhythmically to music through creative movement and instrumental expression. They explore and play simple instruments and develop attentive listening habits. Tiny Torrey students spend 20 minutes per week and Jr. kindergarten students spend 30 minutes per week in the music room for a formal lesson with the music teacher. The music specialist provides a formal curriculum that includes basic rhythm, pitch and beats for various notes, and an introduction to a variety of instruments and types of music.

• Dramatic Play

  The goal of dramatic play is to support children as they integrate meaning derived from their experiences with knowledge and skills from all developmental domains while creating roles or scenarios. In their play, children mimic behaviors they have seen or experienced. They assign symbolic meaning to real or imaginary objects using language or gestures. The dramatic play area is changed throughout the school year to reflect the unit of study, theme or emergent interest. Children are given the opportunity to experiment with a variety of objects, roles (leader, follower and mediator) and characterizations (animal, mother, astronaut, etc.) The ECC recognizes the great value of dramatic play for children’s language, cognitive and social development. Teachers actively foster and extend play through a variety of strategies and by providing a range of play props, both realistic replicas and open-ended materials.

• Social/Emotional

  Healthy social and emotional development supports and enhances all other areas of learning and development. Many new social and emotional skills are required of Tiny Torreys and Jr. Kindergarten children as they move into the world beyond their home and families. They are learning more about who they are as individuals and how to get along with others.
  
  

  Students develop new strategies for meeting basic daily needs, learn to share the attention of an adult and acquire the ability to wait and take turns. The program supports the development of first friendships and the necessary skills to play and work cooperatively in a group of peers. Children are supported in controlling their impulses, expressing their emotions in socially acceptable ways and forming satisfying social relationships with others.

• Character Education

  A major emphasis of the ECC is on socialization and on learning the skills to become a good citizen, including being a responsible, respectful, and caring individual. Opportunities naturally arise for young children to practice conflict resolution, identify feelings, and develop communication skills with the teacher’s guidance. Tiny Torreys and Jr. Kindergarten classes have weekly lessons and discussions from Second Step, which focuses on behaviors.

• Social Studies

  In the ECC, the social studies program builds on children’s natural curiosity about the world around them. Most of what is known is tied to their personal experience. Children are encouraged to gain knowledge by discussing what is closest to them and their family, including customs practiced and holiday traditions.

• Health & Safety

  The program provides opportunities to emphasize nutrition and health through everyday routines such as snack and lunch times. The importance of washing hands, eating healthy foods and maintaining a healthy body are stressed. Children learn about earthquake and fire safety.