Preschool (Pre-K3 – Pre-K4)
The early years provide a rich opportunity to cultivate an enduring love of learning. In Preschool our youngest students are immersed in a nurturing, teacher-directed environment that integrates structured learning with creative play and freedom to explore.
Our Preschool program combines Spanish immersion with a proven readiness curriculum which prepares children for a successful elementary school experience. Maryel’s amazing NYS certified teachers provide an environment where our little ones feel safe and loved. The small class size (10 students), and two teachers assure that our little ones get the individualized attention that they deserve.
We know that early immersion is the most effective way to help students attain comfort and mastery in language and culture. Maryel’s preschool program uses the full immersion model and it is open to students at any level of Spanish as young minds pick up a second and even third language quite naturally.
Parents will not just hear from their sons and daughters about how much fun they had and what they learned, but are invited to be active participants — through parent time every morning to a range of special events, picnics, theme parties, and book-reading activities.
Maryel’s preschool curriculum is divided into eleven areas of learning:
Our preschoolers learn to recognize their qualities and abilities as well as those of their classmates. They become aware of their needs, points of view, and feelings and develop their sensitivity toward the needs, points of view, and feelings of their classmates.
During this important stage of children’s life they start to understand the external rules that regulate their behavior in the different areas in which they participate and gradually acquire more autonomy. Our little ones learn the importance of friendship; understand the value of trust, honesty, and mutual support. Students in Prek 3 and Prek 4 learn to accept their classmates as they are, understand that they all have the same rights and assume responsibilities for their actions.
Children in PreK 3 are introduced to phonics and enjoy daily exposure to great children’s books. Reading and writing readiness occurs through word play, proper pencil grip, and writing upper case letters. All lessons are taught with hands-on materials using a multi-sensory approach. Each child has regular opportunities to lead the class to instill confidence and leadership.
In PreK 4 students have morning and afternoon reading periods where they enjoy selections from expansive, in-class libraries. PreK 4 continues to emphasize proper pencil grip, and students learn to write all letters in both upper and lower cases.
Mathematics in the primary years focuses on helping students develop their understanding of mathematical concepts and skills that can be applied in everyday life as well as for continued learning in mathematics. Learners build a thorough base of computational fluency and expand their thinking, reasoning and communication skills through a mathematical approach to problem solving. Learners use real-life contexts to engage in mathematizing and modeling problems that they can then analyze, manipulate, solve and interpret. Through creating and sharing their own mathematical ideas and arguments with each other, our students are supported in becoming more playful, reflective, resilient, and open minded mathematician.
During Social Studies time, children establish relationships between their present and ancestral families as well as their community through objects, daily situations, and cultural practices. They learn to distinguish and explain some characteristics of their own culture and others alike and recognize that human beings are different, that we are all important, and that we have the ability to participate in society. Children are given the freedom and encouragement to express their ideas, to share with others, and to enjoy the interactions with other classmates.
Students observe living things and what occurs within their natural elements and experiment with different non-hazardous elements, objects, and materials to find answers to questions about the natural world.
Our preschoolers learn to formulate explanations for the natural phenomena they observe and develop predictions based on what they know and/or assume about the natural environment. The main topics are seasons, plants, nature, animals, and insects.
Children are able to sing songs, create them, and accompany them with either conventional musical instruments or ones they create. They develop a foundation of musical skills by experiencing music through physical action and written notation. Children learn to match pitch with their voices and to keep a steady beat both with their bodies and with instruments and communicate sensations and feelings awakened by the songs and music they hear.
Children learn to express themselves through body movement in various situations with both singing and musical accompaniment and are encouraged to communicate sensations and emotions.
The Maryel Theater Program encourages students to represent real or imaginary characters and situations through games and dramatic expressions. Our little artists learn to identify the motive, theme, or message of the theatrical piece as well as the characteristics of the protagonist of some literary works or theatrical presentations and discuss them.
Children are encouraged to “play” yoga and experience how their breath and body move together in a fun-filled way.
The Maryel philosophy of teaching yoga to children provides kids with a variety of yoga tools that they can take away from yoga class and use throughout their lives. Animals, nature and other objects come alive in our classes; as we move, we learn to stretch our bodies in new creative ways. Through basic and challenging yoga poses, partner poses, group poses, yoga games, mindfulness activities, music and stories, we promote strength, flexibility, coordination, and body awareness.
Breathing and visualization techniques teach focus, relaxation and self-control. This program also promotes inner-strength, confidence and self-esteem; a feeling of well-being and respect for others; and, love for one’s self, inside and out.
Children develop gross motor skills, eye-hand coordination, and body awareness through sports activities. They are able to balance and control movements that require strength, resistance, flexibility, and impulse in games and physical exercise activities.
During our Health Education Program children practice basic preventive and safety measures to protect their health as well as prevent accidents and risks at school and beyond.
They participate in social health actions, environmental conservation, and care for natural resources in their environment.
Starting at the surprising age of 3, our chess program introduces children to this 1500-year-old game. Each lesson tells stories that transform the chess pieces into a memorable cast of characters.
Our preschoolers are encouraged to play this wonderful game to improve concentration and memory, foster logic and critical thinking, and improve math skills and reading.
Emotional Intelligence can make a big difference in children lives. Emotions drive learning, decision-making, creativity, relationships, and health. The Maryel Emotional Intelligence Program teaches children how to develop their emotional intelligence. Children learn how to recognize, label, and manage their emotional state in order to unlock their intellectual and critical-thinking potential. We are proud to be pioneers in the field of Social and Emotional Learning.
