Pre-K Program

At Erie First Early Ed. Center, our Pre-K program is recognized by, and falls under the authority of, the PA Department of Education and meets the Pennsylvania Learning Standards for Early Childhood. We use a thematic approach to our Pre-K program utilizing direct instruction, learning centers, along with large and fine motor structured and self-select play opportunities.

Our direct instruction includes circle time where we sing and do traditional (as well as contemporary) rhymes and songs to foster phonemic awareness, as well as stories and activities that encourage pre-reading and pre-writing skills.

As a part of our comprehensive Pre-K curriculum, we use a variety of strategies to cover our 5 domains of learning: cognitive, social, emotional, physical, and spiritual.

• Our Bible time is an important part of our program. The children are taught Bible stories that they then discuss, act out, complete related coloring or activity pages, or participate in a related Bible craft.

• We also work on fine motor skills through numerous and varied activities. Using textures, games and activities, art centers, etc...students are taken from “drawing” straight and curved lines to the correct formation of each letter and number.

• Small group or one-on-one direct instruction (and assessment) is key in making sure that no students are “falling through the cracks’. Parents receive quarterly progress monitoring reports regarding their child.

Holistic Learning Environment

Learning Centers are a daily highlight where the students are exploring math, language, science, and social studies concepts on an age and developmentally appropriate level. These are done independently as well as in small groups and seek to foster the socio-emotional connection between peers and that relationship between child and teacher. However, they are so much fun, the kids think they are just playing!

Gross motor development is another important part of our program. We have been blessed with three completely different large motor areas in which our children are able to run, play, and explore. We want them playing in each area as much as possible, because they play different games and use different large muscles depending on the environment.

• We have an outdoor playground

• We have an indoor play land (similar to McDonald's)

• We have a full-size gymnasium

In addition to the above, the self-select activities that the children are able to choose from include sand and water tables, texture tubs, art and craft areas, lots and lots of trucks, blocks, musical instruments, a cozy library, along with dramatic play areas like a puppet stage, dress up clothes and a housekeeping area.

In our Pre-K classes, we provide low student-staff ratio of no less than one staff member for every ten preschool age children.