Our Pre-K classroom is where our school year VPK program takes place. Autumn Leaf Academy consistently scores high in the State of Florida Voluntary Pre-K program. Our VPK classroom, along with all others, always receives accolades from anyone visiting our center. Phrases like: "the best I've seen" are routinely used.
Our hands-on age-appropriate curriculum offers math, science, art, and literature activities that provide great experiences for our anxious learners as they prepare for the adventures of kindergarten.
Pre-K's are ready to expand their horizons to seek out information, explore new territory and make sense of all they encounter. The Pre-K program helps pre-schoolers develop reading and pre-math skills, as well as build social skills and self-confidence in an enriching, trusting environment. Our teachers work with children using hands-on learning experiences to build upon your children’s knowledge base and to reinforce concepts. We take advantage of learning opportunities to extend play and challenge children’s thinking and reasoning skills.
Language and Literacy: Your Pre-K child's vocabulary now includes an average of 1,500 words. He can communicate elaborate stories by stringing up to eight words together at a time. His narratives will not only be about things that have happened to him, but also about dreams and fantasies. For the most part, his speech is quite clear, and grammatical errors occur less frequently.
Gross/Fine Motor Skills: The Pre-K program continues to focus on the gross motor skills of your child. Mostly through play, by the end of this year, your child’s coordination and balance will be similar to that of an adult's. Activities such as copying simple geometric patterns, printing letters, cutting and pasting, as well as painting with a paintbrush, will further hone your child’s fine motor skills.
Cognitive Skills: The curriculum addresses four/five-year-olds’ increasing cognitive skills, which include problem solving and logical thinking. Children will be encouraged to use their creativity and curiosity when they encounter new tasks, such as building a city out of blocks. To develop logical-thinking skills, teachers read carefully selected children’s books throughout the day, encouraging the children to answer questions and express opinions about the stories.