Thematic Approach
The thematic approach is used for curriculum development at CPCS. Thematic teaching enhances learning by allowing children to make connections between various experiences during they school day.
Themes may include the following:
~Family Animals Shapes
~Nursery Rhymes Dinosaurs Seasons
~Colors Holidays Weather
~Texas/Western Plants/Seeds Five Senses
Faith Building
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.” Galatians 5:22
~Create Christian atmosphere in the classroom
~Children will see themselves as God’s Children
~Feel secure in God’s love and care
~Respond to God’s love and care for others
~Identify the Bible as God’s Word and God’s Book
~Prayer, spontaneous prayer, “Prayer Bear”
~Listen to Bible Stories
~Sing and Praise God
No doctrine is taught as we come together from different denominations, but our goal is to partner with parents and guide the children on their spiritual journey.
Reading/Readiness
~Speaks and expresses ideas in a social group by asking questions, retelling stories
~Role plays and participates in creative dramatics
~Follows two-step directions
~Listens to short stories and simple poems; develops a love for books
~Begins to develop eye-hand coordination
~Engages in simple conversations using four to six word sentences
~Learns to recognize and print first name
~Visual and auditory memory
~Holds writing utensil correctly
~Tells full name, age and gender
~Letter recognition and phonetics
Math
~Points to and labels shapes
~Match objects
~Classifies objects into two given categories (size, shape or color)
~Understands concepts of full and empty
~Rote counts to 30
Science
~Explore and discuss the world in which we live
~Learn about a variety of animals and their habitats
~Explore plant life
~Learn through hands-on activities (experimentation)
~Cooking
Art
Art gives children the chance to use their imagination, to express their individuality, and to be creative while having fun.
Introduction to:
~Cutting and scissors safety
~Crayons, markers, pencils and watercolors
~Painting: finger, sponge, marble, straw, prints, splatter and easels
~Stimulate CREATIVITY
Play
~The child will be provided with plenty of opportunities for play
~Children will be able to choose what they want to play with and with whom
~Child development shall be fostered through a selection of a variety of equipment
~Provide for large muscle development
~Provide for construction activities and for the development of manipulative skills
~Encourage social interaction
~Provide for intellectual stimulation
~Encourage creative expression
Movement
Children will be provided with opportunities to develop in these areas:
~Movement Awareness – body awareness, rhythm, eye-hand & eye-foot coordination,
spatial awareness
~Locomotor Skills – walking, running, leaping, jumping, hopping, galloping, skipping,
body rolling, sliding
~Nonlocomotor Skills – dodging, stretching/bending, turning/twisting, pushing/pulling,
swinging/swaying
~Manipulative Skills – ball rolling, throwing, bouncing, striking, kicking, catching, trapping
~Health Related Fitness – basic nutrition, flexibility, aerobic endurance
~Love For Movement!!!
Spanish
The children will be introduced to the Spanish language through songs, books and interaction with the Spanish teacher.
~Color words
~Counting
~Parts of the body
~Animals/ocean animals
~Food
~Family
~Shapes
~Days of the week; names of the months
~Basic conversational phrases (hello, goodbye, my name is, etc.)
~Hear familiar stories in Spanish (such as Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Eric Carle)
~Hear songs in Spanish such as:
Hello “Hola” Song, Good Bye, “Adios” Song, Good Morning “Buenos Dias” Song, Color Song
Discipline
~Children will learn to make appropriate choices and be accountable for their choices
~Teachers will talk with children about inappropriate behavior and discuss alternatives
~Parents may be asked for a conference to discuss chronic discipline problems
~The school has the right to terminate the enrollment of any child that hinders the learning and the safety of other children