Our comprehensive and developmentally appropriate preschool program is designed to promote each child’s intellectual, social, physical, and emotional growth. All games and activities are skill-based and goal-oriented, allowing children to grow and learn through everything that they do in our nurturing early childhood education environment.

The curriculum at Lamorinda Jewish Preschool is based on age-appropriate and developmentally accepted early childhood education practices. The classroom setup is comprised of learning centers which include blocks, art, dramatic play, books, manipulatives, sensory exploration, and scientific discovery. These centers allow children to make choices and actively explore through hands-on learning experiences. Children learn by interacting with their peers, teachers, and the varying elements in their environment. Each center has a specific purpose and, with teacher guidance, supports the children’s emotional, cognitive, social, and physical growth.

The daily preschool schedule is planned to include active and quiet times, gross and fine motor activities, and child-initiated as well as teacher-guided learning opportunities. Outdoor play (weather permitting) or indoor movement activities are scheduled each day to support healthy physical development and social interaction.

Planning for the classroom involves consideration for both age appropriateness for the group and the individual needs of each child. Recognizing that every child learns differently, we use a variety of teaching methods and educational materials to teach each lesson. Children’s interests are explored through inquiry, creativity, observation, and research methods.

Assessment is also an important part of our preschool curriculum. A portfolio for each child contains developmental checklists, work samples, and anecdotal records. We endeavor to ensure that children reach their individual potential and continue to grow with confidence and success.

We integrate an emergent curriculum approach into a thematic learning approach to create a synthesis of programs that include the best guided and individualized educational opportunities for young children.

Intellectual:

We encourage children to develop self-motivation, active investigation skills through questioning, exploring, and observing, as well as the thinking and problem-solving abilities needed to thrive in a world of challenge and opportunity. Children are surrounded by books, literacy experiences, language-rich activities, and exposure to the alphabet to prepare them for pre-reading and early literacy development.

Social:

We encourage each child to work and play cooperatively with others, develop language and communication skills, respect the rights and privacy of their peers, and most importantly develop kindness, courtesy, helpfulness, empathy, and acceptance.

Physical:

Children are provided with ongoing opportunities to develop gross and fine motor skills, finger strength and dexterity, hand-eye coordination, and body awareness through movement, sensory play, art, and active exploration.

Emotional:

Children are encouraged to develop a positive self-concept, understand the difference between right and wrong, and develop responsibility and independence. They are encouraged to recognize that people are different, to be accepting of others, and to learn constructive ways to respond to others and express their feelings.

Integrating Tradition and Jewish Pride

Lesson plans at Lamorinda Jewish Preschool are built around the events influencing the children at the time they are being taught. Weather changes, special animal habits, national celebrations, nature, and Jewish holiday seasons all help determine what is brought into the classroom throughout the year. These experiences are woven into the general preschool curriculum to allow children to learn from the world around them through meaningful and hands-on learning opportunities.

During the season of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, when it is traditional to dip apples into honey and blow the shofar (a ram’s horn), we take the opportunity to make the holiday a scientific and sensory learning experience. Children learn all about apples, honeybees, how honey is made, and different kinds of animals with horns and antlers.

During Chanukah, when it is traditional to light the menorah at home, children learn about fire safety, firefighters, and the important role they play in helping our communities. This pattern continues throughout the year as our Jewish preschool curriculum creates meaningful experiences that help children develop a strong connection to Jewish traditions, community, and pride.