Georgia Pre-K and Florida VPK

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Georgia Pre-K

Established in 1993 and funded by the Georgia Lottery for Education, the Pre-K Program provides 4 year-old children with a high quality preschool experience.

Each child is supported in his efforts to make decisions, think creatively and solve problems at his own pace; providing the learning experiences needed to establish a solid academic foundation.

To participate, your child must be 4 years old on September 1st of the given school year. Program hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and follow local public school calendars. The core instructional program is free; however, fees may be charged for meals, and extended day services.

We use the HighReach Learning Approach in our Pre-K classrooms. This approach is theme based and utilizes a balance of child initiated and teacher facilitated learning opportunities with hands-on activities where your child can explore and manipulate real objects and events. It encourages children to solve problems, be creative, be independent, explore, manipulate, investigate, and discover. It emphasizes on developing the whole child – physically, cognitively, and socially. Curriculum includes a suggested scope and sequence of activities to promote development of the whole child. In this program children will develop skills in language and literacy, math, science, social studies, and creativity. They will build listening skills, phonological awareness, reading and writing skills, expressive language skills, an understanding of numbers, patterns, and shapes and so much more.

The classrooms are arranged into clearly defined learning areas that include Language and Literacy, Math/Manipulative, Dramatic Play, Art, Blocks, Science, Music and Movement, and Outside Play. A predictable daily routine is followed and posted for children (readers and non-readers) to see. They will work on social and emotional development as well as health and physical development. This program encourages positive interactions to better enhance children’s feelings of comfort, security and self-esteem. Self-control, responsibility and respect for self, others and property are key skills introduced in these classrooms. Children will develop an appreciation of their roles as members of the family, classroom, and the community and a respect for differences in people.

The children will participate in a variety of gross-motor activities to develop control, balance, strength, and coordination. They will participate in activities that foster fine motor development. Children will understand healthy and safe living practices. This program addresses all phases of learning, and assessment is ongoing and involves parents. At the end of the school year, activities are planned to prepare the children and families for the transition to kindergarten.

For more information on the High Reach curriculum, please visit www.highreach.com.

Call in advance to find out about special requirements to be eligible for the Georgia Pre-K program, including proof of residency, and to assure there are openings, contact your local Georgia-based Growing Room school.

Florida Voluntary Pre-K (VPK)

Florida was the first state to initiate a pre-kindergarten experience available to all children regardless of income. If a child is age four before September 1, the child is eligible to attend a Voluntary Pre-kindergarten Program (VPK), which is offered at Growing Room. The State of Florida standards state that children be prepared for a kindergarten experience with 540 hours of instruction in classes with a 1:11 ratio of teacher to students and no more than 22 children in a classroom.

Growing Room far exceeds parents’ expectations and teachers regularly find our VPK children well-prepared and ready to learn when they reach the Kindergarten level. That’s because we offer a balance of child-initiated and teacher-facilitated learning opportunities with hands-on activities where your child can explore and manipulate real objects and events. These activities encourage children to:

Solve problems
Be creative
Be independent
Investigate
Discover

Growing Room emphasizes development of the whole child – physically, cognitively and socially. In our VPK program, children will develop skills in:

Language and literacy
Math
Science
Social studies
Creativity

They will build listening skills, phonological awareness, reading and writing skills, expressive language skills, and build an understanding of numbers, patterns, shapes and so much more.

Our Florida VPK classrooms are arranged into clearly defined learning areas that include language and literacy, math/manipulative, dramatic play, art, blocks, science, music and movement, as well as outside play. Children work on social and emotional development as well as health and physical development. This program encourages positive interactions to better enhance the child’s feelings of comfort, security and self-esteem. Self-control, responsibility and respect for self, others and property are key concepts they’ll learn. Children also develop an appreciation of their roles as members of the family, classroom and the community as well as a respect for differences in people.

Physical development is also emphasized. Growing Room VPK children participate in a variety of gross-motor activities to develop control, balance, strength and coordination. They participate in activities that foster fine motor development and begin to understand healthy and safe living practices.

This program addresses all phases of learning and assessment is ongoing, involving parents and caregivers.

Call in advance to find out about special requirements to be eligible for the Florida VPK program, including vouchers, and to assure there are openings, contact your local Florida-based Growing Room school.

Infant Daycare