Contact Information
Teachers: Moira McNabb O’Connell and Janet Forte
Location: Room 155 and 156
Hours: 8:30AM - 2:30PM (McNabb), 8:30AM - 12:30PM [1:30PM] (Forte)
Phone: 617.349.6530 x1552 (McNabb), x1562 (Forte)
Best times to call are before or after class time.
Objective
To
provide developmentally appropriate curriculum for 3-5 year old
children with and without special needs in fully accessible classroom
settings. Each classroom works to support the growth and development of
children, while addressing the strengths and needs of each individual
child. Teaching staff provide engaging and innovative curriculum that
meets the needs of all children in our diverse community and follows the
Massachusetts Department of Education Frameworks for Preschool.
Instructional Methods
Our
curriculum is based on best practices as outlined by the Massachusetts
State Curriculum Frameworks. We promote learning through hands-on play
and social experiences, as well as through direct teaching
methodologies. In addition, we foster both academic and social
development of individuals to build a strong classroom community through
group experiences (e.g. meetings, shared reading, music, mealtimes,
etc.)
Parent Participation and Communication
We encourage open parent-teacher communication and welcome parents to
visit our classrooms. Families also invited to participate in other
ways, such as volunteering, reading to the class, leading a special
project, etc. We maintain frequent communication with families via
newsletters, phone calls, notes, etc. Parents can make individual
appointments with teachers upon request.
Assessment
Progress
is monitored continuously throughout the year using both formal and
informal methods. Additional documentation of children’s growth and
development may include anecdotal note taking, photographs and a
collection of a child’s work. We also work alongside of our therapeutic
team to closely monitor the progress of children on Individualized
Educational Plans.
Subject Area Details
Language /Literacy: Throughout
all activities and routines of the day, children are provided
opportunities to develop skills in areas relating to language and
communication, including receptive and expressive vocabulary,
articulation, and attending skills. Literacy experiences include the use
of a variety of early childhood books, stories, poems, songs and
charts, as well as experiences with the alphabet, letter sounds and the
connection between oral language and print.
Mathematics: Preschool children require time to
explore and experiment with objects, materials and manipulatives.
Through active exploration children will develop a sense of numbers,
number operations and a sense of space.
Science: Preschool children require both the time
and the materials to explore, to investigate and “wonder” about their
world. We use both planned activities and “teachable moments” to promote
inquiry and investigation of materials, tools, machines and the natural
environment.
Social Studies: Preschoolers work to develop an
understanding of oneself in the context of one’s family, school and
community. In particular, we focus on our school community and their
home communities, and begin to identify the unique characteristics of
each. Preschoolers will also learn to communicate personal needs,
participate in school routines and to care for themselves and the
classroom environment.