Early Learning Matters offers programs for ages 3-6 that include Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and Summer programming.
Components of ELM Classes
- Leadership training through the teaching of the 7-Habits
- Access to high quality tools, resources, and learning materials
- Weekly Kindermusik instruction
- STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) specific programming
- Block studio, movement room, art studio, yoga, and sensory experiences
- A low student to teacher ratio of 7:1
Learning Framework and KDIs
Early Learning Matters programs are developed based on a comprehensive learning framework comprised of eight critical content areas: Approaches to Learning, Social and Emotional Development, Physical Development and Health, Language, Literacy and Communication, Mathematics, Creative Arts, Science and Technology, and Social Studies. Within the framework are 58 key developmental indicators (KDIs) that define important learning goals for young children. Below is an expanding list of those content areas and KDIs:
Approaches to Learning
- Initiative: Children demonstrate initiative as they explore their world.
- Planning: Children make plans and follow through on their intentions.
- Engagement: Children focus on activities that interest them.
- Problem solving: Children solve problems encountered in play.
- Use of resources: Children gather information and formulate ideas about their world.
- Reflection: Children reflect on their experiences.
Social and Emotional Development
- Sense of competence: Children feel they are competent.
- Self-identity: Children have a positive self-identity.
- Emotions: Children recognize, label, and regulate their feelings.
- Empathy: Children demonstrate empathy toward others.
- Community: Children participate in the community of the classroom.
- Building relationships: Children build relationships with other children and adults.
- Cooperative play: Children engage in cooperative play.
- Moral development: Children develop an internal sense of right and wrong.
- Conflict resolution: Children resolve social conflicts.
Physical Development and Health
- Gross-motor skills: Children demonstrate strength, flexibility, balance, and timing in using their large muscles.
- Fine-motor skills: Children demonstrate dexterity and hand-eye coordination in using their small muscles.
- Body awareness: Children know about their bodies and how to navigate them in space.
- Personal care: Children carry out personal care routines on their own.
- Healthy behavior: Children engage in healthy practices.
Language and Literacy and Communication
- Comprehension: Children understand language.
- Speaking: Children express themselves using language.
- Vocabulary: Children understand and use a variety of words and phrases.
- Phonological awareness: Children identify distinct sounds in spoken language.
- Alphabetic knowledge: Children identify letter names and their sounds.
- Reading: Children read for pleasure and information.
- Concepts about print: Children demonstrate knowledge about environmental print.
- Book knowledge: Children demonstrate knowledge about books.
- Writing: Children write for many different purposes.
- English language learning: (If applicable) Children use English and their home language(s) including sign language).
Mathematics
- Number words and symbols: Children recognize and use number words and symbols.
- Counting: Children count things.
- Part-whole relationships: Children combine and separate quantities of objects.
- Shapes: Children identify, name, and describe shapes.
- Spatial awareness: Children recognize spatial relationships among people and objects.
- Measuring: Children measure to describe, compare, and order things.
- Unit: Children understand and use the concept of unit.
- Patterns: Children identify, describe, copy, complete, and create patterns.
- Data analysis: Children use information about quantity to draw conclusions, make decisions, and solve problems.
Creative Arts
- Art: Children express and represent what they observe, think, imagine, and feel through two- and three-dimensional art.
- Music: Children express and represent what they observe, think, imagine, and feel through music.
- Movement: Children express and represent what they observe, think, imagine, and feel through movement.
- Pretend play: Children express and represent what they observe, think, imagine, and feel through pretend play.
- Appreciating the arts: Children appreciate the creative arts.
Social Studies
- Diversity: Children understand that people have diverse characteristics, interests, and abilities.
- Community roles: Children recognize that people have different roles and functions in the community.
- Decision making: Children participate in making classroom decisions.
- Geography: Children recognize and interpret features and locations in their environment.
- History: Children understand past, present, and future.
- Ecology: Children understand the importance of taking care of their environment.
Science and Technology
Observing: Children observe the materials and processes in their environment.- Classifying: Children classify materials, actions, people, and events.
- Experimenting: Children experiment to test their ideas.
- Predicting: Children predict what they expect will happen.
- Drawing conclusions: Children draw conclusions based on their experiences and observations.
- Communicating ideas: Children communicate their ideas about the characteristics of things and how they work.
- Natural and physical world: Children gather knowledge about the natural and physical world.
- Tools and technology: Children explore and use tools and technology.
School Year and Summer Options
Pre-Kindergarten: 4’s
Whether a first school experience or having a foundation of Preschool, our Pre-Kindergarten students are often ready for increased cognitive experiences. ELM engages and challenges each student at this critical age. Children are exposed to a full Kindergarten curriculum in a non-threatening, age appropriate, and playful way.
Kindergarten: 5’s
Thinking skills and leadership development are at the heart of ELM’s Kindergarten program in the Sequoia Room. Students become proficient with traditional kindergarten content through an engaging and developmentally appropriate curriculum. We know that 5 year olds still learn best through exploration and play. Our Kindergarten curriculum is well-rounded to meet the needs of all learners!
Summer Programming: 3-6 Years
ELM’s summer camps focus on developing leaders in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). Camps range from 1 to 7 weeks in length and are intellectually stimulating and loads of fun!