Callahan Learning Center - 3 Year Old Class
Marvin* joined CLC when we opened in August.
Typical Daily Timeline** 8:00 am Arrival 8:30 am Breakfast 9:00 am Outside Time 9:30 am Large group time 10:00 am Small group activities 10:30 am Learning Centers 12:00 pm Lunch 12:30 pm Rest time 3:00 pm Snack 3:30 pm Small group activities 4:00 pm Outside time 4:30 pm Learning Centers 5:30 pm Departure |
Preschool is a very exciting age! A child’s vocabulary has expanded greatly and they are finally able to express themselves. They have also gained some very exciting physical skills – running, jumping, hopping. Many three year olds are very eager to explore the world around them and use these new skills. Over the next year, their skills and abilities will continue to grow rapidly. The highly trained staff at Callahan Learning Center are ready to ask the question every three year old asks – “why?”.
The goal of the three year old class is to prepare the children for Pre-K. They will work on social skills as well as academic skills. Three year olds are very active. Their classroom is designed to allow for plenty of physical activity. The class schedule offers them the chance to explore and play freely, mixed with times of structured learning. This balance in play based learning and teacher guided activities has been shown to be the most successful in school readiness. In our program, your child will be exposed to concepts in math, literacy, science, art, music, and technology while building on essential developmental skills – social, emotional, physical, developmental, and cognitive. The curriculum program that we use has been designed using Virginia’s Foundation Blocks for Learning - a tool that educators use to ensure school readiness for students entering Kindergarten. We offer an assessment system that will track your child’s progress throughout the year. Twice a year we conduct Parent/Teacher conferences so that you can keep up to date with your child’s development. Our staff are always available to answer questions about your child. The three year old class uses the following schedule we highlight here as the foundation for their day. However, the teachers are also encouraged to use flexibility appropriate to this age group. Very few items on the schedule are required. We want the children to get the most out of their day and be given every opportunity possible for growth and development! The teachers are free to adjust the schedule as they need, to allow for extended time on a particular project or to explore and area the children are showing an interest in. Highlights:
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A Day at CLC for our Three Year Old Class
Meet Marvin*, a 3 Year Old Attending Our Program.
Arrival – Marvin arrives at the center. He is very excited to see his friends and teachers. He waves good-bye to his mom as he places his things in his cubby.
Breakfast – The menus at Callahan Learning Center have been developed using USDA guidelines. We are proud to offer a variety of nutritious food options. Today’s breakfast is english muffins, bananas. Marvin helps set the table by placing a plate at every seat. While the children eat, the teacher talks to the children about the day planned ahead.
Outside – Marvin and his friends love to start their day on our large playground! They have plenty of room to run around, climb, and explore. Starting their day outside allows their imaginations to run free. It’s a great way to ensure a three year old has a successful day. They are all encouraged to explore, run, and be loud while on the playground. Not only does outside time allow the children to expel energy, it also encourages use of gross motor muscles, allows their imaginations to work, and helps them have a sense of freedom.
Group time – After cleaning up from breakfast, the class prepares for group time. They begin with a large group activity. Traditionally known as circle time, this is a chance for the class to practice skills they will need to be successful in Pre-K. During this time, the class will sing songs, read books, practice counting, work on colors and shapes, and many other necessary skills. Afterward, the children are divided into two groups. Each group will participate in an activity that is curriculum based and will have a goal of helping children meet a development milestone. Marvin is very excited because art is one of his favorite activities!
Learning Centers – During learning centers, the children are free to explore the classroom. This is when play based learning is happening. Marvin and his friends interact with one another, ask questions, learn social skills, and work on independent skills. This is one of the most important parts of their day. Children learn best through play. They are eager and curious by nature. When this curiosity is fostered, children develop a love of learning and become much more successful.
Lunch – Part of our philosophy is creating an environment of community within the classroom. Each child helps to clean up the classroom. The children are encouraged to help each other and to be responsible for the belongings of the classroom. Once the room is back in order, everyone is ready for lunch! Marvin and his friends wash their hands and help set the table. Today’s lunch is baked chicken, steamed broccoli, mixed fruit, a roll, and milk. The class eats family style, meaning the teachers help the children serve themselves and everyone sits at the table together. Table manners and proper social skills are encouraged at meal times.
Nap time – The three year olds have had a very busy morning. Their bodies need time to rest and recuperate. Unfortunately, this is Marvin’s least favorite part of the day. From 12:30 to 2:30 every day the children will be allowed to rest. Although sleeping is not required, this is such an important time for a child’s development! The teachers play soft music, sit with the children, rub their backs, and tuck them in for a nap. After thirty minutes of rest, Marvin is still awake. Our highly trained staff recognize that children stop napping at different ages. Marvin’s teachers gives him a puzzle that he can do while his friends sleep.
Snack – Once all the children are awake, they have a snack to reenergize for the afternoon. Today, snack is yogurt and granola. Yum!
Group time – After snack, Marvin and his friends participate in another small group activity. These small group activities are helping prepare the three year olds for activities in the Pre-K class. At Callahan Learning Center our goal is help every child be successful and to become lifelong learners.
Outside – Marvin gets the opportunity to go outside again every afternoon. Three year olds are full of energy. They need plenty of time to practice physical skills. Allowing them to freely explore what they are curious about helps foster a love of learning. Giving children plenty of opportunities to explore and play is fundamental to their development.
Learning Centers – After a fun day of exploring, learning, and interacting Marvin and his friends are ready to end their day with some free play. Although educators know that most learning occurs during free play, there are no expectations placed on what activities or centers the children must participate in. They are allowed to explore at their leisure and wrap up any projects they have started earlier in the day.
Departure – As the day winds down, Marvin enjoys some quiet time in the classroom library. He enjoys looking through books and talking about the pictures he sees. He quietly waits for his mom to pick him up.
Arrival – Marvin arrives at the center. He is very excited to see his friends and teachers. He waves good-bye to his mom as he places his things in his cubby.
Breakfast – The menus at Callahan Learning Center have been developed using USDA guidelines. We are proud to offer a variety of nutritious food options. Today’s breakfast is english muffins, bananas. Marvin helps set the table by placing a plate at every seat. While the children eat, the teacher talks to the children about the day planned ahead.
Outside – Marvin and his friends love to start their day on our large playground! They have plenty of room to run around, climb, and explore. Starting their day outside allows their imaginations to run free. It’s a great way to ensure a three year old has a successful day. They are all encouraged to explore, run, and be loud while on the playground. Not only does outside time allow the children to expel energy, it also encourages use of gross motor muscles, allows their imaginations to work, and helps them have a sense of freedom.
Group time – After cleaning up from breakfast, the class prepares for group time. They begin with a large group activity. Traditionally known as circle time, this is a chance for the class to practice skills they will need to be successful in Pre-K. During this time, the class will sing songs, read books, practice counting, work on colors and shapes, and many other necessary skills. Afterward, the children are divided into two groups. Each group will participate in an activity that is curriculum based and will have a goal of helping children meet a development milestone. Marvin is very excited because art is one of his favorite activities!
Learning Centers – During learning centers, the children are free to explore the classroom. This is when play based learning is happening. Marvin and his friends interact with one another, ask questions, learn social skills, and work on independent skills. This is one of the most important parts of their day. Children learn best through play. They are eager and curious by nature. When this curiosity is fostered, children develop a love of learning and become much more successful.
Lunch – Part of our philosophy is creating an environment of community within the classroom. Each child helps to clean up the classroom. The children are encouraged to help each other and to be responsible for the belongings of the classroom. Once the room is back in order, everyone is ready for lunch! Marvin and his friends wash their hands and help set the table. Today’s lunch is baked chicken, steamed broccoli, mixed fruit, a roll, and milk. The class eats family style, meaning the teachers help the children serve themselves and everyone sits at the table together. Table manners and proper social skills are encouraged at meal times.
Nap time – The three year olds have had a very busy morning. Their bodies need time to rest and recuperate. Unfortunately, this is Marvin’s least favorite part of the day. From 12:30 to 2:30 every day the children will be allowed to rest. Although sleeping is not required, this is such an important time for a child’s development! The teachers play soft music, sit with the children, rub their backs, and tuck them in for a nap. After thirty minutes of rest, Marvin is still awake. Our highly trained staff recognize that children stop napping at different ages. Marvin’s teachers gives him a puzzle that he can do while his friends sleep.
Snack – Once all the children are awake, they have a snack to reenergize for the afternoon. Today, snack is yogurt and granola. Yum!
Group time – After snack, Marvin and his friends participate in another small group activity. These small group activities are helping prepare the three year olds for activities in the Pre-K class. At Callahan Learning Center our goal is help every child be successful and to become lifelong learners.
Outside – Marvin gets the opportunity to go outside again every afternoon. Three year olds are full of energy. They need plenty of time to practice physical skills. Allowing them to freely explore what they are curious about helps foster a love of learning. Giving children plenty of opportunities to explore and play is fundamental to their development.
Learning Centers – After a fun day of exploring, learning, and interacting Marvin and his friends are ready to end their day with some free play. Although educators know that most learning occurs during free play, there are no expectations placed on what activities or centers the children must participate in. They are allowed to explore at their leisure and wrap up any projects they have started earlier in the day.
Departure – As the day winds down, Marvin enjoys some quiet time in the classroom library. He enjoys looking through books and talking about the pictures he sees. He quietly waits for his mom to pick him up.
* Marvin is a real CLC Student, his name and image used with permission. The story is representative of a day at CLC, but does not represent a specific day.
**This timeline is a representative day for a child at Callahan Learning Center. Weather, Holidays, Special Theme Days, and many other things can change the actual calendar of a specific day.
**This timeline is a representative day for a child at Callahan Learning Center. Weather, Holidays, Special Theme Days, and many other things can change the actual calendar of a specific day.