Early Childhood Education Curriculum Goals

ADCCA offers a rigorous academic program for grammar and secondary school students. Our Early Childhood Education Program (ECP), grades Pre-Kindergarten through Kindergarten, is designed to prepare children for such a program. In addition, the program has been created to provide an enriched environment for early age children, which benefits their intellectual, physical, emotional, spiritual and social development. During the pre-grammar years, children develop characteristics which will affect their lifelong love of learning and prepare them for the rigors of a classical Christian education.

By completion of the Early Childhood Education Program, which is the end of Kindergarten, students should recognize and write the alphabet and have the necessary basic decoding skills needed for reading. In addition, students should express both an emotional and physical readiness for advancement. Each student should achieve competency in the areas of social development, math, reading, history, science, art, music, physical education, and Bible as reflected on the Kindergarten report card. The subject areas listed below give general guidelines for each of these curricula.

Social Development

One of the primary goals of the ECP is to develop confident and responsible individuals. Manners, sharing, taking turns, and cooperative play are taught, modeled, and practiced in the classroom.  Small class sizes and experienced, loving teachers create a place where each child knows they are loved and cared for which is essential for the development of happy, healthy students.

Bible

A Biblical worldview is central to all that we do in the early childhood classrooms and is integrated throughout the entire program. Students will memorize Bible verses and learn many Bible stories from the Old and New Testaments. Each student will learn of God’s great love for him/her not only through the activities and learning in the classroom, but also through the nurturing attention and guidance of a loving teacher.

Mathematics

The math program focuses on developing the foundational number concepts that are necessary for all mathematics. Through hands-on experiences, students will also learn skills in patterning, classifying, graphing, and basic geometry.

Reading (including Grammar, Spelling, and Penmanship)

The ECP reading program focuses on the skills needed for success in reading in a way that engages young minds. Students will be mastering important phonics skills, building vocabulary, and increasing comprehension through a variety of activities that are kinesthetic, auditory, and visual.

History (Social Studies)

By the end of the ECP, students will be knowledgeable and have explored the following topics; families, community and community helpers, a basic overview of the world God created (planets, continents and the various landforms) and key events and people in history (William Bradford, Christopher Columbus, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and current leaders in government).  In addition, students will learn more about our country and its state symbols and government structure as well as explore various countries and cultures throughout the world God created.

Science

The goal of the science curriculum is to help instill a curiosity and wonder about the amazing world that God created. Students will explore various topics throughout their years in the pre-grammar stage including senses, seasons, animals, nutrition, plant growth, and basic physics concepts.

Art

Students will use many different media to express their creativity and explore the world of art. As students experience the creative process, they build confidence, increase fine motor skills, and feel confident and uninhibited in their ability to create art.

Note: Students entering the Early Childhood Education Program must be toilet trained.