curriculum planning
curriculum planning GUIDELINES Plan curriculum on a weekly basis using the First Circle Annual Thematic Units, Areas of Learning, and MyCharacter™. Plan a minimum of 5 activities for each day (a combination of activities related to the theme and skill-based activities). Represent EVERY Area of Learning EVERY day. Include the monthly MyCharacter™ trait at least […]
MyCharacter
MyCharacterTM First Circle is very proud of our unique character education program, MyCharacter. Character determines how we respond to situations and circumstances of life. How a person thinks, acts, and feels reveals their character. Character shows in the habits and values a person demonstrates in their interactions with others, and how they treat themselves. Early […]
ready for learning, ready for life
ready for learning, ready for life We know success in school starts long before a child sets foot in a kindergarten classroom. Supportive teachers make sure each child grows at their own pace and is ready to flourish in the next phase of their educational journey, whether that’s achieving the next milestone, moving up to […]
themes
themes Authentic learning occurs when activities or projects offer children an opportunity to apply their knowledge or skills to real-world situations. Children engage and learn more when activities, discussions, and materials are related to their surroundings and to real life examples. Learning activities and content should be linked with a particular theme or project. Themes […]
healthy me
HEALTHY ME: developing a healthy body and learning to take care of myself Developing fine and gross motor skills in young children is an important aspect of early childhood education. It promotes physical development, coordination, and overall health. Here are some tips: Encourage activities that involve both gross motor skills (e.g. running, jumping, throwing) and […]
imagine that
IMAGINE THAT: learning to express myself creatively Arts Arts use creative thinking and imagination while exploring a variety of materials and methods. Here are strategies to help young children develop art skills and build a strong foundation for future artistic expression. Process over product: Focus on the creative process of making art rather than the […]
word smart
WORD SMART: learning how to communicate in the world around me Pre-reading Pre-reading refers to the skills and knowledge children acquire before they learn to read and write. Pre-reading components include: Oral language: Children learn to communicate and express themselves through spoken language, developing vocabulary, grammar, and social communication skills. Talk to them, read to […]
brain power
BRAIN POWER: learning how to think about the world around me We want to teach children 21st century skills. Young children’s natural curiosity of how the world works makes early childhood an optimal time to introduce them to STEM- based learning (science, technology, engineering, and math). Our goal is to harness young children’s innate drive […]
me + you
ME + YOU: learning about myself and those around me Teach prosocial skills Prosocial skills help or benefit another individual or the group. The 3 main prosocial behaviors for young children are helping, sharing, and cooperating.. Here are ways to help children learn prosocial behavior, which will help prevent challenging behavior: Be affectionate. You can […]
what children learn
what children learn AREAS OF LEARNING ME + YOU: learning about myself and those around me managing and expressing feelings, developing empathy developing positive self-esteem, self-identity, and self-management building character and learning emotional intelligence making friends and building positive relationships beginning awareness of history, geography, economics, civics, diversity, and culture BRAIN POWER: learning how to […]