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   Preschool Plus+

If your child turns five after September 30th and you feel that your child would benefit from additional preparation for kindergarten, WSCCC has a special program to offer.

Preschool Plus children spend their day with others their own age who attend KindeRichment, our wrap-around program for children in half-day kindergarten. Their award-winning teacher, Ms. Annette, reinforces the skills being learned in kindergarten while reviewing skills that might need improvement.

Learning happens through emersion in a theme of interest to the children and projects selected around that theme which will strengthen children's skills.

 Ms. Annette is the school age program manager.  She fosters a love of learning for all the school age children enrolled through her enthusiasm for history, dramatic play and the thrill of discovery. Ms. Annette was awarded 'School Age Caregiver of the Year' in 2000 by the Cleveland Association for the Education of Young Children. Ms. Annette is joined by other teachers as children are bused to the center after school.

Below is a list of kindergarten-readiness skills.  Click on each title for more information:

1.  Does the child approach learning enthusiastically?
2.  Children need words from a wide background of knowledge
3.  The Ability to Listen
4.  The Desire to Be Independent
5.  The Ability to Play Well with Others
6.  Strong Fine-Motor Skills
7.  Basic Letter and Number Recognition
   
 More information:  Ohio Department of Education's Kindergarten Readiness Checklist
                               Preschool Plus+ Program hours and cost

1. Does the child approach learning enthusiastically? Is she eager to explore and
   discover? Does he ask questions, take initiative, and persist when tasks are difficult?
   At WSCCC we build on curiosity by providing rich learning experiences and when evident, actively exploring what interests the children.  And once started, children are encouraged to finish their projects.
    

2. Children need wide background knowledge about their world and the words to go with it.
   Research shows that one of the best predictors of later reading success is a well-developed
   oral vocabulary in kindergarten.  Children entering kindergarten should be learning vocabulary at the rate of five to six new words a day.  They retain words if they hear them several times in context and conversation.  Ms. Annette, the Preschool Plus+ teacher, was awarded school age teacher of the year in 2000 by the CAEYC due to the enthusiastic letters from parents describing the amazing experiences provided their children by Ms. Annette.  These include elections and government, the study of the old west, Native Americans and customs, Africa and its animals and cultures, ancient Egypt, Medieval times, Harry Potter, pirates - too many to list!
    

3. The Ability to Listen
   Listening is a key part of school behavior. Students must be able to concentrate on what the teacher is saying, listen carefully for directions, and tune in to the sounds in letters and words that are read to them.  This is a key indicator of successful reading and learning in school and in life.
    

4. The Desire to Be Independent
   Encouraging self-help skills is an important part of every day at WSCCC.  It's amazing how many kids go to kindergarten not knowing how to hang up a jacket.  It might be quicker for a parent or staff member to do it, but independence is critical for helping children adjust to school. Teachers expect children to:
   • Get coats on and off and hang them up
   • Follow simple two-step instructions such as "take off your boots and put on your sneakers"
   • Go to the bathroom and wash their hands
   • Blow their nose and cover their mouth when they cough
   • Fasten and unfasten simple buttons and snaps
   • Eat neatly and pour into a cup
   • Open up a juice box and get the straw in
   (Tying shoes is a developmental skill that often doesn't come until the first grade.  If children can't yet tie their shoes sneakers with Velcro fasteners are recommended at WSCCC and at school.)
    

5. The Ability to Play Well with Others
   Your child will need essential social skills such as sharing, compromising, turn-taking, and problem-solving. Children are naturally egocentric at this  age, and can't be expected to share everything.  But by the time they reach kindergarten, they should be able to express their feelings in words and begin to understand that two people can use the same thing at the same time.
   
   WSCCC works tirelessly on children 'using their words'. "May I have the block?" instead of grabbing it away from another child.  Also the response, "I'm glad to share my block with you." When we notice children sharing with others, we celebrate it by saying, "I'm so proud of you. It's really hard to share your favorite toy, but you were able to do it. Good for you!"
   
   We encourage children to problem-solve when conflict occurs, by stepping in when necessary and saying something like, "It looks like we're having a problem here. What can we do about it?"  Sometimes we need to offer solutions. A very important part of our day at WSCCC is helping children understand the feelings of others.  This nurtures compassion and empathy, values that are prized by kindergarten teachers.
    

6.  Strong Fine Motor Skills
Your child's hands must be strong enough to master coloring, cutting, pasting, and holding a pencil — fine-motor tasks that are used every day in kindergarten. If children can't hold a pencil correctly, they will fall behind.  To hold the pencil the right way, children need to develop the small muscles in their palms and fingers.  Ms. Annette provides daily creative activities based upon the theme of study or just for fun which help strengthen small muscle development.
 

7.  Basic Letter and Number Recognition
So much learning can happen without quizzing or sitting down with a pencil.   Lessons that unfold naturally as teacher and child sort Legos by color or shape or practice counting pretend pieces of pizza for sale.  Children recognize letters and work on beginning sounds in countless ways in our Preschool Plus+ classroom.

Teaching by immersion is Ms. Annette's mainstay.  Most importantly she always keeps the focus on fun!

The program is for a full day and a fixed schedule of three - five days for 10 months,
August through June.  Preschool Plus+ children will be combined with kindergarteners who attend half-day morning or afternoon and spend their day with Ms. Annette.  The child to teacher ratio will be 15:1. 

At the conclusion of the school year Preschool Plus+ children will need to enroll separately for the Summer Camp and pay at the Summer Camp Rate; see Summer Camp link for more information.