Reading is essential to learning. The Discovery Years Emergent Literacy Program lays a solid foundation for your children to become successful learners. Our first priority is to instill a love of reading through reading and writing centers, extensive school libraries with quality literature, and the celebration of children’s authors. Through the use of storytelling props, vocabulary building games, and engaging songs, rhymes and fingerplays, oral language is enhanced. To promote early reading experiences, classrooms are set up in a print rich environment which sends the message that print represents the spoken word. Early writing activities are presented daily to help children gain an understanding of the written word. Early literacy is a complex topic, but through a thoughtful, balanced approach, it can be achieved with purpose and meaning.
Teaching children about world cultures helps them appreciate the differences in people and their traditions. We believe it is important to not only show traditional customs from a region, but modern day practices that children engage in. A part of this curriculum includes introducing basic vocabulary through songs, games, and movement activities.
Teachers use a sensory approach by incorporating food, music, dancing, smells, and textiles from other cultures into the classroom making these lessons meaningful while bringing the world a little closer to home.
Our four-year-old preschool classes celebrate the end of the year with a graduation ceremony. Children rehearse special songs to sing for the audience – their families. With a little pomp and circumstance, and not a dry eye in the house, children are awarded their diplomas sending them on their way to kindergarten! No celebration is complete without cake and refreshments. Graduation is a proud and memorable day for children, parents and teachers alike.
At Discovery Years, we know that literacy and the life long love of reading begins with a daily exposure to quality literature. When children are read to regularly, they develop the motivation and many of the skills they will need to become successful readers. To promote this enthusiasm, Discovery Years participates in the Scholastic Book Clubs. Along with the monthly catalogs, Discovery Years holds annual book fairs with Scholastic Books.