Toddler Classroom
The toddler classroom, ages 10 months – 2 years provides a nurturing environment which establishes a trusting relationship and secure attachment between our youngest children and teachers.
The toddler teachers use their understanding of the natural curiosity of toddlers to create positive learning experiences in the key developmental areas. The classroom is designed to provide plenty of room to explore and develop fine and gross motor skills through sensory exploration and creative expression with special areas to practice crawling and walking, indoors and outdoors on their private playground. Our daily circle time provides introduction to letters, numbers, colors and shapes, with a strong focus on repetition of songs and books along with sign language to increase communication skills. The toddler class promotes self-confidence supporting burgeoning independence with new self-help skills such as feeding and dressing. Every aspect of the day encourages socialization among the children as the toddlers progress from solitary to parallel play and the first steps towards lasting friendship.
Preschool
The preschool classroom, ages 2 -3 years, provides a fun and creative environment for active, hands-on learning with greater emphasis on the concepts of letters, numbers, shapes and colors.
Small group learning centers such as arts and crafts, sensory exploration and science experiments provide opportunities for the children and teachers to discover new topics together each week. Our daily circle time promotes strong oral language skills and exposure to early literacy through songs, finger play poems and books. Throughout the day, during open-ended activities, dramatic play and outside playground time, children have opportunities to make choices and practice cooperation, engaging in associative play with others. The teachers foster independence by building routines to help the children understand transitions and supporting self-help skills such as hand-washing and putting on shoes. Our preschool class is where our children begin to grow and flourish as independent learners with care and attention to their unique needs and abilities.
Junior Pre-kindergarten
Our Junior Pre-kindergarten class, ages 3-4 years, provides a supportive, child-centered learning environment.
Lesson plans are developed with individual attention on each child’s learning style providing opportunities to make choices, solve problems and gain a greater understanding of the world around them. The JPK program focuses on pre-reading/writing: vocabulary, print motivation, print awareness, narrative skills and responsive listening, phonological awareness and letter recognition, along with pre-math skills: counting, sorting, patterning, sequencing and number recognition. Active, discovery learning ensures our children experience themselves as competent, capable and successful learners through fun and interesting activities.
Pre-kindergarten
Our VPK class, ages 4-5 years, provides a supportive, child-centered learning environment.
Pre-K is the foundation for building a love of learning and getting the students excited about school! Our classes promote lifelong independence, and social skills. Our program incorporates hands on learning that encourage creativity and discovery. Enrichments programs such as Spanish and music that pique interest in languages and the arts, and a warm loving environment that builds confidence and trust between the teacher and student. Encouragement, guidance and acceptance are all a part of what make our Pre-K (VPK) program different.
Our Pre-K program offers Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK is a state funded program that helps subsidize and offset the cost of early education in Florida). Island Prep has the most attendance options in town allowing us to meet the needs of start times and work schedules of all our families.
This program is available for children that will turn four by September 1st, for the program year. Please make sure to register your child online at www.ecs4kids.org
The certificate of eligibility will be needed to hold your child’s spot at Island Prep.