K4 (Galilee)

Our K4 program is aligned with the Wisconsin State Standards which will prepare your child for the next step in their academic career. Our program is taught by experienced and passionate teachers educated in the field of early childhood curriculum and instruction.  Families can feel confident their child is receiving the best education possible.

Faith Academy knows you want the best for your child so we have specific learning targets that we focus on. These areas include:

  • Language & Literacy Development
  • Mathematics
  • Social Studies
  • Science
  • Technology & Engineering
  • Fine Arts
  • Social & Emotional
  • Physical Development
  • Spiritual Development

Language & Literacy

Literacy, Reading Readiness, Early Reading, Early Writing, Language Development

  1. Letter of the Week
    1. Identify
      1. Writing
    2. Weekly Sound Show and Tell
  2. Book look
    1. Word wall
      1. Vocabulary
      2. Sight words
    2. Reading Readiness
      1. Author
      2. Illustrator
  • Print/picture distinction
  1. Words in a sentence
  2. Left to right progression
  3. Front/back of the book
  • Identifying/matching letters and words to print
  • Punctuation
  1. LAP reading
  1. Auditory Exploration/Manipulation
    1. Sentences and phrases
    2. Syllables
    3. Beginning sounds
    4. Ending sounds
  2. Types of books explored
    1. Nursery rhymes
    2. Alphabet books
    3. Words/picture dictionaries
    4. Concept books
    5. Folk and fairy tales
    6. Easy to read
    7. Chapter books
    8. Information books
    9. Poetry
    10. Life experiences
    11. Award books
    12. Special days/holidays
    13. Add on/pattern books
    14. Wordless picture books
  3. Illustrator as artist
  4. Favorite authors
    1. Exploration: Tobias, Mercer, B. Martin, Sendak, Keets, Mayer, Bernstein, Lobel, Hoban, Dr. Seuss, etc.
  5. Creating stories
    1. Oral language and vocabulary development
    2. Using pictures as a story starter
    3. Using life experiences as a story starter
    4. Story sequence (1st, 2nd, last, and next)
  6. Print
    1. Writing center
    2. Journaling
    3. Dry erase boards
    4. Stamping
    5. Environmental print
    6. Alphabet worksheets
    7. Sandpaper tracers
    8. Magnetic letters
    9. Name tracing
  7. 10 Fundamental Principles in creating Super Readers:
    1. Principle 1: Super readers learn to ready by reading interactively.
    2. Principle 2: Super readers have a strong foundation in oral language.
    3. Principle 3: Super readers understand that reading and writing are mutually beneficial language processes.
    4. Principle 4: Super readers read broadly and deeply for authentic purposes.
    5. Principle 5: Super readers have access to many kinds of texts.
    6. Principle 6: Super readers need the freedom to make choices about what they read.
    7. Principle 7: Super readers need “reading role models.”
    8. Principle 8: Super readers thrive in a collaborative community of readers.
    9. Principle 9: Super readers develop the strengths and skills to read by spending time reading independently.
    10. Principle 10: Super readers are joyful readers.

Science

  1. Physical Science
    1. Physics- study of matter, energy, motion and force
    2. Chemistry- composition, properties, and transformations of substances
  2. Science as inquiry
    1. Questioning and seeking answers
    2. Make predications based on past experiences
    3. Identifying and using simple tools to extend observations
    4. Record observations and share ideas
  3. Earth and Space Science
    1. Geology- formation of the earth, its layers, forms and substance
    2. Astronomy- universe beyond the earth’s atmosphere
  4. Life science
    1. Biology- plants, animals, their structure, origin, growth, and reproduction
    2. Physiology- processes and functions of living things
    3. Ecology- relationships between living things and their environment
  5. Science in personal & Social Perspective
    1. Nutrition and health

Social Studies

Social studies is a very broad topic and can be presented as a standalone curriculum, or it can be interwoven into other areas of the curriculum.    In many cases, a child experiencing a classroom setting is their first sense of community outside of home.  Since there are so many topics included in this section, here are just a few examples of topics we might include:  community, the world regions and people, history, government, maps and globes, and so much more!  An example of activities might be a family tree, holidays around the world, having a special visitor come to the classroom, sorting animal habitats, or even talking about an upcoming election.  With each theme the classroom has, social studies is easily incorporated in multiple ways.

Technology & Engineering

Technology and engineering involves finding out how things are constructed and work, and thinking about what can make them work differently/better. Science tries to understand the natural world; the goal of engineering is to solve practical problems through the development of technologies. Technologies developed through engineering include the systems that provide our houses with water and heat; roads, bridges, tunnels, and the cars that we drive; airplanes and spacecraft; cellular telephones; televisions and computers; many of today’s children’s toys, and systems that create special effects in movies.

Preschool children can begin to develop concepts in engineering as they design, build, and test solutions through their play — as they construct sand castles and build cities out of blocks. They can also begin to understand that tools help people do things better or more easily, or do some things that could otherwise not be done at all.

Mathematics

  1. Numbers and operations
    1. Counting
    2. Quantity (sense of number)
    3. Comparisons
    4. Order
    5. Numerals
    6. Combining operations
    7. Separating operations
    8. Sharing operations
    9. Set making operations
  2. Geometry/spatial sense
    1. Shape
    2. Space
    3. Transformations
    4. Visualization
  3. Measurement
    1. Measurement attributes
    2. Comparing and ordering
  4. Patterns (algebra)
    1. Patterning in environment
    2. Extended patterns
  5. Data analysis
    1. Sorting and classifying
    2. Representing data
    3. Describing data

Fine Arts

  1. Explore famous artist and their works
  2. Elements of art
    1. Line
    2. Shape
    3. Color
    4. Space
    5. Texture
    6. Form
    7. Value
  3. Art techniques
  4. Exploring different art mediums
  5. Creative expression and movement
  6. Different styles of music and dance
  7. Famous composers
  8. Musical instruments
  9. Appreciation of the arts

Thursdays:  Music with Mr. John

Social & Emotional

Social and Emotional Development is crucial in the development in young children.  Strong social and emotional development can build a foundation for academic success in their future.  Children will learn effective ways to communicate, express themselves, manage emotions, and establish positive and rewarding relationships with others.

Daily interactions can become life lessons and a few effective strategies we incorporate are:

  • How to treat each other fairly with love and respect
  • How to take turns and share
  • How to encourage each other
  • How to help and pray for each other
  • How to be a cheerleader for each other
  • How to be a best friend to all of our classmates

Physical Development

Physical development includes both fine (hand movements) and gross motor skills (skills that require full body movements or large muscle movement).  Children must be given opportunities to experience different forms of movement and practicing refining skills.  Gradually, children will learn physical skills that will aid in their development into adulthood.

Areas of physical development we focus on are:

  • Sleep-Patterns and recognizing when sleep is needed
  • Dressing-able to dress themselves, zipping, snapping, fastening and buttoning, ties shoes
  • Toileting-able to use the bathroom responsibly and with minimal adult assistance
  • Eating-habits, uses utensils correctly, show interest in meal preparation and table etiquette
  • Safety Needs-able to recognize harmful situations and rule following
  • Healthy Lifestyle-personal hygiene and exercise
  • Motor Development-coordination, balance, strength, eye-hand coordination, control, object manipulation
  • Sensory Organization-using senses to experience the environment and act accordingly

Big muscle movement typically takes place on the playground or in the chapel, depending on the weather.  We do dances and exercising in the classroom as well, but space is limited.

Spiritual Development

Faith Academy gives children opportunities to learn about God, Kingdom Values, and how to become a respected member of society.  Children learn through Christian songs, simple prayers, stories, and activities.  Our children also get opportunities to take time out of the classroom and spend time learning with Pastor Stu and other church leaders in the chapel.  For more information see Fish Time.

Along with our Fish Time, the Kingdom values and spiritual goals are woven into the curriculum or conversations in a way that is easy for children to understand.

  1. Learning Kingdom Values
    1. Community (family, friends, surrounding community, helping others, playing with others)
    2. Worship (God loves me, prayer, singing to God, who are the spiritual leaders, faith, praise to God)
    3. Service (helping others, mission, empathy, compassion, unselfish acts of kindness)
    4. Grace (forgiveness, apology, giving thanks, help from God)
    5. Love (God loves me, unconditional, forgiveness, boundless mercy)
  1. Know they belong to God and are secure in His love and care.
  2. Experience awe and wonder about God and His work.
  3. Respond to God in attitudes and actions
  4. Develop social skills with grace and compassion
  5. Treating others with respect and love

Every other Wednesday:  Big Fish with Pastor Stu