All Bright Beginnings Preschool class curricula are researched based and developmentally appropriate. California Preschool and Kindergarten standards guide our curriculum.
All the Level 3 – 10 and STEAM classes receive state funding and include parent participation in the classroom and monthly parent meetings.
Parents registered in these classes who are interested in a career working with young children are also eligible for tuition free Early Childhood Education classes through Foothill and De Anza college.
Preschool classes are divided by age:
Level 3: Toddler Preschool ONLINE: Children 12 – 24 months
Level 4: Toddler Preschool: Children 12 – 24 months
Level 5/6: Children 2 years old.
Level 7/8 and Level 8: Children 3 & 4 years old
Level 9: Children 3, 4 and 5 years old
Level 10: Children 4 and 5 years old.
STEAM: Children 3 – 5 years old.
These different groupings allow us to tailor the curriculum to the development of each age, building upon and adding new skills at each level.
All Level 3 – 10 preschool classes plus the multi-age STEAM classes include parent education meetings. In addition to building community the monthly parent ed meetings give you additional information on child development, strategies to help with child rearing, and time to share ideas and ask questions. Parents read and respond to a variety of pertinent articles and books that increase their understanding of their child and other children. Meeting times and days are decided by each class. There is a minimum of one meeting per month.
Program for Toddlers 12 – 24 months old: Level 3 and Level 4 Preschool engage your toddler though a variety of fun activities including music, movement, simple art projects, games and activities, and stories. Young children learn best by doing. Each class provides stimulating activities that are appropriate for this age group. Level 3 is an ONLINE class and Level 4 is held in our preschool classroom. Parent meeting topics focus on toddler development, topics include, nutrition, tantrums, and setting limits.
Program for children 2 years old: Level 5 /6 Preschool engages the children through the use of music, movement, and art activities where they have opportunities to practice counting, identify colors, build vocabulary and follow a routine. A simple art project exposes the children to different media and reinforces the lessons of the day. Songs and story time increase language skills, memory, and literacy concepts. Movement activities build listening skills and increase knowledge of directional words. Parent meeting information covers general development of a two-year-old, tantrums, separation anxiety, nutrition, potty training, and lots more.
Programs for children 3 and 4 years old: Level 7, 7/8, and Level 8 Preschool children attend class two or three times each week. Music is again used to reinforce language and listening skills. Directional games develop a knowledge of opposites and rhyming words. Simple math and science activities are included. Children can identify what objects sink and which float through simple experiments. Reading time increases as does the child’s knowledge that a story has a beginning, a middle and an end. Children in these classes learn the days of the week, names of the months and reinforce counting skills. Art projects tie the lessons together and give children a chance to develop color recognition and fine motor skills. Parent meeting information covers typical 3-and 4-year-old development, nutrition, literacy, the value of traditions, sibling rivalry and much more.
Programs for children 3, 4 & 5 years old. Level 9 Preschool children attend class three times each week. This class bridges the Level 8 and Level 10 curriculum. In addition to all Level 8 activities, Level 9 includes small group instruction in math, science, and language arts, and beginning in January, Level 9 children complete a full alphabet unit. Parent meeting information covers topics of interest to parents of children 3 – 5 years of age including setting limits, literacy, nutrition, development, and preparing for Kindergarten.
Programs for children 4 and 5 years old: Level 10 Preschool children attend class four or five times each week. Level 10 prepares your child for entry to Kindergarten or Transitional Kindergarten the following school year. Children learn to follow directions and the class routine which includes a variety of weekly small group activities in math, science, and language arts. They have an opportunity to share ideas with the rest of the class which develops language and confidence. Math activities include counting, sorting, creating, and identifying patterns. Language arts activities include lower- and upper-case letter recognition, letter writing, phonics, introduction to one syllable words, storytelling and journaling. Science experiments are hands-on, child friendly and encourage critical thinking. Art and follow up activities develop creativity, fine motor skills, and introduce children to a variety of media.
Parent meetings focus on typical 4 and 5-year-old behaviors, setting limits, building literacy, raising a resilient child, identifying your child’s learning style, and how to choose and register for Kindergarten. In addition, all Level 10 children are assessed for Kindergarten readiness in the spring. Parents meet one-on-one with their teacher and discuss the assessment results. STEAM: Children 3 – 5 years old attend one or two classes each week.
STEAM will focus on a Science, Technology, Engineering or Math skill or concept each day. Art projects designed to reinforce these concepts are included in each class. STEAM engages your child in experiments, design, critical thinking activities and is fun! Simple hands-on projects are utilized. Children are encouraged to think and discuss what they are doing and what they are observing. Parent meeting is designed to help parents understand how to stimulate their child’s STEM learning in easy practical ways. Other topics may be covered based on the interest of the group.