All Bright Beginnings Preschool class curricula are researched based and developmentally appropriate. California Preschool and Kindergarten standards guide our curriculum. Additional information about curriculum can be found in the Parent Handbook.
All the Level 3 – 10 classes receive state funding and include parent participation in the classroom and quarterly 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 and the Adult School’s Dual Enrollment Program. For additional information please email Desirie Torres, school counsellor, at desirie_torres@fuhsd.org
Preschool classes are divided by age:
- Level 3: Toddler Preschool: Children 9 – 24 months
- Level 4: Preschool: Children 12 – 36 months
- Level 5/6: Children 2 years old.
- Level 7: Children 2.5 – 3 years old
- Level 8: Children 3 and 4 years old.
- Level 9: Children 2.5 – 4 years old.
- Level 10: Children 4 and 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 include parent education meetings. In addition to building community the 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.
Level 3 and 4 classes engage your child though a variety of fun activities including music, movement, simple art projects, games, and stories. Young children learn best by doing. Each class provides stimulating activities that are appropriate for this age group. Classes are held in our preschool classroom. Parent and child attend together. Class meets once a week during the 8-week session. Parent meeting topics focus on child development, topics include, nutrition, tantrums, language development, and setting limits.
Program for children 2 years old: Level 5 /6 Preschool engages the children using 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 more.
Programs for children 3 and 4 years old: Level 7, and 8 Preschool children attend class two three or four 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 more.
Programs for children 2.5 - 5 years old: Level 9 Preschool children attend class once each week. This class focus is on science and the natural curiosity of children. In addition to preschool activities, Level 9 includes introduction to scientific language and procedures. Each day has two to three hands-on science experiments. Level 9 can be taken by itself or together with Level 8 or specialty classes.
Programs for children 4 and 5 years old: Level 10 Preschool children attend class 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.
Additional information about curriculum can be found in the Parent Handbook.