Preschool reading and language arts focuses on fluency, phonic skills, vocabulary building, writing and grammar. Students start with the alphabet and phonic sounds, while introducing and familiarizing students with high frequency words that they will encounter often. Students broaden and expand their vocabulary while focusing on words that help them to describe the world around them -- schools, neighborhoods, and nature.

Math for preschoolers focuses on number literacy through rote counting, rational counting, learning place value and the meanings and uses of fractions. By the end of preschool, students should be able to understanding the meaning, uses and representations of numbers.

Who are the people in your neighborhood? Preschool social studies introduces students to the communities they live in and the world around them, while also providing opportunities to expand vocabulary and world knowledge.

The Bethlehem Spanish language teacher works in partnership with the Pre-K classroom teachers using the Worlds of Wonders Program. The Spanish language makes connections to what students are learning in the Worlds of Wonders Unit. Spanish phrases, vocabulary and expressions are connected to theme topics in religion, math and/or writing. Students practice listening, speaking, reading and/or writing each class session. Activities may include but are not limited to songs/music, various art/written activities, games, story readings and role-playing.

Preschoolers at RTCA start every other day in chapel with their teachers and staff. Our early childhood Bible curriculum has an intense focus on building character. Children listen to various Bible stories of who God is, how God cares, and how God relates to His people.

At the end of kindergarten all students should understand:

• Who God is
• God as the Creator of everything
• God’s attributes (selected aspects)
• God loves each of us
• Basic sin (good vs. evil etc.)
• Memory verses
• Who Jesus is (special focus during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Resurrection Sunday)

Physical education is where preschoolers learn about space awareness and develop their motor skills. Running, hopping, skipping and balancing, throwing and catching are all important skills introduced in the early years. Students will also learn about personal space, boundaries, body parts, and interacting with objects and other people.

Students leave preschool able to

• Try new movements
• Use the body and movement to express self
• Identify elements of correct form for motor skills
• Use feedback to improve performance

Our preschoolers love music, and our music classes for preschool are in theme with the freedom of learning and interaction that is the hallmark of our program. Music in preschool includes activities such as singing, dancing, virtual instruments, listening maps, and authentic sound recordings, which help students learn about music concepts, reading music, performing and celebrational music.

By the end of preschool, students will have explored elements such as

• Duration
• Pitch
• Expressive qualities
• Beat
• Meter
• Rhythm
• Melody
• Harmony
• Dynamics
• Music background