CURRICULUM
& Schedule
Curriculum
The curriculum at Preschool of the Arts is based on age-appropriate best practices. The classroom set up is comprised of learning centers which include blocks, art, dramatic play, books, manipulatives, and scientific discovery. These centers allow the children to have choices in their learning and play and to actively explore. Children learn best by interacting with their peers, teachers, and the varying things in their environment. Each center has a specific aim and with the teacher’s guidance, helps the children’s emotional, cognitive, and physical growth.
Preschool of the Arts develops its own customized curriculum every year that is tailored to the evolving learning needs of our students. The objective of the curriculum is to provide activities that enhance social and emotional skills, foster independence, create a love for learning and ready the children for higher learning. Units incorporate a range of sensory, experiential, and developmentally appropriate activities that integrate Jewish values with the development of secular skills.
We utilize Howard Gardner’s pedagogical theory of multiple intelligences to reach every child.
Multiple Intelligences
Our teachers adhere to the Florida School Readiness Performance Standards to prepare weekly lesson plans that support children’s physical health, social and emotional skills, language, literacy and communication skills, gross and fine motor skills, interest in nature and science and cognitive development.
Preschool of the Arts uses the gold standard ASQ-3 developmental screening tool to monitor developmental progress and ensure children are meeting early childhood benchmarks.
STEM
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math are seamlessly integrated into our classroom environments. Since children are naturally curious, our inquiry-based approach is ideally suited to their development as critical thinkers and self-motivated learners. STEAM at POTA takes on an active, hands-on, and immersive approach to learning. Teachers introduce inspiring materials and objects to stimulate children’s curiosity and prompt them to think and ask questions. The scientific method comes alive in our classrooms beginning the moment the child makes an observation, which is documented by the teacher and the child. Children represent their thoughts and findings through drawing, writing, creating 3D models, dancing, singing, and creating graphs.
Arts Curriculum
Introducing children to the vast world of fine art sparks their imaginations and inspires their creativity. We celebrate our children's creativity by displaying their work throughout our school. Because we believe the artistic process to be even more valuable than the final product, we accompany each work with a transcription of the child’s thoughts about the piece, depending on the child’s age and/or verbal skills. Our state-of-the-art creative arts studio is the perfect environment for our two art specialists to guide our children in their creative exploration. In addition to class time art projects, our dedicated art instructors work with the children to expose them to different artists and their artistic styles.
Outdoor Play
Playing outside is not just about letting off steam, it allows children to develop physical strength, coordination, and balance. It can also provide opportunities for children to develop their imagination and creativity and learn important social skills. POTA’s state-of-the-arts playground and Outdoor Classroom provide areas for active, free, quiet, social, imaginative, creative, exploratory, and natural play. By inviting children to use their own initiative, explore possibilities, and take chances, we provide them with opportunities to learn.