Butterfly (ages 4-5 years)

We expand on basic skills learned in the Caterpillar class. We graduate from single letters and basic phonics to sounding out words and reading sight words. We learn how to count beyond 20 and introduce basic addition and subtraction. Students will also learn basic geometry and how to write numbers. During our daily core skills block, we will use books, games, songs, and manipulatives to help enhance the learning process. We encourage the children to discuss concepts behind the different themed vocabulary words each week and ask questions about them. We also allow them to talk about own experiences with and feelings about things that happen throughout the day.

We have weekly themes that cover a large variety of subjects. These themes include: body parts, emotions, family, clothes, school, in the home, food, fruit, vegetables, nature, weather, farm animals, ocean animals, zoo animals, transportation, and shapes. In addition to these themes we also have themes that will be done at least once during the year. Seasons and hy-giene are examples of such themes. For each of these themes we have a set of corresponding vocabulary, images, songs, and crafts to help the children to be able to remember them.

Social skills for preschoolers are dependent on three different abilities; emotional self-control, empathy, and verbal communication. At Hisaya International Preschool we base our social skills set on these three areas, helping to guide the children to become socially competent and able to flourish in social settings.

Throughout the year we will be using different texts to compliment the learning we are doing in the classroom. In addition to the following texts we will also be using worksheets from various educational websites.