The JDN Curriculum is mastery-based. At JDN, we want children to know that any new task can be mastered if it is broken down into small parts. The children are encouraged to think about the best way of accomplishing a task and then experiment. Student drawing on relationship is an integral key to mastery. The relationships between child and teacher, as well as, school and home are carefully developed and well maintained. With the teachers' guidance and support, they can experience the pleasure and rewards of trusting in oneself and working to completion. We feel this sets the stage for future child-teacher and home-school experiences.

Theme-Based Curriculum

Weekly lesson plans are posted in the classroom and on the children's lockers where parents can then refer to them throughout the week. The theme-based lessons reflect the interests of the children, seasons, holidays, and the community. Reading, fundamental math, science concepts, art, music, and physical development are all interwoven throughout the curriculum.

Through exploration of a topic the children are able to investigate many aspects of that subject to develop a general familiarity with it. Then, as a group, they may decide to expand on a particular aspect, or start something new that might present itself as a result of their discussion. Our goals are to promote intellectual curiosity, foster a love of learning, and create an atmosphere in which children feel that their teachers respect and validate their interests.

Curriculum — Concepts and Skills Addressed

Social Concepts:

    * The child in relation to the world, the family, school, and community
    * The need for investment in relationships with teachers and peers
    * The importance of communication, sharing, cooperation
    * The technique of negotiation
    * The need for rules to live by in the home, school and community
    * The exploration of, and developing acceptance of differences.

Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills:

    * Investment in efforts for inner rewards
    * Interest in learning and the development of a healthy curiosity about the world
    * Ability to listen attentively in a group
    * Ability to think through a problem and to find a solution
    * Ability to follow directions, as an individual and in a group setting
    * Ability to stay on task and work through to completion
    * Ability to transition from one activity to another smoothly

Fine motor Skills:

    * Development of eye-hand coordination and dexterity though work with small manipulative toys such as pegs, bead-stringing, legos, puzzles
    * Development of skill with painting and writing tools and scissors
    * Development of self-help skills such as snapping, buttoning, zipping, and tying

Large Muscle Skills:

    * Development of eye-hand coordination through use of bean bags and balls of varying sizes
    * Development of large muscle coordination through structured and unstructured activities that promote running, jumping, skipping, galloping, balancing, climbing, and swinging. Our indoor activity room or "muscle room" as it is called by some, provides us with plenty of room for movement when the weather isn't cooperating. Our spacious park-like playground lends itself to all types of outdoor exercise year-round, from sledding in winter to water play in summer. Our fabulous new spray park offers an exciting, fun way to cool off and explore water, as children dance and play in the spray.

Pre-Math Concepts:

    * Shapes; spatial relationships
    * Counting with one to one correspondence
    * Numeral recognition
    * Seriation (ordering of objects, large/small, more/less, etc.)
    * Classification (categories, relationships, associations)
    * Sequencing (time ordering-before/after, yesterday/today/tomorrow)

Our Literacy Goals and Books For Young Children - Books are always an essential part of every classroom. It is important for developing language and literacy to present books and reading as part of the daily curriculum. At JDN, each classroom has a cozy book area to spark interest and invite the child to read. Books are available and promoted as an activity at various times throughout the day.

Pre-Reading Concepts:

    * Classification
    * Identification of similarities and differences; letter recognition
    * Sound recognition (beginning phonics)
    * Progression from left to right, top to bottom progression
    * Time ordering of a story; and development of listening and comprehension skills

Science Concepts:

    * Life cycles: plants, animals, birds, fish, and insects
    * Birds: migration, nesting habits, feeding stations
    * Gardens: planning, preparation, tools, seeds, sun, water
    * Seasons: seasonal weather; color in nature; animal life; changes in nature, changes in our lifestyle brought on by changing weather, sports and leisure activities
    * Nature: trees, water, air, light, weather

Other JDN themes that are consistent in our programming relate to holidays. Both the Jewish holidays and the National holidays are discussed in terms reflecting the events and values they represent.

To learn more, call JDN Early Childhood Center at Bellefaire JCB.
Cleveland area: 216-320-8489 Or email infoJDN@bellefairejcb.org