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Welcome to FIRST STEP, Concord School's Prekindergarten program.  I have had the wondrous opportunity of being the early childhood teacher at Concord for over 20 years.

The goals of the FIRST STEP program are to:

  • present vehicles for self-discovery by the child

  • develop the tools needed for life-long learning by the child

  • provide classroom opportunities in which the child can interact with the environment and people within the environment

  • provide the child with opportunities for observation, experimentation, decision-making, generalization and application of knowledge

  • promote the child’s cognitive, social, emotional, physical, and expressive development

  • demonstrate the value of each individual within the group

  • promote the respect of each individual’s needs, experiences, and talents

  • facilitate parent involvement in the child’s basic educational growth and development

  • offer resources and opportunities to enhance parenting roles

FIRST STEP PHILOSOPHY AND CURRICULUM

Children learn through play.  Play is the child’s vehicle for interaction with the environment and for construction of knowledge.  It integrates all areas of the child’s development.  The FIRST STEP program is designed for children

 

 

who need support in any of the major areas of development: language, cognition, gross motor, fine motor, social-emotional, and perception.  Our aim is to reinforce a child’s natural love of learning.  The FIRST STEP curriculum is experiential and play-based.  It is organized around a multi-disciplinary, thematic curricular model.  The educational disciplines of language and literacy, math, perception, motor development, music, art, science, and social studies are therefore integrated within a theme’s activities and are not delineated as specific topics of isolated activities.

Some children need their learning environment adapted in order to derive the greatest impact from the situation.  Thematic, integrated organization provides additional contextual meanings to assist the child with application and generalization of knowledge and skills, thereby promoting social and emotional development in a natural, nurturing atmosphere.  Parents are included as part of the educational team.  Thus, students and their families are supported within the FIRST STEP program.

Disclaimer: School District 63 is not responsible for the content of any external site, and the inclusion of a link to any site does not constitute an endorsement by the District. The content of these pages may not be reproduced without written permission. Email webmaster@cassd63.org with comments.    Last modified 07/29/08