Learning Skills

• Phonics Skills
  • Phonics Skills

    Before they can read independently, children must learn the relationship of letters to their sounds and be able to distinguish individual sounds, or phonemes, within words. Phonics skills help children sounds out new words (If I can read "pot", then I can read "hot" and "spot").

• The Alphabet
  • The Alphabet

    Knowing the letters of the alphabet is one of the first steps toward learning to read and write. Introducing letters to young children helps them learn to recognize the different shapes and names - an early indicator for reading achievement.

• Consonants
  • Consonants

    There are more consonants sounds than there are consonants in the alphabet. A consonant digraph is a pair of consonants that stand for a single sound (ch, sh, th, wh).

• Vowels
  • Vowels

    Spelling begins with regular short vowel sounds (cap) and long vowel sounds (with silent e, cap becomes cape). Finally, children learn the rules and patterns of vowel pairs (ee), digraphs (ai in train), dipthongs (oi in boil) and r-controlled vowels (farm, bird).

• Early Number Sense
  • Early Number Sense

    As early as 6 months, babies begin to understand the concept of numbers, noticing small groups of one, two or three things. As children develop number sense they learn to count by ones, skip count and count backwards, gaining the foundation for operations. Children who have good number sense find learning operations like addition and subtraction much easier.

• Number Recognition
  • Number Recognition

    To begin their study of math, children must distinguish numerals from letters and shapes and understand that numbers are symbols for amounts.

• Sequencing
  • Sequencing

    Even toddlers can often recite number names in order, but the ability to compare and order numbers in sequence indicates a practical application of number concepts.

• Addition
  • Addition

    Once children know that numbers are symbols for objects (2 stands for two cars) they learn to count sets, or groups of objects, to find sums. Finally, sets of objects can be replaced by numerals and added together in equations.

• Subtraction
  • Subtraction

    The inverse of addition is subtraction - to take away objects and tell how many are left. Once children grasp subtraction, sets of objects can be replaced by numerals in equations.

• Environmental Awareness
  • Environmental Awareness

    Encouraging children to play outdoors, to explore their surroundings and take an interest in plants, insects and animals will help them learn about their enviroment. In time they will learn about how our planet works and make responsible decisions.

• Space Science
  • Space Science

    In space science children are taught about the different planets in our solar system and their moons as well as about our moon, the sun and the universe. The science of astronomy and space travel gets progressively more detailed and eventually incorporates physics and math.