Our comprehensive curriculum and planning process differentiates us from other pre-school programs. We developed our curriculum based on traditional Montessori objectives, as well as best practices for a changing world. We wrote the curriculum on a continuum across the programs so that parents and teachers are reminded of the building blocks of learning. This approach also focuses our development of individual tactics to meet the current learning objectives of each child.  Click for SOCDS curriculum.

Physical Development

• Large and fine motor skill development, body expression, dressing skills

Social Development

• Manners, empathy, sportsmanship

Reading Readiness

• Oral language skills, phonemic awareness and letter recognition, reading comprehension

Mathematical Reasoning

• Sorting, pattern recognition and creation, one-to-one correspondence

Our monthly planning process starts with teachers evaluating the objectives that have been practiced and mastered over the previous time period. Then the teachers review the next objectives and develop tactics that will appeal to the current students. As part of the lesson planning process the teachers review the tactics to ensure that there is a mix of large and small group activities, as well as individually directed activities. In addition, the teachers check that the tactics address different learning styles: auditory, visual, and sensory.

We also have a school wide plan for monthly themes, author studies, and tales. Our themes are meant to be broad enough to allow the teachers to create age appropriate activities, and comprehensive enough to provide extensive prompts for conversation during Morning Message and circle time.  Click here for the 2011 Monthly Plan.

Our author study is more than just reading works from different authors. We want children to see what authors look like, to study how they work, and to appreciate different writing styles. We want children to leave SOCDS understanding that authors are people too.

Our Tale of the Month is an additional aspect of our curriculum that helps us create a common experience and vocabulary. The Tale of the Month covers nursery rhymes, fairy tales, and fables. Our goal is to provide children with experiences, good and bad, about the outside world.