PRESCHOOL CURRICULUM
(PK3 - K)

Phonemic Awareness and Spalding Phonics
Beginning in prekindergarten, St. Luke’s students receive daily instruction in phonemic awareness (knowledge of how language works) and Spalding Phonics.

Research has shown that phonemic awareness is one of the most important elements in learning to read. Before phonics can be taught, phonemic awareness is essential. Children must be able to hear and manipulate oral sound patterns before they can relate them to printed words.

Spalding Phonics is the method used at St. Luke’s. Prekindergarten students learn the single letter Spalding phonograms and several of the two letter phonograms. Once these have been learned, students begin decoding simple words.

R.E.A.D.
R.E.A.D. (Reading Enrichment for Academic Development) is a unique supplemental reading program developed at St. Luke’s. Each prekindergarten and kindergarten class receives instruction twice weekly from the St. Luke’s Reading Specialist. She works closely with the classroom teacher to enhance the already excellent reading program. All prekindergarten and kindergarten students participate in R.E.A.D.

Core Knowledge
The goal of Core Knowledge is to produce culturally literate students who are able to understand and make real world application of what they learn in school. The Core Knowledge Sequence details specific content and knowledge in all curricular areas at all grade levels. The curriculum at the Preschool level is a shared, specific, sequenced, and solid outline of significant information to be taught in language arts, history, geography, mathematics, science, and the fine arts. The Core Knowledge Sequence at St. Luke’s Episcopal school is a program that methodically builds a knowledge base that students are able to apply to all future learning.

Everyday Mathematics in the Preschool
The Everyday Mathematics program was developed by the University of Chicago to improve instruction for students in the United States.  It incorporates an instructional design to engage student interest and maximize learning by setting high expectations for all students, providing concrete modeling as a foundation for abstract understanding, utilizing collaborative grouping, and making cross-curricular applications and connections.  Eight mathematical content strands are included in the preschool Everyday Mathematics program at St. Luke’s Episcopal School.  These include numeration, measurement, geometry, operations, patterns and functions, money, clocks and calendars, and data and chance. The goal of the Everyday Mathematics curriculum is to value the mathematical thinking and ideas of the young child and to offer activities and problem-solving experiences to build on and expand their mathematical knowledge and understanding.