DIS Preschool Curriculum

List of 4 items.

• TPS--Age 2

  Starting at age two, DIS preschoolers begin learning handwriting, vocabulary in both English and French, and study either Spanish or Mandarin one day per week. They also study math and science, social interaction and develop their motor skills through play and hands-on learning activities. 
  
  Children ages 2-4 develop quickly physically, cognitively and socially. Using experiences and structured play, DIS teachers help children begin to understand the places, people, and things in their culture and environment.
  
  

  The Toute Petite Section (TPS) is in what is known as the First Cycle. It is for children who are age 2 ito Kindergarten. All our teachers in these grades are certified. The program is based on a combination of the French National Education program and the Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines. The specific focal points of this program are individualized for each student and include:
  
  

  • Oral Language: Learning vocabulary and sentence structure, introduction to a second language, listening to language in a variety of contexts such as stories, songs, chants and poems. TPS students start to learn about books and the written language.
  • Learning and Living Together: Developing social skills, meeting new people (adults and children), playing cooperatively with peers, following simple safety rules. TPS students develop increased self-confidence and independence, and begin to understand and anticipate daily routines.
  • Motor Skills: Mastering large and small muscle control, learning how to perform daily tasks such as dressing, eating, toileting, carrying. Extending play skills to run, jump, hop, and throw. PS students begin to use small muscles more effectively to cut, paint, draw, and write their name.
  • Discovering the World: Students learn to make sense of the world through understanding daily routines, colors, shapes, numbers and discoveries about nature.

   

• PS---Age 3

  The program and instruction of PS is based on a combination of the French National Education program and the Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines. The specific focal points of this program are individualized for each student, but will typically include:
  
  

  Oral Language: Extending vocabulary and sentence structure, introduction to a second language, listening to language in a variety of contexts such as stories, songs, chants and poems. PS students start to learn about books and the written language.
  
  

  Learning and Living Together: Working with adults, playing cooperatively with peers, following simple safety rules. PS students develop increased self-confidence and independence, and begin to understand and anticipate daily routines.
  
  

  Motor Skills: Mastering large and small muscle control, coordination and balance required for daily tasks such as dressing, eating, using the restroom and carrying items. Extending play skills to run, jump, hop and throw. PS students begin to use small muscles more effectively to cut, paint, draw and write their name.
  
  

  Discovering the World: Making sense of the world through an understanding of daily routines, concepts of color, shape and quantity, and discoveries about nature. PS students begin to count accurately, explore number writing and develop concepts of time, space, earth, sky and plant life.
  
  

  The period between 2 and 4 years of age is a time of rapid physical, cognitive and social development. Through experiences and structured play, children begin to understand the places, people and things in their culture and environment.

• MS--Age 4

  The program and instruction of MS is based on a combination of the French National Education program and the Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines.
  
  

  The specific focal points of this program are individualized for each student, but will typically include:
  
  

  Oral Language: Building complex sentences, using words correctly, learning academic vocabulary, responding to rhyme and rhythm, listening to longer stories, answering questions. MS students learn to listen carefully to words and sounds in preparation for reading.
  
  

  Written Language: Distinguishing parts of the text, learning correct letter formation, matching letters and sounds. MS students develop a large repertoire of letter-sound associations in preparation for writing words and sentences.
  
  

  Learning and Living Together: Extending attention span during listening times, working cooperatively in groups, solving conflicts with words. MS students develop an understanding of the distinction between work and play time.
  
  

  Motor Skills: Continuing practice in large motor skills, understanding position in space. MS students refine their fine motor skills, with special emphasis on correct pencil grasp for writing.
  
  

  Discovering the World: Exploring 2-digit counting, patterns and sets. Learning about specific science topics such as animal habitats or butterflies. MS students examine increasingly complex topics.

   

• GS--Kindergarten

  The program and instruction of GS is based on a combination of the French National Education program and the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. The specific focal points of this program are individualized for each student, but will typically include:

   

  Oral Language: Using complex sentences and academic vocabulary, using rhyme and rhythm to predict a text sequence, answering increasingly complex questions about stories. GS students master letter-sound relationships.

   

  Written Language: Mastering the entire written alphabet and correct letter formation, learning the conventions of writing. GS students develop their knowledge of sounds and letters to begin reading and writing single words or longer text.

   

  Learning and Living Together: Extending attention span during listening times, achieving independence in following routines, handling materials and completing tasks. GS students work responsibly alone and in small groups.

   

  Motor Skills: Practicing complex large motor skills, participation in team games. GS students master the correct pencil grasp, develop muscles for longer writing tasks, and refine small motor movements.

   

  Discovering the World: Examining 2 and 3 digit counting patterns, combining sets in preparation for formal addition and subtraction, measurement.

   

  GS students examine increasingly complex topics in science, social studies, and mathematics.