Enrichment Programs

Ms. Morena will provide Spanish Language active and participatory lessons and learning for children enrolled in our Young Preschool, Middle Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten and Junior Kindergarten programs following a curricular format she has designed and implemented internationally with young children. Morena came to the United States more than 20 years ago from her native El Salvador and has offered young children active and participatory opportunities to learn and use her native Spanish language in a variety of Early Childhood settings, including ST Anna's, ST Cecilia's and ST Charles, where she served since 2012.

Ms. Connie who grew up and went to college in Beijing, China before making the United States her home 15 years ago will orchestrate play-based Chinese vocabulary learning with children in the Young and Middle Preschool program as well as Chinese Language active learning classes for the CDC's Pre-Kindergarten and Junior Kindergarten children. Prior to joining the CDC Faculty Family in April 2013, Connie taught Chinese in various settings including a Montessori school in Maryland, Fairfax County Public Schools, local Chinese Schools in addition to offering private Chinese lessons.

Because early childhood is the best period of human growth and development for the acquisition of fundamental movement skills, the Council on Physical Education for Children (COPEC, a council within the National Association for Sport and Physical Education), the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services all recommend that physical education be offered to children enrolled in preschool programs. Classes will support the sense of self, social relations, approaches to learning, physical development, health and well-being, and, of course, movement key developmental indicators through cooperative games, skill acquisition and development, sport specific skill acquisition, development and mastery, units on wellness, daily disciplines, healthy habits and FUN!

One of the biggest milestones in our children's life is when they learn how to read. You've probably asked yourself, "When is the best time to teach my child to read?" You can research this until you are blue in the face, but the answer is really very simple. You've already started, because from the moment your child is born, you are teaching them. We talk to our babies. We read to them. We sing to them. We recite silly little verses while we change their diapers or put them in their car seat. We hug and cuddle our children. We play with them. We laugh with them. We read to them. In this way we are teaching children to read. Ms. Gwen FBCC CDC's Literacy Specialist will offer Reading Circles Rolling Library program to all children enrolled in the Pre-Kindergarten program.

Music is a way of knowing. According to Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner (1983), music intelligence is equal in importance to logical - mathematical intelligence, linguistic intelligence, spatial intelligence, bodily - kinesthetic intelligence, interpersonal intelligence, and intrapersonal intelligence. According to Thomas Armstrong (1994,5), "Intelligence is galvanized by participation in some kind of culturally valued activity and that the individual's growth in such an activity follows a developmental pattern; each activity has its own time arising in early childhood." Making music is as much a basic life skill as walking or talking. Peery and Peery (1987) suggest that it is desirable for children to be exposed to, trained in, and enculturated with music for its own sake. That is, it is a birthright for all people to be able to sing in tune and march to a beat (Levinowitz and Guilmartin, 1989, 1992, 1996). To ensure a comprehensive learning experience, music must be included in early childhood. Planned and prepared Music lessons are offered twice a month by Ms. Josie because, practically speaking, the argument that music education is a frill has no objective support.

Young children are naturally curious. The desire to question, hypothesize, explore, and investigate is part of their very being. This inherent sense of inquiry provides the foundation for science with inquisitive and curious young children. Exploration and inquiry come naturally to children. Mrs. Gradle's Science Wonders Program, offered to children enrolled in Preschool School Families, builds on children's questions, eagerness, and enthusiasm to help them learn science, fostering scientific knowledge by thoughtfully planning and preparing concept and skill based lessons that introduce a scientific vocabulary during engaging activities providing many opportunities for children to problem solve and investigate.