It Starts With a Book
AART looks at Kindergarten Readiness Indicators and the individual strengths of the children in the class. Each week a book is featured. Hands on activities are planned around the theme of the book. On the second day of class, the children take the book home for their personal library. In addition to the teacher and assistant staff, volunteers from the community play a supportive role by reading one on one, helping with art projects and activities and building relationships. Low adult/child ratios allow for high touch interaction which improve language and social skills, important indicators of success in school.
During each class, children are given multiple opportunities to read and write and to participate in exploratory hands-on science and math activities. Many activities, such as the Calendar Activity and Morning Message, are purposeful everyday routines that provide structure for many varied concepts to be introduced and reinforced across the curriculum – authentically integrating science, math, reading, and writing into each and every session. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) are embedded into the curriculum, providing opportunities for developmentally appropriate exploratory learning. Art projects, games, music and movement encourage fine and gross motor skills in a creative, fun manner making the first experience in a classroom setting positive and engaging.
The AART program is the best that I found for my son to get ready to go to school. He has developed better skills with exposure to more children and teachers, and he has learned English and the letters of the alphabet and more. Thank you to the teachers for their time and patience with our children.
- Cristina A., Parent of AART Student
A Typical Day in an AART Classroom
Intro Activity (15-20 minutes)
As children arrive, they choose puzzles, books, or educational games that focus on matching, memory, sorting, building, and other cognitive and fine motor skills.
Circle Time (20-30 minutes)
Circle time starts with a welcome song and then moves to practicing name recognition. The book of the week is introduced and letters, numbers, shapes, and colors are incorporated in songs, games, and activities that engage the students.
Music and Movement (10 minutes)
Activities include acting out the book of the week or companion book, dancing, Simon Says, hula hoop and parachute games, and obstacle courses. All games challenge and develop spatial awareness, gross motor, attention to detail, and ability to follow directions.
Table Time (15-20 minutes)
Art or science activity that compliments the book theme through coloring, painting, tracing, cutting, gluing, constructing, and experimenting to engage imagination, creative thinking, reasoning, and sensory skills.
Closing Activity (10 minutes)
Usually a game like Zingo, Alphabet/Color/Shape/Number Bingo, Memory Match, or an activity like free drawing/painting or playdough.
If a child completes an activity before the rest of the class, they are instructed to go to our library and read silently until we move on.