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| Explorers |
Literacy Skills and Language Arts
Language and literacy activities, including journal writing, story dictation, picture labeling, group reading, poem memorization, and group list-making are just a few of the ongoing literacy
activities students encounter every week. Books are the heart of the program, with reading, book-making, and library visits. Kindergartners do alphabet and phonics activities each week,
and work with the teacher individually at their own pace as they begin to read. Students also use italic letter forms to learn letters and develop small hand control. Whole group, small
group, and individual activities help students practice literacy skills in a number of situations and in ways that match their growing abilities.
Math and Science
Children work individually and in groups exploring math and manipulative materials. The Pre/Kindergarten
program includes patterning, sorting and classifying, comparing and describing attributes, sequencing, estimating and predicting, number recognition, numeral writing, graphing, one-to-
one correspondence, counting by 1’s, 2’s, 5’s and 10’s, problem solving, geometry shapes, and measurement in both standard and nonstandard units. Students begin the day with
Morning Math Task, an activity that incorporates the mathematic strands listed above.
Students enjoy a variety of science activities and units each year as they explore the life of nearby meadow, creek and ocean environments. In spring, students visit the tide pools of Cape
Kiwanda as part of a study of the inter-tidal zone. Individual student interests and seasonal highlights and opportunities translate into other science studies, such as spiders, frogs,
dinosaurs, birds of prey, seeds, incubator chicks, magnets, gears, and simple machines.
Social Studies
Social studies units focus on community and students may visit a local post office, store or business during the year. Other cultures are introduced through stories, visitors, pictures, and
artifacts sparked by student or teacher knowledge and interest. Pre-K and Kindergartners also examine the community of the classroom through weekly class meetings where they
express compliments, appreciation and concerns.
Art, Drama and Music
A variety of art and drama experiences happen daily in the classroom. In art, creative experimentation is stressed, using art materials such as tempera, watercolor, markers, crayons,
pencil, chalk, charcoal, play dough and clay. The work of well known artists is introduced to students. Art teacher Judith Schlicting involves them in a weekly art class.
The Preschool/Kindergarten class has a weekly drama class. Drama focuses on movement and rhythm for 4-6 year olds, and group storytelling and mimicking sounds provide inventive
content. Theater games and exercises emphasize stretching, challenging and controlling the body and mind. Respect, support and cooperation are an integral part of the process.
The Preschool/Kindergarten class has a weekly music class with Eric Simpson. Students sing in the Preschool/Kindergarten room nearly every day, learning at least one new song per
week, including folk songs, foreign language songs, rounds, camp songs and finger plays. Rhythm activities, music appreciation and listening activities take place through out the year.
Students sing with the entire school community at weekly Gather’rounds on Thursday mornings.
Language and literacy activities, including journal writing, story dictation, picture labeling, group reading, poem memorization, and group list-making are just a few of the ongoing literacy
activities students encounter every week. Books are the heart of the program, with reading, book-making, and library visits. Kindergartners do alphabet and phonics activities each week,
and work with the teacher individually at their own pace as they begin to read. Students also use italic letter forms to learn letters and develop small hand control. Whole group, small
group, and individual activities help students practice literacy skills in a number of situations and in ways that match their growing abilities.
Math and Science
Children work individually and in groups exploring math and manipulative materials. The Pre/Kindergarten
program includes patterning, sorting and classifying, comparing and describing attributes, sequencing, estimating and predicting, number recognition, numeral writing, graphing, one-to-
one correspondence, counting by 1’s, 2’s, 5’s and 10’s, problem solving, geometry shapes, and measurement in both standard and nonstandard units. Students begin the day with
Morning Math Task, an activity that incorporates the mathematic strands listed above.
Students enjoy a variety of science activities and units each year as they explore the life of nearby meadow, creek and ocean environments. In spring, students visit the tide pools of Cape
Kiwanda as part of a study of the inter-tidal zone. Individual student interests and seasonal highlights and opportunities translate into other science studies, such as spiders, frogs,
dinosaurs, birds of prey, seeds, incubator chicks, magnets, gears, and simple machines.
Social Studies
Social studies units focus on community and students may visit a local post office, store or business during the year. Other cultures are introduced through stories, visitors, pictures, and
artifacts sparked by student or teacher knowledge and interest. Pre-K and Kindergartners also examine the community of the classroom through weekly class meetings where they
express compliments, appreciation and concerns.
Art, Drama and Music
A variety of art and drama experiences happen daily in the classroom. In art, creative experimentation is stressed, using art materials such as tempera, watercolor, markers, crayons,
pencil, chalk, charcoal, play dough and clay. The work of well known artists is introduced to students. Art teacher Judith Schlicting involves them in a weekly art class.
The Preschool/Kindergarten class has a weekly drama class. Drama focuses on movement and rhythm for 4-6 year olds, and group storytelling and mimicking sounds provide inventive
content. Theater games and exercises emphasize stretching, challenging and controlling the body and mind. Respect, support and cooperation are an integral part of the process.
The Preschool/Kindergarten class has a weekly music class with Eric Simpson. Students sing in the Preschool/Kindergarten room nearly every day, learning at least one new song per
week, including folk songs, foreign language songs, rounds, camp songs and finger plays. Rhythm activities, music appreciation and listening activities take place through out the year.
Students sing with the entire school community at weekly Gather’rounds on Thursday mornings.
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Jenny Case, Teacher
Jenny grew up in the Neskowin area and comes to us with some recent ECE training at the Opal School
(located at the Oregon Children’s museum) and the Helen Gordon Early Childhood center (the lab school
at Portland State University). Jenny was the Director of Child Care at the ASAP Treatment Centers in
Portland for five years.
Jenny grew up in the Neskowin area and comes to us with some recent ECE training at the Opal School
(located at the Oregon Children’s museum) and the Helen Gordon Early Childhood center (the lab school
at Portland State University). Jenny was the Director of Child Care at the ASAP Treatment Centers in
Portland for five years.
Curriculum
Preschool/Kindergarten students at NVS have the enviable task of developing concrete skills as they make
choices in a hands-on environment designed to help them learn about their world. Lainie’s warm, blocks,
math and discovery, listening, library, projects, easel painting, the sand/water table, and computer. These
centers reflect individual student interests, learning styles, and talents. The well-rounded program
addresses the social, emotional, intellectual, and physical needs of each child. Respectful support and
listening, plus positive reinforcement and verbal encouragement combine with clear limits, expectations
and consistency to give students a reassuring social foundation for learning.
Preschool/Kindergarten students at NVS have the enviable task of developing concrete skills as they make
choices in a hands-on environment designed to help them learn about their world. Lainie’s warm, blocks,
math and discovery, listening, library, projects, easel painting, the sand/water table, and computer. These
centers reflect individual student interests, learning styles, and talents. The well-rounded program
addresses the social, emotional, intellectual, and physical needs of each child. Respectful support and
listening, plus positive reinforcement and verbal encouragement combine with clear limits, expectations
and consistency to give students a reassuring social foundation for learning.
