Early Literacy

Early literacy is comprised of print concepts, introduction to phonics, and letter and word recognition. In addition, processing and predicting story elements, applying characters or situations in their own worlds influence comprehension skills. Important literacy skills practiced continually may include:

• Understanding that words are read from left to right and top to bottom.
• Pointing to words to demonstrate understanding the print carries meaning.
• Recognizing and producing rhyming words.
• Blending and segmenting syllables and sounds to form words.
• Identifying the first and last sounds in spoken words.
• Recognizing and naming upper and lower case letters, especially letters in their first name.
• Recognizing the sounds associated with letters.

Scientific Inquiry

Our Maui Prep Preschool teachers observe the preschoolers' interests and plan curriculum and projects that will engage the students. More than sharing or explaining a new concept, the students follow a model of

• developing and answering driving questions
• making real world connections
• forming hypotheses

Social and Emotional Development

The Maui Prep Preschool is 'ohana can enroll up to 32 students each year (current enrollment may be less) allowing for an eclectic group of personalities, interests, and abilities. Preschool social-emotional skills include being able to get along and cooperate with others, manage strong feelings, focus attention, and persist at challenging tasks.

Fine and Gross Motor Development

Daily classroom activities support both fine and gross motor development, including:

• holding and using pencils, crayons, paintbrushes, scissors, tweezers, tongs, shovels, scoops, funnels, and more
• tracing, arranging, sorting, fastening (buttons, zippers, velcro, latches)
• physical activities involving balancing, climbing, traversing, swinging

Process Play

Process play in the Maui Prep classroom allows preschoolers to learn how things work, different roles in the home, school, and community, and to experiment without pressure to achieve a certain result. The process of each classroom activity is where the real education happens.

The teachers allow time for unstructured and open-ended activities that allow children to explore and develop at their own pace. As a result, they build confidence in their abilities, become comfortable with making mistakes and trying things multiple times, and feel accomplished in their efforts.

How our classroom encourages process play:

• Dress-up corner
• "Business" center
• Construction zone
• Art center
• Outdoor preschool garden

Sensory Play

Preschoolers absorb new things through their five senses. Sensory play establishes a foundation to allow preschoolers to work towards more complex tasks, strengthens language development and vocabulary, improves problem-solving skills, and supports cognitive growth.

How our classroom supports sensory play:

• Sensory bin
• Art corner
• Outdoor garden