Committed to the Construction of Deep Reading Brains

Teachers are deeply versed in the tenets of early childhood mathematical thinking and its foundational importance to later academic achievement. Capturing mathematical moments throughout the school day, math talk is readily heard in preschool classrooms. Connecting these natural, informal experiences in meaningful ways and building upon them facilitates children’s confidence with understanding the language of math, the meaning of numbers, simple problem solving, and learning more formalized math concepts as they grow.  Math activities guide the children's deep, meaningful understanding of number sense, simple operations, geometry and shapes, and measurement, as well as patterning.

Monthly thematic units are organized by exciting, engaging early childhood science and social studies' topics. Anchored by a relevant children’s storybook, teachers design the classrooms to expose children to science and social studies' themes and concepts through meaningful activities and fun experiences. Thematic language, curiosity, simple experiments, connection, and creative pretend-play guide them as they travel around the world  to experience cultures and holidays of our own Kenan families - contributing to children’s discovery of themselves, their community and the world around them.    

All Kenan Preschool students participate in Enrichment classes intentionally designed for their age.

Through a daily rotation schedule, Kenan Threes join our Hamm Threes, and Kenan PreK students join students in Hamm and Stepping Stones preschools for all enrichment.

Music

Using the elements of music (rhythm, melody, harmony, form, dynamics, tempo and style) students are introduced to a progression of musical concepts. 

Art

Through studies of artists, students explore artistic conventions to express visual ideas, learn art vocabulary, and develop their own artistic skills.

Media

Our activity-based media center helps our students learn to use print and digital resources to research and problem-solve.

PE and OT/PE

During OT/PE classes, students engage in a variety of activities to work on their gross motor skills, muscular strength, bilateral coordination, and visual spatial language. Throughout these games and activities, students are enriching their vocabularies and actively using visual spatial language.

Because all development in  early childhood is interrelated, the physical development of Kenan students is purposefully facilitated alongside all other developmental areas at each age level by teachers and specialists.  Children’s growing muscles are strengthened through a variety of activities. Sensory bins, playdough, beads, table toys, and a variety of drawing utensils and tools are used intentionally and children are guided through learning games, like clapping and stomping during a rhyming activity.  Our  playground provides the setting for large motor practice: swinging, balancing, running, skipping, climbing, galloping, jumping etc. Integrated into the Kenan classroom, our Kenan occupational therapist (OT) spends time each week supporting developmentally appropriate visual spatial, fine motor and sensory integration skills through games and thematic activities, including our Handwriting Without Tears program.  Our Enrichment teachers round out the fun during the PE and OT/PE classes. 

The emotional understanding of self and others and the creation and expansion of social relationships is not only critical to learning, but a life-long skill. Kenan children’s self-awareness, agency,  and engagement with others are intentionally supported throughout the school day with the best and most relevant resources, trusting interactions, and tools available. Throughout the safe routine of the school day, classroom teachers and specialists use teachable moments to model emotional language, set expectations for the classroom with students, facilitate social problem solving scenarios, and provide tools and support for the transference of self-regulation to the children. Additionally, all Kenan classrooms participate in weekly Sunshine Circles and social and emotional learning activities. This is an interactive play-based curriculum designed to teach social skills in the classroom setting. Skills such as empathy and perspective-taking, joint attention, sharing and taking turns, body awareness, and impulse control are taught through large and small group social play activities.