Early Childhood EducationECE 2011

First Lutheran School’s Early Childhood Education curriculum is a combination of the Tennessee State Guidelines, the Core Knowledge Foundation’s Preschool Sequence, the Letter People, and scripturally sound religious curriculum from Concordia Publishing House.

ECE’s philosophy

First Lutheran Early Childhood Education’s staff believes that we have been purposefully blessed with each child and family that comes through our doors. We faithfully teach and serve our children and their families by developing their minds, bodies and spirits. We follow Tennessee Department of Education licensing guidelines and accreditation guidelines from both SACS and NLSA in a unique and enriched curriculum and an outpouring of God’s Word, resulting in an exemplary program that cultivates confident lifelong learners.

Holistic approach
First Lutheran ECE partners with parents to provide spiritual, intellectual, emotional, social, and physical growth for our students.

What we provide

  • A quality education with an enriched yet developmentally appropriate learning curriculum
  • Small class sizes. We recognize the benefits of small class size on your child’s academic and social growth. Our programs exceed the Department of Education student/teacher ratio guidelines by adding an aide BEFORE we approach maximums.
  • A caring, well-trained, and experienced staff. Our average years of experience is 10 (16 on the senior staff). All of our staff continues their education and training in order to remain fresh and innovative in the classroom.
  • Christian love shown to all children and their families to ensure they grow in the knowledge of Jesus.

Flexible programs

  • ECE 3-year old program requirements: Students must be 3 years old by September 30 of year entering and completely potty trained. This is a Kindergarten Pre-preparatory program.
  • ECE 4-year program requirements: Students must be 4 years old by September 30 of year entering and completely potty trained. This includes children ages 4 and 5 who are transitioning between preschool and kindergarten or have missed the kindergarten cutoff date. This is a Kindergarten Preparatory program.
  • Before and after school care: Busy parents can take advantage of care before regular school hours from 6:30-8 a.m. From 3:30-6 p.m. we have reinforcement activities which are a bit more relaxed, but still go over what was learned during the school day by outdoor and indoor games and teacher-supervised free choice center play. The program is available to ECE students daily except for ECE teacher conferences and holidays, which will be posted and on yearly and monthly calendars.
  • Summer program: Summer Day Camp is held the first week of summer through the beginning of August. Camp is open to children ages 3-12. Our experienced staff keeps kids happy and busy with games, arts and crafts, science, cooking, music, sports, water play, movie day, and more

Enrollment Options

The flexible program can easily accommodate any work or college schedule for busy parents. Though “day cares” can be fun, interactive places for children, we find that an Early Childhood Education (Kindergarten Preparatory) programs tend to better cultivate confident, lifelong learners.

Full time
Choose the days that your child will be attending each week.

  • Five full days
  • Four full days
  • Three full days

The daily schedule is broken into three parts:

  • Before school care from 6:30 to 8:00 a.m.
  • Educational Program from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
  • After school reinforcement activities 4:15 to 6:00 p.m.

Part time
Choose the days that your child will be attending each week.

  • Five half days
  • Four half days
  • Three half days

The daily schedule is broken into two parts:

  • Before school care from 6:30 to 8:00 a.m.
  • Educational Program from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

Academics

Language Development through Speech
Receptive and expressive, rudimentary Spanish and Sign language.

Cognitive Development through Early Literacy
Letter recognition and phonological awareness, verbal expression and communication, story reading behaviors, auditory discrimination and listening and understanding, visual discrimination, whole-part-whole relationships, Accelerated Reader program through First Lutheran Library and the Book It program.

Cognitive Development through Math
Visual sequencing (patterning), problem solving: spatial sense, geometry, analyzing data, numbers and operations, patterns and simple algebraic equations and measurements.

Cognitive Development through Science
Sensory awareness, observation and exploration, sequencing and time, problem solving, life science, earth and space science and physical science, health and nutrition.

Cognitive Development Social & Emotional

SOCIAL Human interactions, cultures and communities, history, biography, geography and economics, missions and service projects, scripture study, etiquette and virtues.
CREATIVE ARTS Music, music and movement, visual art and movement and dramatic play, exposure to art masterworks and classical music.
AUTONOMY Self concept, self control, cooperation, management of self within the learning environment.
GROSS MOTOR Movement and coordination, fine motor, health status and practices, self help and safety, personal and social responsibility, beginner yoga.

Enrichment within the curriculumECEStar

  • Cherub hand bell and vocal choirs
  • Extended Science experiments
  • Music and movement (students use scarves, bean bags, parachutes, instruments, etc. as we sing to fun and entertaining music selections and do movement to enhance our rhythm and movement to music)
  • Body in balance (early nutrition information including portions and food groups, along with beginner yoga movements (no philosophy) and balance exercises such as balance beam, stepping stones, etc.)
  • Spanish
  • Sign Language
  • Classical art and music appreciation
  • Beginner bios (we learn of historical figures and do an activity to help the children remember some of the information shared)
  • Geographical landmarks
  • Pastor talks with one of our pastors
  • Gym
  • Computer class
  • Library visits
  • Accelerated Reader Comprehension
  • Book It

Daily activities
Download our complete schedule (PDF)

Staff
Our teachers are trained and experienced in Early Childhood Education; several are members of early childhood learning organizations such as NAEYC. They are dedicated to helping children learn first and foremost about Jesus, as well as developing their intellectual, social, emotional, and physical potential.

Our average years of experience is 10 (16 on the senior staff). All of our staff continues their education and training in order to remain fresh and innovative in the classroom.

Licensing
First Lutheran ECE follows guidelines and is licensed with the Tennessee Department of Education, and is accredited by the SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) and NLSA (National Lutheran Schools Association).

Download our complete schedule (PDF)
Download our curriculum description (PDF file)
ECE handbook (PDF)

Please see our Academics page for an overview of the entire school curriculum.

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