Classes

Daily Schedule (Download a copy of our structured daily schedule for all programs.)  Registration Forms, which include Tuition Rates, are available on the Forms page.

Morning Classes will be from 8:45-11:15, and afternoon from 12:15-2:45. Kindergarten will be from 12:15-3:15.

Little Learners Program for Toddlers

  • Mon & Wed - 8:45-11:15

  • Mon & Wed- 12:15-2:45

  • Tues & Thurs - 8:45-11:15 am

  • Tues & Thurs - 12:15-2:45 pm

  • Fri, 8:45-11:15 am

  • Fri, 12:15-2:45 pm

For those children who will be 2 years old by December 31, we will offer Little Learners two or one day(s) per week. Based on enrollment needs, we may also have afternoon sessions. The enrollment is for one school year, from September through May.  

  • Children enrolled in this class are not required to be potty trained.

  • The teacher to child ratio will not exceed 1:7.

  • We believe that play is a child’s work. Children play to learn, to grow, and to experience the environment surrounding them.

  • In this program, we follow a structured schedule that balances group activities, free exploration and teacher directed activities in a “learn through play exploration” approach.

  • This program focuses on developing and strengthening social and communication skills.

Smart Start Program for 3 year olds

  • Mon & Wed & Fri - 8:45-11:15

  • Mon & Wed & Fri- 12:15-2:45

  • Tues & Thurs - 8:45-11:15 am

  • Tues & Thurs - 12:15-2:45 pm

For those children who are 3-4 year olds who are not planning to enter kindergarten the following school year, Smart Start will be offered three or two days per week (Ask about our program for Young Three’s). To be enrolled in this program, we encourage children to be potty trained.  With the exception of minimal accidents, our definition of Potty-trained means that the child is in underpants during school hours and indicates toileting needs to teachers on a regular basis.  The enrollment is for one school year, from September through May. 

  • The teacher to student ratio will not exceed 1:10.

  • In these classes, we focus our daily lessons on learning and reviewing colors and shapes, studying the five senses, numbers, cutting with scissors, and adapting to separation from their primary caregivers.

  • Children will work on recognizing their written names.

  • As the children follow a structured daily schedule that is developmentally and age appropriate, at this age level, children are building social skills, learning to follow directions from a teacher, and preparing for more structured learning.

Preschool Plus Program for 4 and 5 year olds

  • Mon & Wed & Fri - 8:45-11:15

  • Mon & Wed & Fri- 12:15-2:45

  • Tues & Thurs - 8:45-11:15 am

  • Tues & Thurs - 12:15-2:45 pm

  • Monday-Friday 12:15-2:45pm

For those children who are 4-5 year olds, A Great Start Preschool will offer Preschool Plus, a kindergarten-readiness program for 4’s and 5’s. This program will be offered five, three, and two days a week.  The enrollment is for one school year, from September through May.  

  • The teacher to student ratio will not exceed 1:12.

  • This class focuses on letter recognition through a monthly theme base.

  • Children will study numbers 1-20, and learn about holidays and seasons.

  • Throughout our daily lessons and child-centered learning environment, children will review letters, numbers, colors, and shapes, and become familiar with their addresses, phone numbers, birth dates, and other kindergarten readiness skill concepts.

  • Children will also work on recognizing their first and last names, as well as writing their names and other letters in the alphabet.

  • Children will have opportunities in math, science, art, social studies, critical thinking, and language arts.

  • This program is a kindergarten preparation program, and is designed with the intent for each child to be ready to attend kindergarten the following year.

  • For those children with late birthdays, and for children who are not ready to attend kindergarten the following year, we will offer our KinderStart Program for Young Five’s

KinderStart Program for young 5 year olds

  • Mon & Wed & Fri - 8:45-11:15

  • Monday-Friday 8:45-11:15am

  • Mon & Wed & Fri- 12:15-2:45

  • Tues & Thurs - 12:15-2:45 pm

  • Monday-Friday 12:15-2:45pm

KinderStart is designed for those children who are age eligible for Kindergarten, but being given the gift of time, or those who barely missed the cut off date for their districts kindergarten Program (and are ready for a higher level of learning than our Preschool Plus program. KinderStart has two day, three day, or five day options. The enrollment is for one school year, from September through May.

  • The teacher to student ratio will not exceed 1:12.

  • In this classroom, many of the children have attended Preschool at least one year prior and are ready for more structured learning.

  • This program is designed for those children who are age eligible for kindergarten, but being given the gift of time (an extra year of preschool before starting kindergarten), and those children who have barely missed the kindergarten cut-off date for their district with a late fall birthday.

  • Lessons will focus on similar themes as the Preschool Plus program, but projects will be more detailed, and children will have a bigger part in the preparation of the projects.

  • Along with letter recognition, children will begin learning about the phonics of the letters, and children will be writing letters more.

  • The children will study numbers 1-30.

  • In this program, as well as in our other classes, teachers are trained to individualize projects and lessons to challenge each child.

Private Kindergarten

  • Mon through Fri - 12:15-3:15 pm

For those children who are 5 years old by September 30, the Preschool will offer Private Kindergarten on Mondays through Fridays afternoons, from 12:15-3:15 pm.  The enrollment is for one school year, from September through May. Mid-year withdrawals from our Kindergarten program will not be accepted. It is our goal for students to move on to First Grade after a successful year in our Private Kindergarten program. (*During the 20-21 school year, we added a morning kindergarten from 8:15-11:15am in addition to the PM kindergarten. This was based on enrollment for that year, and is not typical).
                                                                             
 Our Kindergarten curriculum will include:

  • LANGUAGE ARTS: * Reading for Literature,* Reading for Informational Text,* Reading Foundation Skills (Print concepts, phonological awareness, phonics and word recognition, fluency),* Writing,* Speaking and Listening,* Language. A Great Start Preschool will be using the Wilson Fundations Program to enhance our Language Arts Curriculum.  Fundations is a phonological/phonemic awareness, phonics, and spelling program that is based on the Wilson Reading System principles and serves as a prevention program to help reduce reading and spelling failure. http://www.fundations.com/overview.aspx

  • MATH:  *A Great Start Preschool will be using the Earlybird Kindergarten Mathematics and Primary Mathematics Program to enhance our Math Curriculum. These are Singapore Math programs which teach students to learn math concepts using a three step learning process (concrete, pictorial, and abstract).  In the concrete step, experiences are hands-on, using concrete objects easily found in school or at home. 

  • SCIENCE:   * Earth and Space Science,* Physical Science, and * Life Science.

  • SOCIAL STUDIES: * History,* Geography,* Government, and * Economics

  • SPECIALS: * Physical Education, * Fine Arts, * Music, * Technology/Media, and * Enrichment Learning

A Great Start Preschool will be implementing the updated Ohio Early Learning and Development Standards into our curriculum. Early Learning and Development Standards | Ohio Department of Education which also include Common Core Standards. “The Common Core State Standards provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in college and careers. With American students fully prepared for the future, our communities will be best positioned to compete successfully in the global economy.” http://www.corestandards.org/

At A Great Start Preschool, it is our primary goal and purpose to provide a Preschool environment in which teachers and students experience an enthusiasm for learning and accomplish successes. We promise to provide the children with ample opportunities to grow socially, physically, emotionally, intellectually, and creatively in our child centered environment.

~Christina Miller, M.Ed.,Founder & Director