Researching Preschools

Ok so after researching preschools AGAIN I found this one that just sounds amazing!! They are part of the Calgary Board of Education. They are located in a school. The Pre-Kindergarten Director/Owner took the time to talk to me and I never felt rushed at any moment during our conversation. It is $20 more a month BUT there is no mandatory volunteer time which will save us a minimum of $260.00 so in the end this preschool works out to be cheaper. She took the time to email me the curriculum they follow. I am very upset that they are full :( All I can do is hope and pray that the one of the two spots that MAY open up next week do!! If one spot does open up though it will be an interesting battle getting our money back from the Marlborough Park Preschool.
Here is what the curriculum looks like:
Curriculum

Session Calendars will be sent home with the children at the start of each session: Fall, Winter and Spring, which will give you an overview of the activities of the Pre-Kindergarten program for that session. Please read and take note of any upcoming important dates.
Pre-Kindergarten curriculum is introduced through thematic units of study. The curriculum is designed with a child’s social, emotional, physical, intellectual, and creative growth in mind. Children learn through “hands on” experiences. The three to five year olds in our program will usually gain different skill levels. Children learn at their own pace, but the Pre-Kindergarten curriculum outline of goals and objectives are as follows:

Math
· Recite the numbers from 1 to 20
· Count objects using 1-1 correspondence
· Recognize the numbers 1-10 on sight
· Recognize basic shapes including triangle, circle, square, rectangle
· Introduce shapes diamond, and oval
· Perceive differences in size
· Understand spatial relationships
· Understand simple sequencing
· Sorting and categorizing

Social Studies and Science
· Know the names of many community workers and what they do
· Self-awareness – parts of the body, health and nutrition, emotions, 5 senses
· Know the names of many animals and information about them i.e. hibernation
· Know about the seasons
· Use a scale and magnifying glass
· Recognize colors
· Understand how a calendar works
· Know about weather
· Know about space

Reading Readiness (Reading and written skills are developed on an individual basis)
· Recognize his / her name and be able to print it
· Recognize letters of the alphabet
· Print some letters of the alphabet
· Know sounds of some letters
· Recognize some simple words
· Understand how letters put together make words
· Understand left to right reading progression
· Understand opposites
· Understand rhyming patters
Music
· Know many songs and finger plays
· Develop an appreciation for music
· Follow a rhythmic beat
· Repeat a clapping pattern
· Use and know the names of common rhythm instruments

Social Skills
· Develop listening skills
· Follow simple directions
· Understand and use good manners
· Learn to respect others and their property
· Use words instead of hitting
· Learn to share and take turns
· Socially interact and play in an appropriate manner

Develop Independence
· Learn to use the bathroom independently and as the need arises
· Solve problems
· Clean up after him / her self
· Independence in eating skills i.e. opening lids and wrappers
· Find own belongings
· Ability to ask for help when needed
· Show and Tell – confidence in public speaking

Large Motor Skills
· Bounce, catch, throw, jump, run, skip, roll, hop, crawl

Small Motor Skills
· Cut, glue, lace, print, color, trace, paint, manipulate

I also had the chance to speak to the teacher at the Marlborough Park Preschool. I was on the phone with her for about 45 minutes!! She told me I was not the only one from that class to voice their concerns and that a lot of the parents are not happy. She did say that she would work on improving it BUT at the same time I am still very uneasy about it. IF a spot does open up at the new preschool, please please please let there be an opening, we will still move Tornado BUT if it comes down to it we will be making our decision by next Friday. Next Friday is the day that I volunteer SO I will be able to see IF any changes have been made and how the class runs. Another thing that blew me away was she said if it was below +5 than they did not go outside...SO if on a day of a field trip if it is below +5 will they still go?!?!
Maybe I am being unfair here BUT at the same time this is my son and I have to do what I feel is right.
In another sense I know this is how it is going to be like when he starts going to elementary school :(