Early Childhood

Our Early Childhood program consists of PK-3, PK-4, and Kindergarten. The program is centered around the social and emotional development of each individual student in a loving and nurturing environment while building the foundation for academics and a love of learning.

The PK-3 curriculum is theme-based and utilizes games, role play, hands-on learning and activities to enhance fine motor skills, creativity, and cooperation. Students are also introduced to colors, shapes, nursery rhymes, letters, and numbers. 

PK-4 students build on this foundation with letter and sound recognition using Frog Street Press’ DIG program. Students are introduced to the “Letter People” and develop early reading and math skills through this program. Students also learn capital letter formation using the Handwriting Without Tears program. Students learn, create, and play throughout the day as the building blocks are set for a love of learning and school readiness skills are put into place. 

Kindergarten is the year where reading skills are truly developed. Our students learn language, phonics, and letter formation through Wilson’s Fundations program and build the foundation for life-long literacy. In addition, they learn to recognize sight words and use the Fountas and Pinnell Guided Reading program to learn to read in small groups where the teachers can meet each child where they are. Kindergarten students learn basic math skills such as number sense, basic addition and subtraction, patterns, and shapes through our McGraw Hill My Math program. Kindergarten students also utilize the Studies Weekly program for Social Studies and Saavas Realize for Science. At HNJ, we also recognize the importance of play and hands-on learning at this age, and students engage in all types of learning in the classroom.

All Early Childhood students attend Enrichment classes daily. This includes Art, Library, Music, PE, and Spanish. Kindergarten students also attend Computer class.