Lower School Program

Many parents ask how they can best get their child ready for kindergarten. Children are eligible for kindergarten based on their age and not on their skills. Good kindergarten curriculums are able to address the wide range of development levels that are natural in any kindergarten program. In today's society parents feel pressure to "prepare" their child for school. Sometimes this pressure leads to unrealistic expectations that are heavily focused on learning specific academic skills rather than the a more appropriate focus of play, adult child interactions, and learning opportunities that promote basic child development.

At Perkins International Academy of Excellence, we value the opportunity to work individually with our kids inorder to address their needs.

If optimal learning is desirable what are quality practices and how should those environments or opportunities for children look like? Research suggests that children learn in places where:

• Learning is a cooperative journey shared by many, not a competitive race between individuals.
• Knowledge is defined as mental constructs that are drawn out rather than information that is handed out.
• Diversity is celebrated and the talents and strengths of each child are recognized and nourished.
• Concrete materials, quality literature, technology, and a variety of resource materials are used.
• An array of learning opportunities are provided from which a child and family can choose.
• Instruction is integrated which requires problem-solving and decision-making.