PROGRAM

"Project Construct," Missouri's early childhood education curriculum, is used in the KUM classrooms.  The emphasis in this curriculum is to foster young children's abilities to become self-directed, self-reliant, sensitive to others' views, and to achieve personal, social and academic success.  In order for this to happen, children need to develop some sense of control over their lives, to make maningful choices, and to interact with peers, adults and objects in the world.

Each classroom day includes a large block of time for free choice in play among the various centers in the room.  These centers offer activities planned around themes appropriate to the interests of young children.  In this time the children are given the opportunity to explore and expand on their own interests, to act on the environment, to ask questions, observe, and interact with others.  The teacher serves as a facilitator during their time. 

Each day the children also spend a portion of the day in the gym or outside developing large motor skills.  Once a week, time is spent with the music teacher for music instruction especially designed for the preschooler.  Movement class is also offered once a week.  A smaller portion of the day is spent in teacher-directed and small group activities, such as story time and circle activities.  Additional creative activities are offered to children in the atelier (studio) area located in the upstairs hallway.