Pre-k Math Curriculum

The math curriculum emphasizes hands-on learning, exploration, and the development of problem-solving skills. Below is a summarized outline of key math concepts for Pre-K students.

1. Number Concepts & Operations

• Counting and Cardinality:

  • Count from 1 to 30 (and beyond) verbally.

  • Recognize and write numerals 0-10.

  • Understand that numbers represent quantities (1-10).

  • Count objects to 10 and match quantities to numerals.

  • Compare and describe quantities using terms like "more than," "less than," "same as."

• Basic Addition and Subtraction (using objects):

  • Combine sets of objects (e.g., adding groups of 2 and 3 objects).

  • Remove objects from a set (e.g., taking away 2 objects from a group of 5).

  • Begin to understand the concept of "addition" and "subtraction."

2. Patterns and Relationships

• Identifying and Creating Patterns:

  • Recognize simple patterns (e.g., AB, ABC) using objects, colors, and sounds.

  • Create and extend patterns using objects and/or drawings.

  • Describe patterns using mathematical language (e.g., "red, blue, red, blue" or "circle, square, circle").

• Sorting and Classifying:

  • Sort objects by one or more attributes (e.g., size, shape, color).

  • Use sorting rules to group objects and describe categories (e.g., "All the red blocks").

3. Measurement

• Comparing Length, Weight, and Volume:

  • Compare and describe objects based on size, length, weight, and volume using non-standard units (e.g., "This block is longer than that one").

  • Understand basic vocabulary related to measurement (e.g., longer/shorter, heavier/lighter, more/less).

• Time Concepts:

  • Recognize parts of the day (morning, afternoon, evening).

  • Understand and describe daily routines (e.g., "Before lunch," "After nap").

  • Identify key time events (e.g., "wake up," "eat lunch").

4. Geometry & Spatial Sense

• Shapes and Spatial Relationships:

  • Identify and name basic 2D shapes (circle, square, triangle, rectangle, oval).

  • Explore 3D shapes (sphere, cube, cone, cylinder).

  • Recognize shapes in the environment and describe their properties (e.g., "This is a square because it has four equal sides").

• Positional Words:

  • Understand and use positional language such as "above," "below," "beside," "in front of," "behind," and "next to."

5. Data & Graphing

• Introduction to Data Collection:

  • Sort and count objects to gather data.

  • Represent data using simple graphs or charts (e.g., bar graphs, pictographs).

  • Answer simple questions based on the data (e.g., "Which group has more objects?").

6. Problem Solving & Critical Thinking

• Simple Math Problems:

  • Use hands-on activities to solve simple math problems.

  • Engage in activities that require matching, counting, comparing, and sorting.

  • Use math language to explain reasoning (e.g., "I have 2 apples. If I get 1 more, I will have 3 apples.").

Integration Across Learning Areas:

• Math skills are integrated into daily routines, music, play, and storytelling to reinforce concepts in a natural and engaging way. Teachers use interactive activities, such as games, songs, and manipulatives (e.g., blocks, counting bears), to support learning.

Assessment:

• Teachers assess students' understanding through observations, participation in activities, and informal assessments like simple math games.

• Focus on process and exploration rather than correct answers.

This curriculum aligns with Texas Pre-K guidelines and ensures that children develop a love for math while gaining essential skills for future learning.

Pre-k English Curriculum

The Pre-K English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum focuses on building early literacy skills through engaging, hands-on activities. This curriculum ensures children develop a love for reading, writing, speaking, and listening in a way that supports language acquisition, comprehension, and communication.

1. Reading: Foundational Skills

• Print Concepts:

  • Recognize that print carries meaning.

  • Understand the concept of left-to-right and top-to-bottom reading direction.

  • Identify the front and back of a book and understand basic parts of a book (title, author, illustrator).

  • Recognize letters of the alphabet (uppercase and lowercase).

• Phonological Awareness:

  • Recognize and produce rhyming words.

  • Identify and isolate initial sounds in words (e.g., the /b/ sound in "ball").

  • Segment and blend sounds in simple words (e.g., c-a-t = "cat").

  • Recognize syllables in words.

• Phonics and Word Recognition:

  • Recognize and name all uppercase and lowercase letters.

  • Match letters to their corresponding sounds (e.g., "A" says /æ/ as in apple).

  • Begin to recognize common sight words and high-frequency words (e.g., "the," "and," "I," "you").

2. Reading: Literature & Informational Texts

• Comprehension of Texts:

  • Listen to and understand stories and informational texts read aloud.

  • Retell simple stories or key details in the text.

  • Make predictions about a story based on pictures and text.

  • Recognize the difference between fiction and nonfiction.

• Story Elements:

  • Identify the main characters, setting, and events in a story.

  • Discuss the beginning, middle, and end of a story.

  • Understand basic story structures (e.g., "Once upon a time" for fairy tales).

• Text Connections:

  • Relate personal experiences to themes or events in a story.

  • Discuss similarities and differences between stories or characters.

3. Writing: Emergent Writing Skills

• Writing to Communicate:

  • Use pictures, scribbles, and letters to express ideas and thoughts.

  • Begin to use correct letter formation for uppercase and lowercase letters.

  • Dictate or attempt to write words and simple sentences (e.g., "I see a dog").

  • Use drawing and writing to convey meaning, even if not all words are legible.

• Phonemic Awareness in Writing:

  • Attempt to write words phonetically, spelling them as they sound (e.g., "kat" for "cat").

  • Use the knowledge of letter sounds to form simple words.

• Text Types:

  • Write for a variety of purposes (e.g., labeling pictures, writing lists, creating simple stories).

  • Begin to understand that writing has a purpose (e.g., to tell a story, share information, or ask questions).

4. Speaking and Listening

• Active Listening:

  • Listen attentively to stories, instructions, and conversations.

  • Follow simple directions and requests.

  • Respond appropriately to questions and prompts.

  • Demonstrate understanding by asking and answering questions about stories or events.

• Speaking:

  • Speak clearly and audibly in full sentences.

  • Share personal experiences and ideas with peers and adults.

  • Participate in group discussions, taking turns and listening to others.

• Expressing Ideas:

  • Use language to express ideas, thoughts, and feelings.

  • Describe experiences, events, or ideas using appropriate vocabulary.

5. Language Skills

• Vocabulary Development:

  • Learn and use a variety of age-appropriate vocabulary words in context.

  • Understand and use words related to emotions, family, animals, colors, shapes, and everyday experiences.

  • Understand and use basic prepositions (e.g., "on," "under," "beside").

• Grammar and Sentence Structure:

  • Use complete sentences, starting with a noun and ending with a verb (e.g., "I see the dog").

  • Begin to understand and use plural forms of nouns (e.g., "cats" vs. "cat").

  • Use pronouns like "I," "you," "he," "she," "it," and "we."

6. Integration Across Learning Areas

• Literacy-Rich Environment:

  • Teachers create a language-rich environment, incorporating books, songs, rhymes, and storytelling throughout the day.

  • Engage students in interactive reading activities, such as role-playing or acting out stories.

  • Integrate English language arts into other areas like art, science, and social studies through relevant vocabulary and discussions.

• Cross-Curricular Skills:

  • Encourage children to apply their reading, writing, and speaking skills across subjects, like labeling objects in a science experiment or writing about a field trip.

  • Foster a positive and supportive classroom environment that promotes social-emotional learning and communication.

Assessment:

• Teachers assess progress through observation, informal assessments, and activities like drawing and dictating, helping to track students’ development of literacy skills.

• Focus on individual growth, providing opportunities for children to demonstrate understanding in various ways (e.g., through conversation, story retelling, or illustrations).

Pre-k Arabic Curriculum

The Pre-K Arabic literacy curriculum for Quranic reading is designed to build a strong foundation in recognizing Arabic letters, understanding proper letter pronunciation, and reading with vowels (harakat). The goal is to prepare students for the accurate reading of the Quran, focusing on letter recognition, pronunciation, and the basics of reading simple words with vowels. The curriculum encourages early exposure to Quranic recitation through interactive and engaging methods that incorporate listening, speaking, and reading.

1. Arabic Letter Recognition

• Learning the Arabic Alphabet:

  • Introduce the 28 Arabic letters in their isolated form (e.g., أ, ب, ت, ث, etc.).

  • Focus on the correct pronunciation of each letter, emphasizing the articulation from the throat or mouth (e.g., ع, غ, ق).

  • Engage students with flashcards, songs, and interactive activities to recognize and name each letter.

  • Introduce each letter in its isolated, initial, medial, and final forms (e.g., ب, بـ, بــ, ـب) gradually.

• Recognizing the Shape and Sound of Letters:

  • Encourage children to trace letters while saying the sound aloud to link the visual shape and phonetic sound.

  • Use repetition, visual aids (e.g., charts with letters), and fun activities (e.g., letter hunts) to reinforce recognition.

2. Proper Pronunciation of Arabic Letters

• Introduction to Articulation (Makharij):

  • Teach students how to produce clear and distinct sounds for each letter, especially those with unique Arabic sounds (e.g., ح, خ, ص, ض).

  • Focus on letters that have similar sounds but different articulations (e.g., س and ش, or ط and ت).

  • Use engaging rhymes or games to encourage correct pronunciation and articulation.

• Using Visual and Auditory Cues:

  • Pair each letter sound with visual cues such as mouth movements, tongue positions, or hand gestures to reinforce proper pronunciation.

  • Encourage the child to listen to the teacher or audio recordings of correct Quranic recitation to model their pronunciation.

3. Introduction to Vowels (Harakat)

• Learning the Three Main Vowels (Fatha, Damma, Kasra):

  • Introduce the basic vowels in Arabic: Fatha (ـَ), Damma (ـُ), and Kasra (ـِ).

  • Teach how each vowel changes the sound of the letter (e.g., بَ, بُ, بِ).

  • Engage students with songs, chants, and games that pair vowels with letters to reinforce their sounds.

• Reading Simple Words with Vowels:

  • Start reading simple words by combining consonants with vowels (e.g., بَابَ, قُرْآن).

  • Use flashcards and word-building activities where students add vowels to consonant letters to create familiar words.

  • Gradually introduce words that appear frequently in Quranic texts, like "قُرْآن" or "رَحْمَة."

4. Developing Simple Word Recognition with Vowels

• Reading Simple Vocabulary:

  • Begin reading short, familiar Quranic words such as "الله" (Allah), "رَحْمَن" (Rahman), and "بِسْمِ" (Bism), focusing on correct pronunciation and vowel usage.

  • Introduce basic, repetitive phrases like "بِسْمِ اللّهِ" to practice simple word structures and pronunciation patterns.

  • Use visual aids and flashcards with colorful pictures to help children associate words with meanings.

• Word Building with Vowels:

  • Start with simple CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) and CV (consonant-vowel) word patterns, such as "مَسْجِد" (masjid), "رَحْمَة" (rahma), and "قَلب" (qalb).

  • Help students practice reading words aloud by combining letters with vowels to form recognizable words.

5. Listening and Imitation of Quranic Recitation

• Listening to Quranic Recitation:

  • Play recordings of Quranic recitation by renowned Qaris (reciters) for students to listen to daily.

  • Emphasize listening to proper Tajweed rules such as elongation (madd), stop signs (waqf), and emphasis (sukoon).

  • Encourage students to repeat phrases they hear to imitate the correct recitation and pronunciation.

• Mimicking Simple Quranic Phrases:

  • Focus on short and simple Quranic phrases, like "بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ" (Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Raheem), and practice together as a class.

  • Use call-and-response activities where the teacher recites a word or phrase, and students repeat it.

6. Visual and Interactive Learning Activities

• Interactive Letter and Word Games:

  • Use interactive games like "Letter Bingo," "Memory Matching" (matching letters with their sounds), and "Letter Puzzles" to reinforce learning.

  • Organize simple competitions or group activities where students match letters with their corresponding vowel sounds.

• Storybooks and Visual Aids:

  • Provide Quranic storybooks and resources with images that correspond to Quranic words, such as the names of prophets, animals, or natural elements mentioned in the Quran.

  • Use visual aids like flashcards with Quranic words and simple sentences for students to practice reading.

7. Regular Review and Reinforcement

• Daily Review:

  • Begin each class with a quick review of previously learned letters and words to reinforce retention.

  • Rotate through the alphabet and vowel sounds in different activities to ensure all letters are recognized and pronounced properly.

• Home Practice:

  • Provide parents with simple resources, like letter charts and vowel practice sheets, to reinforce learning at home.

  • Encourage daily practice sessions where parents help their children practice letter recognition and pronunciation.

Assessment and Progress Monitoring

• Observation and Oral Assessments:

  • Assess students informally through observation during class activities and by asking them to recite or read aloud.

  • Use simple oral assessments where students recognize letters, pronounce sounds correctly, and read basic words.

• Progression to Reading Simple Quranic Verses:

  • Once students have mastered letter recognition, pronunciation, and reading with vowels, introduce them to reading simple Quranic verses with basic vocabulary.

  • Provide praise and encouragement for each milestone reached in their Quranic reading journey.

Pre-k Social Studies Curriculum

Our Pre-K Social Studies curriculum is designed to introduce young learners to key concepts of community, culture, history, geography, and citizenship. It focuses on helping students understand themselves and their place in the world, while also fostering social awareness, respect for diversity, and the development of basic problem-solving skills. The curriculum incorporates a variety of hands-on activities, discussions, and exploration of real-world topics to build foundational social studies knowledge.

1. Self and Family (Personal Awareness and Identity)

• Understanding Self and Family:

  • Discuss personal information (name, age, family roles).

  • Explore how families are structured and the roles of family members (e.g., parents, siblings, grandparents).

  • Celebrate individual uniqueness and encourage students to talk about their family traditions, hobbies, and cultural backgrounds.

  • Identify and discuss emotions and how they impact interactions with others (e.g., feeling happy, sad, excited).

• Understanding the Concept of Home:

  • Identify the concept of “home” and its importance to people.

  • Discuss where students live (e.g., house, apartment) and the role of the home in their lives.

  • Explore basic safety rules within the home and community.

2. Community and Citizenship

• Exploring the Community:

  • Learn about the roles of people in the community (e.g., teachers, doctors, mail carriers, firefighters).

  • Discuss the importance of helping others in the community and how people work together.

  • Explore symbols of the community such as the American flag, local landmarks, and other civic symbols.

• Respecting and Understanding Differences:

  • Teach respect for diversity through exposure to different cultures, traditions, and backgrounds.

  • Introduce the idea of community helpers, showcasing different occupations and their roles in making the community a better place.

  • Discuss fairness, kindness, and taking turns as key elements of working together in a community.

• Introduction to Citizenship:

  • Explain basic rules and why they are important (e.g., raising hands, sharing).

  • Learn simple concepts of right and wrong, fairness, and taking responsibility for actions.

  • Introduce concepts of voting and community decision-making through group activities and discussions.

3. History and Time

• Personal History and Timelines:

  • Help children understand the concept of time by exploring their own life story (e.g., when they were born, milestones like learning to walk or talk).

  • Introduce the concept of days, months, and seasons, helping children understand the passage of time.

  • Use simple timelines or personal "life books" where children can illustrate key events in their own lives.

• Introduction to Historical Concepts:

  • Introduce the idea of history by discussing significant figures and events in simple terms (e.g., famous historical figures like George Washington or Martin Luther King Jr.).

  • Discuss special days in history (e.g., national holidays, birthdays).

  • Encourage children to compare “then and now” in terms of family traditions, daily life, and community events.

4. Geography and Maps

• Introduction to Geography:

  • Teach basic geographical concepts, including landforms (e.g., mountain, river, hill) and bodies of water (e.g., lake, ocean).

  • Introduce the concept of a map as a representation of the world, and focus on identifying simple maps of the classroom, school, and local area.

  • Use a globe to show where Texas, the United States, and the world are located.

• Exploring the Local Environment:

  • Learn about the local environment by discussing nearby places such as parks, stores, and homes.

  • Teach basic directions (e.g., left, right, up, down) and introduce the concept of a “neighborhood” and “community” using simple maps.

  • Explore the idea of streets, homes, and public spaces, encouraging students to draw or label simple maps of their local area.

5. Economics and Basic Needs

• Basic Economic Concepts:

  • Introduce basic ideas of needs and wants (e.g., food, shelter vs. toys, entertainment).

  • Discuss the concept of money in simple terms (e.g., coins, bills, buying things).

  • Teach children about jobs and how people work to earn money to meet their needs (e.g., teacher, doctor, shopkeeper).

• Understanding Goods and Services:

  • Teach children that goods are things people buy (e.g., toys, clothes) and services are things people do for others (e.g., haircuts, teaching).

  • Introduce the concept of bartering and trading, encouraging children to exchange items in a pretend play setting.

6. Government and Symbols

• Introduction to Government:

  • Discuss the role of leaders and rules in a community, introducing simple concepts of government (e.g., the role of a mayor, president, or governor).

  • Teach students about basic community rules, such as those in the classroom, and how they help everyone work together.

• National Symbols and Traditions:

  • Introduce national symbols such as the American flag, the Statue of Liberty, and the Pledge of Allegiance.

  • Discuss national holidays and celebrations (e.g., Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Memorial Day), explaining their significance.

  • Introduce the concept of respect for symbols like the flag and national anthem.

7. Culture and Diversity

• Understanding Different Cultures:

  • Explore the concept of culture by discussing different family traditions, languages, food, holidays, and music.

  • Encourage students to share their own cultural practices and learn about others through stories, songs, and activities.

  • Celebrate cultural diversity with activities like multicultural days, where children dress in different traditional costumes, taste foods, or hear music from around the world.

• Celebrating Holidays and Traditions:

  • Introduce children to key holidays (e.g., Christmas, Hanukkah, Eid, Diwali) and explain their meanings in simple terms.

  • Discuss why people celebrate different holidays and how these celebrations reflect various cultural practices.

8. Social Responsibility and Environmental Awareness

• Being a Responsible Citizen:

  • Teach students about the importance of helping others and being kind to the environment (e.g., recycling, taking care of animals, helping friends).

  • Discuss the significance of cleanliness, order, and respect for nature.

• Simple Environmental Concepts:

  • Introduce children to the concepts of protecting the environment through recycling and reusing items.

  • Discuss the importance of nature and teach students about different types of animals, plants, and natural resources.

Assessment and Monitoring:

• Observation and Interaction:

  • Teachers assess students through observation, informal discussions, and participation in group activities.

  • Monitor progress by reviewing students’ understanding of concepts like community roles, national symbols, and personal history.

• Project-based Learning:

  • Provide opportunities for hands-on activities like making simple maps, creating family trees, or role-playing community helpers.

  • Use storytelling, art, and music to assess students' understanding and creativity in expressing social studies concepts.