Pre-K
4 - 5 Years
Similar to our preschool programming, parents select the language model of choice that best fits language acquisition goals for the child’s AM learning block. Pre-K students spend the morning engaging with our multidisciplinary units of inquiry, focusing on Pre-K learning standards and fine motor development as they become early writers and readers!
In the afternoon, children attend a 90-mintue block of programming in English where they begin the Pre-K curriculum sequence for Language Arts and Mathematics. This afternoon, single-age, classroom continues with Sound of the Week engagements and phonics and literacy development utilizing our Explode the Code curriculum as a resource. Pre-K students start the Jump Math curriculum sequence, leveling up to use the Kindergarten leveled materials as their first year of formal math instruction.
Pre-K Daily Schedule
9 AM TO 11:30 AM
Morning Work Period
Students begin the day in bilingual or full immersion classrooms according to their target language(s). They continue to study age-appropriate social emotional learning topics during morning greeting and circle time. Daily calendar work seamlessly integrates math (counting, sequencing, patterns), as well as an introduction to seasons, global holidays, and observations about the weather.
Independent & Group Lessons
Pre-K students practice work skill development—how to be in community, navigate the classroom, engage in daily routines, work with others, problem-solve and self-regulate. Targeted work in language arts, math, science and social studies begins. Focused practice in fine motor development and pincer grasp provides a foundation for pre-writing.
Multidisciplinary Themed Units
Unit-of-the-Month leads students to age-appropriate academic milestones with a focus on inquiry-based/project-based learning to build conceptual understanding. Curriculum begins with a personal (all about me) perspective and broadens to a universal understanding (my family, community, state, country, world, solar system).
12:30 PM
Lunch and Morning/Afternoon Snacks
All meals and snacks are served family-style. Teachers use the time to encourage food exploration and guide students in skills like conversation-making and table manners.
Formal Curriculum Progressions
Curriculum progressions promote foundational academic skills to prepare students for elementary school in English. This way, parents don't have to choose between an immersion focus and foundational Language Arts and Math skills in English.
Sound-of-the-Week Pre-Literacy Work
Pre-K children expand upon sounds introduced in preschool. Following the same timeline and sequence, children create word lists and begin following basic spelling rules, laying the groundwork for early reading. Sound of the week incorporates sight and high frequency word lists while also building vocabulary. Children use these words to form sentences, review basic grammatical concepts and develop pre-writing skills.
3:00 TO 5:30 PM
End of Day Circle & Dismissal
End-of-day routines provide children with even more opportunity to learn self direction through routine and connect with peers.
Extended Day Childcare
At IMA, the learning doesn't end with the school day! Our Extended Day program offers a continuation of language immersion practice in target languages, outdoor play time, guided circle and story time, free play, and music and movement engagements.
Outdoor Play
Pre-K students spend a minimum of 30 minutes outdoors each morning, with additional time outside in the afternoon.
Our Resources: We rely on a series of carefully selected curriculum materials known for their proven results. Click on the links to read more:
Jump Math
Get Ready for the Code
Explode the Code
IMA Curriculum Standards
IMA delivers a curriculum sequence, Pre-Kindergarten through 2nd Grade, that is set against both US. and international learning standards. Goals and benchmarks were designed to prepare children for the subsequent elementary grades as they progress each year.
IMA implements a combination of carefully designed units of inquiry and selective workbooks to prepare children across the various subject strands. Classroom engagements are both teacher-driven and student-led, allowing children to be active participants in their learning.
While curriculum and units tie to specific learning targets, teachers work with students individually to tailor content and maximize individual areas of strength while addressing opportunities for growth.