About Us
Early Learning Center (Kindergarten)
Our focus at the Early Learning Center is to build a strong foundation of learning in kindergarten! Our innovative teaching team implements a dynamic, challenging curriculum and seeks to provide creative learning opportunities and differentiated instruction to allow each student to grow to his or her unique potential. Throughout the year, we strive to build a partnership between home and school and to foster a lifetime love of learning for our students. ELC is home to 142 kindergarten students. It is our mission to provide a strong, nurturing academic foundation and a positive first experience for all students attending the Early Learning Center.
The Early Learning Center has successfully implemented the ELA curriculum with fidelity. Fundations is a structured literacy approach grounded in the science of reading to make early literacy learning fun with a multisensory approach. Wonders reading curriculum focuses on fostering a love of reading in all children. Exploration of a variety of texts, combined with daily instruction in reading, writing, and listening skills allows focus on the whole child and develops critical thinking and a love of learning. We have seen significant growth in the students at ELC and the teachers are encouraged with the implementation of the new ELA curriculum.
The Early Learning Center implemented a Mystery Reader Program that focuses on books from The Monarch book project. The Monarch book project is designed to encourage children to read critically, become familiar with children’s books, authors, and illustrators, promote discussion of common, high interests books, empower students through voting choice, and encourage a culture of reading for joy.
Math in Focus, the math curriculum at ELC, is in its fourth year of implementation. Math in Focus is built on research from Singapore math emphasizing problem solving as central to learning. The program approach uses manipulatives, diagrams, modeling and abstract symbols to build math understanding. The hands-on math activities and manipulatives allow learners to experience concepts in a concrete and fun way. This year students that can count to 100 join our 100s Club and will receive a pair of 100 glasses to wear on the 100th day of school. ELC implemented a schoolwide game of bingo to reinforce the teen numbers and add fun to our math practice.
ELC uses Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) schoolwide to teach and model good behaviors and promote school safety. Kindercamp allows all teachers time and strategies to model expectations with rules, and procedures at ELC. The implementation of the Kinder Kart reward allows students to be rewarded for good behavior and following rules and expectations with KBucks. KBucks can be used to purchase items and activities from the Kinder Kart each week. Playing a game with the Principal is an example of a positive reward for good behavior at ELC.
ELC is continually looking for ways to extend learning beyond the classroom. This past year they have had presentations from Ag in the Classroom, a Veteran’s Day Assembly, guest speakers, the NED Show to promote a Growth Mindset, and Animalogy Assembly featuring live animals and instruction on their habitats and characteristics. There are also many schoolwide activities that students enjoy, and promote a positive, unified, school culture. Students enjoyed our Family Read Night, friendship feasts, a Christmas Sing-a-Long, and holiday celebrations. Each year students look forward to our 100s Day celebration, Dr. Seuss week, Fun in the Sun activities, Spring musical presentations, assemblies, and our field trip to Ballard Nature Center in the spring.
We are blessed to have an incredible team to help us achieve our mission: teachers, interventionists, paraprofessionals, administrative assistants, cooks, custodians, cafeteria monitors, guidance counselor, social worker, parents, volunteers, and community members all uniting to form a powerful partnership for learning.
Visitors to school are required by state law to report to the office whenever they enter a school building. Please make sure you stop at the office to sign in and sign out when entering and leaving the building and wear a visitor's badge for the safety of the students. Thank you!
