22051 Wilson Road • Georgetown, Delaware 19947 • Phone 302-856-3300 • Fax 302-856-1750
Junior Kindergarten
The Jefferson School offers an age-appropriate curriculum in a formal school setting for children ages 3 and 4 years old. The classroom provides a developmental bridge from day-care to school. Its certified teachers prepare young children for the later education years through play-based, experiential learning. In addition to the standard curriculum, which references the Delaware Early Learning Foundations for School Success, National Association of Education for Young Children (NAEYC), and Teaching Strategies’ Creative Curriculum, The Jefferson School offers learning experiences in Spanish, music, art and physical education.
The mornings include a full range of activities to support children’s needs for small and gross motor movement, inside and outdoor play, and circle time. Individual, small group and large group opportunities will complete the day’s busy schedule. The Jefferson School’s early childhood classrooms adhere to high quality best practices as set by the NAEYC. These standards, along with the Montessori learning philosophy, are grounded in the statement: ‘Play is the work of the young child.’
The curriculum involves learning centers that emphasize literacy development, mathematical reasoning and scientific exploration.
Primary Classes
The Jefferson School’s primary classes (kindergarten through fourth grade) foster the natural curiosity of children and encourage them to become lifelong learners who are sensitive to the needs and feelings of those around them. Our dynamic curriculum provides our students with a well-rounded global perspective. Our students advance at rates that match their abilities while meeting and exceeding Delaware state standards. The curriculum includes:
- A language arts program that gives students a working knowledge and an appreciation of the spoken and written word. Our students master the basics of reading and writing and then move on to creative writing projects that push their skills. Reading takes place in groups and independently; it focuses on critical thinking and editing skills.
- A math program that meets goals set by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, which teaches students to understand mathematical concepts and develop critical thinking. Our students discover alternative ways to reach mathematical conclusions for division, factoring, fractions, equalities and inequalities, skip counting, geometric recognition, and measurement.
- A social studies program that emphasizes the study, exploration and appreciation of different cultures. Geography is considered the base upon which cultural and economic studies rest. Our students develop a deep appreciation of people from every corner of the world, not only because they read about them in books but also because many of our students come from a wide variety of economic, cultural, ethnic and geographic backgrounds. We believe that such diversity enriches all of our students in positive ways.
- A science program that focuses on developing scientific awareness, concern, interest and knowledge of the world around us. Ours is a discovery-based program designed to arouse curiosity through observation, critical thinking and logic.
- Enrichment classes such as physical education, music, art and Spanish that are integrated into the core curriculum. Through a variety of activities in these classes, our students develop an appreciation of art, music, literature, cultural history and drama. By learning Spanish and reading Latin American literature, children learn how to navigate additional codes of expression and behavior.
