Early Childhood
Early Childhood Curriculum Overview
Our Early Childhood program at Raffles American School is meticulously crafted to foster both cognitive and social development while acclimating students to the routines and expectations of a classroom environment. By recognizing the importance of these formative years, our program focuses on holistic growth, ensuring that each child’s physical, emotional, social, and intellectual needs are met.
| Grade level | Average Age |
|---|---|
| Pre K3 | 3 years old |
| Pre K4 | 4 years old |
| Kindergarten | 5 years old |
Early Childhood Curriculum:
As a key element of working with parents to develop the ‘whole child,’ the following themes are developed throughout the year through a whole school focus. Core activities include shared reading, assemblies, and student-initiated activities and outreach projects.
- Caring
- Responsibility
- Inclusiveness
- Integrity
- Respect
- Courage
Core subjects: Core subjects are taught by the Homeroom teacher.
In Pre-Kinder, we utilize the Creative Curriculum and the GOLD Progression objectives as our curriculum base. In ELA, students are supported to explore and discover how we use English through various language-rich learning experiences. Building strong foundational speaking and listening skills, along with excellent pre-reading and pre-writing awareness, ensures students are ready for the academic rigors of Kindergarten.
Kindergarten: The foundation of our ES Literacy program is built upon the English Language Arts Common Core standards. These standards emphasize the key areas of reading, writing, listening and speaking, and language foundations. Learning opportunities are differentiated to make learning experiences accessible and engaging.
Kinder students receive a balanced literacy approach that provides authentic reading and writing experiences with targeted instruction. The balanced literacy approach ensures that all students have explicit instruction, opportunities to work on their independent levels, scaffolding and feedback from teachers, and collaborative interactions with peers.
PreK: The GOLD Progression objectives scaffolds learning expectations for our youngest learners. These objectives guide our learning experiences in Mathematics. Through play and small group instruction, students in PreK begin to learn about Mathematical concepts such as number, shape and space and measurement. Observation and problem solving are key as children use Mathematical language to discover the world around them. Students are challenged through differentiated instruction to build their Mathematical understanding.
Kinder: Common Core standards guide our teaching in Mathematics. They include both: Practice Standards: problem-solving, communicating reasoning, and modeling mathematics. Content Standards: Counting and cardinality, operations and algebraic thinking, number and operations in base ten, number and operations – fractions, measurement and data, and geometry.
Learning experiences are designed to develop conceptual understanding and problem-solving skills. Students learn Mathematical concepts by using manipulatives and drawings to make sense and construct their understanding. Students are encouraged to think of multiple strategies to solve problems and explain their thinking both in writing and orally.
Through integrated inquiry units, students in PreK learn about themselves, their community, how the world works, and our planet. Student questions, curiosity, and observations are encouraged and used as an integral part of the learning program. “Invitations to play’ entice children to explore these different concepts and express their understanding in creative ways. The GOLD Progression objectives scaffold learning expectations for our youngest learners.
In Kinder, these hands-on learning experiences continue designed using the Next Generation Science Standards for Science and the AERO standards for Social Studies.
Specialist classes:
Students are provided with opportunities to learn a wide variety of artistic techniques and mediums in order to demonstrate and share their creativity. Our Art curriculum is based on the GOLD Progression objectives for PreK and the U.S. National Standards for Art Education for Kinder.
Students in PreK – Grade 5 have two Art classes per week with a specialist Elementary Art teacher.
Students are actively involved in creating, moving, singing, playing instruments, and performing. Our Music curriculum is based on the GOLD Progression objectives for PreK and the U.S. National Standards for Music Education for Kinder.
Students in PreK – Grade 5 have two Music classes per week with a specialist Elementary Music teacher.
Our PE program follows the GOLD Progression objectives for PreK and the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE America) standards. RAS students will develop health-related fitness, physical competence, cognitive understanding, and positive attitudes about physical activity so that they can make lifelong wellbeing (physical, social, mental and emotional, spiritual) enhancing decisions. We promote active participation and encourage students to develop intrinsic motivation for an active lifestyle.
Students in PreK – Grade 5 have two PE classes per week with a specialist Elementary PE teacher.
Our PreK students have the opportunity to participate in dance lessons twice a week with a specialist Dance teacher. These lessons provide our youngest students with opportunities to create and express themselves through music and movement. Our Dance program follows the GOLD Progression objectives.
The primary goal of our World Language program is to enable students to communicate effectively in an additional language. Languages being taught include Bahasa Malay and Mandarin Language Acquisition. (Mandarin B)
Mandarin is also taught to students for whom Mandarin is their Mother Tongue language. (Mandarin A)
Students in Kinder – Grade 5 have two WLG classes per week with specialist language teachers.
A Nurturing Environment
Our educators create a nurturing and secure environment where children feel safe to explore and express themselves. This sense of security is fundamental, allowing students to confidently engage in activities and interactions that promote learning and personal growth. Our classrooms are designed to be welcoming and stimulating, with age-appropriate materials that encourage curiosity and engagement.
Learning Through Discovery and Play
Central to our Early Childhood philosophy is the belief that young children learn best through discovery and play. Our curriculum integrates play-based learning activities that stimulate cognitive development and foster creativity. Through structured and unstructured play, children develop problem-solving skills, learn to collaborate with peers, and build resilience.
Foundational Literacy and Numeracy
We strongly emphasize developing foundational literacy and numeracy skills. Our literacy program introduces children to the world of letters, sounds, and words through engaging activities such as storytelling, singing, and interactive reading. Numeracy concepts are introduced through hands-on activities that make learning numbers, patterns, and basic arithmetic both fun and meaningful. These early experiences are crucial in laying the groundwork for future academic success.
Smooth Transition to Elementary School
Our comprehensive approach ensures that children are academically, socially, and emotionally prepared for the next stage of their educational journey. By familiarizing students with classroom routines and expectations, we help them develop the confidence and independence needed for a smooth transition into Elementary School. Our teachers work closely with each child, providing personalized support and encouragement to ensure they feel ready and excited to take on new challenges.
Dedicated Educators
Our team of dedicated educators is highly trained in early childhood education and development. They are passionate about creating a stimulating and supportive learning environment. Our teachers stay abreast of the latest research and best practices in early childhood education through continuous professional development, ensuring that our program remains dynamic and effective.work closely with each child, providing personalized support and encouragement to ensure they feel ready and excited to take on new challenges.
Community and Parental Involvement
At Raffles American School, education is a collaborative effort that extends beyond the classroom. We encourage active parental involvement and maintain open lines of communication with families. Regular updates, parent-teacher conferences, and community events ensure that parents are engaged in their child’s educational journey and feel supported by our school community.
