Overview
The Early Childhood Education program provides developmentally appropriate educational services for 4-year-old children in Denver. These programs are housed in 88 DPS schools and 31 community agencies. The program in DPS schools serves over 4500 pre-kindergarten children.
The Early Childhood Education program provides a safe and nurturing environment that promotes the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development of young children while responding to the needs of families. Children learn by doing. Children acquire oral language skills and knowledge about the physical and social world in which they live through playful interaction with materials and people. Teachers monitor behaviors to assess the developmental level of each child and to provide sequential instruction to accommodate their growth. Activities are designed to develop children’s self-esteem and positive feelings toward learning. The curriculum and adults’ interactions with children are responsive to individual differences.
The young children’s curricula used provides a rich environment which supports active learning experiences facilitated by the teacher.
Instructional Objectives
The instructional objectives of the Early Childhood Education Program are to provide an environment for:
• the development of cognitive skills
• the expansion of receptive and expressive language
• the demonstration of thinking and reasoning skills
• the development of fine and gross motor skills
• the application of positive social behaviors
• the practice of good nutritional and health care habits
A Typical Full-Day Preschool Class
The below activities vary by teacher and class
