Children at Self Development Preschool (SDP) look forward to a fun-filled day of playing dressup, singing songs, and reading books. At SDP, that’s what they get and so much more.
At SDP, children have so much fun that they do not realize how much they are learning. Every minute of the day is planned to contribute to the children’s social, physical, and cognitive development which prepares them for kindergarten through targeted curriculum and activities.
SDP offers a unique and advanced preschool program. This program allows children to begin their educational learning experience in a caring and intellectually stimulated environment. The three-to-five-year-old classroom introduces kindergarten and first-grade curriculum goals and encourages concept mastery and academic confidence.
“Setting a foundation for lifelong learning begins with the toddlers in our program,” Vernetta Madsen, SDP director, states. “By the time they are in the four-year-old class, they are learning at the kindergarten level.”The preschool prepares children to learn key subject matter that yields knowledge for a classroom environment transition.
The school’s success is based on teaching children the principles of number, letter, and sound recognition: learning the alphabet, verbal memorization, writing exercises, and sight words as well as an introduction to reading and phonics to prepare for independent reading. The children start to read on their own and build the confidence to tackle the advanced reading in the kindergarten program. Mathematical components include number concepts and an introduction to addition and subtraction with daily math facts.
SDP two-year-olds’ toddler curriculum addresses motor coordination, language development through sign language and vocabulary building, and recognizing numbers, colors, and shapes.
The three-year-old curriculum consists of letter recognition, phonics, and learning to write. Children learn with their five senses and continue to develop by honing fine motor skills, interacting with friends, and building mathematical, literary, and creative skills.
The four-and-five-year-old curriculum follows the public school curriculum designed for kindergarteners. This prepares students to be one year ahead when they enter kindergarten the following year. Students learn to write their first and last names and sounds, know their letters and numbers in and out of sequence, and learn beginning math skills.
“Students in our pre-kindergarten program receive excellent foundational skills so they are exceptionally prepared for kindergarten,” Vernetta continues. “Many of our pre-k teachers have been with us for a long time. They create a nurturing, caring environment that truly engages students.”
Among the lessons that make SDP unique are music lessons that expose children to the great composers and the history behind their works. SDP students also complete exercises that mimic Van Gogh and Michael Angelo’s paintings. Monthly themes keep children engaged through ever-changing classroom decor and new activities and games that explore different professions, historical eras, and animals.
Self Development Preschool is a privately runschool founded in 1988. SDP offers year-round services for two-to-five-year-olds, a before and after-school age program, and a summer day camp for children ages two through 12 years. Many SDP students go on to attend Self Development Academy-Mesa, a K-8 school, located next door. Self Development Academy-Mesa is one of the top-ranked charter schools in the state and nationally.
Self Development Preschool delivers a well-rounded educational experience for your child. The school offers children the opportunity to develop a love for learning and a daily challenge to think at a higher level. Welcome to Self Development Preschool.
For more information and for the information on the Summer Program, please call Vernetta Madsen at (480) 396-3522.