If you are looking for a special and exceptional preschool or kindergarten experience for your child, look no further than Self Development Preschool (SDP) and Self Development Academy (SDA), offering unique and advanced educational programs in a nurturing environment.
SDP and SDA are well known in the local community and statewide for exceptional academic programs. SDP offers preschool programs to children ages 2 through 5, providing children with a strong early childhood foundation, and establishing a love of learning early on in their educational journeys.
The 2-year-old classroom introduces colors, shapes, numbers and letter recognition through stories, music, art and play. In the 3- to 5-year-old classrooms, the Arizona Kindergarten Academic Standards are used to guide curriculum goals and concept mastery. This advanced curriculum allows students to achieve phonemic and sight word awareness, a foundation for reading.
Mathematical basics, such as number recognition, large and small numbers concepts, as well as small number addition, are critical components of the kindergarten readiness program. Each day, the lessons are introduced at morning circle times, and are reiterated at center work timetables.
In addition to the core curriculum activities, SDP believes art, music and play are necessary for the total development of a child. Art, music and movement are integrated into the program to add new and exciting variations to the children’s daily activities. Preschoolers have the opportunity to perform and showcase their talents twice a year at the winter and spring programs.
The SDP curriculum is aligned with the kindergarten curriculum at SDA, and many preschoolers transition to SDA upon completing the early 5s preschool program at SDP. SDP successfully prepares children for a smooth transition to kindergarten at SDA. Also, the early 5s preschoolers are excited and feel at ease about attending kindergarten at SDA, since they are familiar with the campus and many staff and teachers.
The SDA kindergarten program continues the tradition of an accelerated curriculum. Beginning with the kindergarten year, students learn a minimum of one year ahead of Arizona State Academic Standards. The goals for the kindergarten year include mastery of phonics, reading fluency at or above the first-grade level, writing grammatically correct sentences, which includes authoring a story, and mathematical concepts, such as addition and subtraction.
In addition to an academically rigorous program, the kindergarten curriculum offers weekly art, music, physical education and technology classes. The children accomplish these goals through a multi-sensory instructional approach, which meets students’ learning needs.
Visionary leaders, dedicated teachers and staff, as well as parent involvement, make the preschool and kindergarten programs shine. Many staff and teachers return year after year, and have been employed with the school since its inception. Several families also have been with the schools for two generations. This fact speaks to the quality of the programs offered at Self Development schools.
SDA currently is accepting enrollment applications for the 2016 – 2017 school year. A Kindergarten Information Night has been scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 12, at 6:15 p.m., at SDA. For further information regarding enrollment, or to schedule a campus tour, please contact the front office at (480) 641-2640.