Your child’s earliest years are key in determining who they will become.
Why not enroll your child in the first preschool to adopt a STEAM (STEM + Arts) curriculum?
Self Development Preschool (SDP) provides such an exceptional and unique enrichment program for children ages 2 through 5 that SDP’s students experience a giant leap entering elementary school. In fact, students often are ready to enter into accelerated and advanced programs, which offer education at one to two grade levels above the normally appropriate programs for their age. The reason is, at SDP, we believe there is no set starting point. SDP starts with high conceptual logic and art with above age-level material. Early exposure to critical thinking, logic and artistic creation is the essence of a rich, successful life.
Studies have shown a positive correlation with brilliance and early childhood exposure to higher-level thinking. That is why SDP spent years upon years perfecting a curriculum that introduces our toddlers and pre-kindergarteners to the classics, to poetry, music making, illuminating science experiments and much more. The children follow a curriculum-based lesson, which includes several areas of enrichment. Rachel Hunt, MS, and Anjum Majeed, EdD, designed the curriculum, each having nearly four decades of experience in early childhood and committed passions for education at the highest caliber.
The uniqueness of the program for the younger children is exceptional. Just like elementary education, SDP has weekly detailed lesson plans that list the concepts and learning objectives. The academic program includes language/reading readiness, math and writing. The enrichment curriculum details art, classics/poetry, music, science, life skills and dramatic skills. The new outside play area aids in physical development and creative play.
A great education starts with the wisdom that only comes from dedication and experience. A staff who has made their lives the education of their preschool students delivers the enriching curriculum at SDP. This staff, some of whom have worked at the preschool for decades, has that rare balance of nurturing and high expectations, which is immensely important in rearing intelligent, well-balanced and emotionally healthy children. Director Vernetta Madsen knows every dimension of learning, of early education, and of how curriculum is developed and implemented because she has been employed at SDP for nearly 30 years.
We teach with the future in mind. We do not shy away from our role as the shapers of the next generation of innovators, scientists, legislators and Nobel Prize winners. The 2- to 3-year-old classroom introduces preschool and pre-kindergarten curriculum goals and encourages concept mastery and academic confidence. The curriculum is an important component, since the 2- to 3-year-old classroom progresses with the skills needed to transition into the 4- to 5-year-old classrooms. This component ensures a solid academic start to kindergarten and elementary school.
You may know that next door to Self Development Preschool is the Self Development Academy-Mesa. However, did you know that parent demand for an accelerated, enriched curriculum at the elementary school level was the impetus for the creation of the top-ranking kindergarten through grade-eight school? Indeed! Parents wanted a strong, enriched curriculum that delivered high academic results and performance in a caring environment that met the intellectual needs of the students, as well as the social and emotional needs.
Given the exceptional academic foundation and social skills development offered at the preschool, the students smoothly transition to kindergarten, which is extremely helpful because SDA’s kindergarten is taught at least at the first-grade level. In fact, such is true for all the grades—SDA-Mesa teaches at one to two and even three grade levels higher than regular elementary school education.
Self Development Preschool offers extended care, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., enrichment programs for 2- to 5-year-old students, from 8:30 to 11 a.m., and a summer program for children ages 5 to 13. The theme for this summer’s program is Around the World. Children will learn about other countries and their cultures. The summer program includes art, science projects, field trips and other enrichment activities.
SDP’s unique, top ranked, parent-adored, well-rounded educational experience is indeed perfect for your developing child. The school offers children the opportunity to unite a love of learning with a nurturing environment.
For further information about the preschool or our kindergarten through grade-eight program, please contact Director of Self Development Preschool Vernetta Madsen at (480) 396-3522, or call Self Development Academy at (480) 641-2640.