AnnMarie Lindig Sonshine Academy Director

Kathy Bean Sonshine Academy Assistant Director

Threes & Fours Curriculum

Sonshine Academy offers a well-balanced curriculum, using lesson plans and learning centers that are age-appropriate, and designed to allow children to advance at a pace that is comfortable for them. The daily curriculum has been carefully planned and written for the teachers to ensure consistency among the classes. Lesson plans are planned to teach to the top of each age group. This means we can decrease the intensity and expectations for those students that may not be developmentally ready, as well as meet the needs of those students who are academically ready for more challenging work. Therefore, we are best able to meet the needs and skill level of all students to prepare them for kindergarten.

The students begin each day with a devotion time. The goal of the devotion time is to dedicate the day to God asking Him for His help as we learn, play, and work together.

The first block of the day is dedicated to phonics. Each week focuses on a new letter and letter sound. Students are given opportunities to practice the letter through games, songs, chants, and independent handwriting practice. Using ABeka as our foundation, students will begin learning how sounds go together to form words.

The next block of the day is spent on theme study. Theme study is based on the letter of the week. For example, during “P” week students might study penguins. The purpose of the theme time is to introduce students to literature and story comprehension skills. A craft or art activity is related to this same theme.

The last major block of the day is math. Each week we will focus on a number of the week. Students will practice counting and number formation. Other math concepts necessary for kindergarten such as patterning, comparing, understanding the manyness of numbers, telling time to the hour, measurement, sequencing, etc are also introduced.

Also included in the Sonshine Academy daily rotation is Recess, Bible, Spanish, Music and Movement, and some Science activities.

Recess: Students will spend time each day outside on our new playground or in the gymnasium. Recess play is well supervised and allows the students free time to socialize and make independent play choices.

Bible: By experiencing the love and greatness of God, through hearing and discussing bible truths daily, we hope to develop positive attitudes about God, Jesus, and the children themselves. Through foundational teachings we pray that each child, when developmentally ready, can receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Our job is to plant the seeds so that children will bear spiritual fruit in God’s timing.

Spanish: Many researchers have reported the importance of second language education. Research suggests that children who are adequately exposed to two languages at an early age, reach higher levels of cognitive development, are more flexible, and more creative. As the second most spoken language in the United States, our fluent Spanish teacher will strive to familiarize each child with basic vocabulary, including letters and numbers. Students will learn through songs, games, stories, play, and themes. Themes may include: animals, colors, food, calendar, etc.

Music & Movement- Preschoolers are constantly moving, so we certainly can’t leave out Music and Movement! Our teacher assistants do a fabulous job of having fun and getting silly with the children through singing, dancing, and dramatic play. Children love to get the wiggles out during this exciting part of their day.

As you can see, students spend their day rotating from large group activities, independent seat work, and free center play. The staff here at Sonshine Academy wants to make the most of the time they have with the students. We believe learning should be fun, interactive, and individualized. We want their time with us to be filled with love, friendship, and creativity as we partner with you to train them up in the way they should go.

Formal assessments are completed each year in both the beginning, and end of each school year.