allows the children to check out books to take home for the week. Both clusters also have a unit of study on Nursery Rhymes/Rhyming in which this pre-literacy skill is introduced, practiced and enjoyed. Differentiation occurs for those children who show interest and are ready for more advanced reading and/or writing skills. Communication Our early childhood parents and families are included in all Levine Academy school - wide and community events. Parents are encouraged to join the Levine Parent Association, to volunteer to serve on various committees and be involved with our school as much as they would like. Teachers and the director can communicate with parents daily through Tadpoles, an on-line application in which photos, videos, notes, and daily activities can be posted. Our early childhood center has two parent/teacher conferences each year: one in the fall and one in the spring. Teachers are always available for informal meetings at the parent’s request or as needed. The early childhood programat Levine Academy provides a warm and nurturing environment which encourages children to develop a love of learning. Our curriculum fosters creativity, exploration, questioning and critical thinking. Our hope is that all of our students leave our early childhood programwith a strong foundation for future learning and an eagerness to take on the adventures ahead of them. Strengths 1. Multi-faceted curriculum that builds upon previous years and allows for differentiation of individual students, if needed. 2. Experienced, caring and nurturing teachers. 3. State of the art facility that is equipped with the latest technology and furniture designed to meet the needs of every type of learner. 4. Use of the well-known and established program Handwriting Without Tears in the Three’s, Pre -K and Kindergarten classrooms. 5. Specialists that teach classes such as Social Skills, Science, Music, Library, Jewish Studies and Hebrew. Challenges 1. Fluctuation of enrollment for different clusters making it necessary to move teachers to different classrooms every year. 2. Adjusting curriculum to make sure it is age-appropriate and not based on parental expectations. 3. Unrealistic parental expectations in terms of what should be taught to their children and when. 4. Not having a good option for virtual learning that is age-appropriate for our Three’s and Pre -K student during the pandemic. Plans and Priorities 1. Work with Admissions Department to come up with new programs to entice prospective families to enroll.
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