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Curriculum
Curriculum is what an educational institution offers to its students. Gloria Dei’s Early Childhood Ministries has developed a well-balanced curriculum covering all areas of a child’s growth and development: spiritual, cognitive, social, emotional and physical. The curriculum is designed to meet the needs of our very youngest children through our Kindergarten as they interact with the world God made. The curriculum focuses on age appropriate activities, physical and emotional care, a safe and nurturing environment, and interaction between faculty and families. The curriculum meets the standards of the Texas and National Lutheran School Accreditation, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), and is recognized by the Texas Education Association (TEA).
The Gloria Dei Early Childhood Ministries Toddler Curriculum includes the following content areas:
Faith Development is the central purpose of our ministry. Sharing our Christian faith and teaching children about Jesus enables them to grow in their relationship with their Savior. Opportunities exist in all classrooms to achieve this purpose through teacher/child interaction and integrating spiritual elements into lessons and activities. All lessons contain developmentally appropriate learning activities that correspond to the interest, challenges and needs of children. Activity centers help facilitate these learning activities best. Teachers use a variety of age and developmentally appropriate resources to enhance each lesson. The “Hands-On" Curriculum is used to supplement the curriculum with additional spiritual materials. "Hands-On" allows toddlers to meet and interact with the God who made the world they’re so interested in exploring through developmentally appropriate activities. Toddlers learn by experiencing their surroundings through their senses, social interaction and physical movement.
Art is an expression of God’s beauty in His creation. Children will develop awareness and learn to express themselves in a creative way and through a variety of media. Children will experience basic artistic elements and will be exposed to art of various cultures.
Language Development helps children to build language skills and strategies through aural, oral, written and foreign language instruction and opportunities. Through language experiences children will be enabled to find enjoyment, information, insight and inspiration. Children are taught to speak effectively and appropriately in a variety of settings and for different purposes. Children
will begin to learn to write and draw in order to convey the written language. Children will begin to learn to communicate in an expressive manner that is essential for their individual enrichment and enjoyment.
Mathematics helps children to develop skills and enables them through experiences to become flexible thinkers and problem solvers. Children will become adept at the use of mathematics, reasoning, and memorization strategies through the use of age-appropriate manipulatives, visuals and print. Concepts are introduced through play, experience and discovery. Children who are developmentally ready and interested will have a variety of creative, resourceful and imaginative opportunities.
Music helps children to explore their innermost feelings and gives them an opportunity to express themselves through musical expression and rhythmic movement. Children will begin to develop music literacy as they acquire skills through story telling, movement, focused listening, tap, use of instruments, dance and rhythm. The “Musik Garten Curriculum” is used to supplement
the learning experience with additional materials and resources.
Physical Education and Health contributes to the physical, mental, emotional, psychological, and social development of children. Children will develop a sense of personal well being, healthy choices, self-discipline and interpersonal relationships through interactive movement, games and activities. Our philosophy during this time is to encourage a sense of cooperation and trust as we foster the expansion of each individual’s abilities.
Each age level has a curriculum that is used for planning classroom activities. An appropriate age-level curriculum is located in each classroom. A copy of the overall curriculum is lavailable for viewing by contacting the Director of the Early Childhood Ministris.
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July Newsletter
Dear Parents,
This month the children in the Toddler Classrooms will be exploring the great outdoors. We have many fun activities and adventures planned for July. Some of these activities include nature walks, star watching and much, much more. The children will explore the great outdoors as Jesus did thorough his travels. We will learn about how Jesus journeyed with His disciples.
This month the Toddlers will have water play days on July 8th and 9th; Toddler I from 9:40 – 10:00, Toddler II from 10:05 – 10:25 and Toddler III from 10:30 – 10:50, weather permitting. Please remember to bring your child to school in his/her bathing suit and with insect repellant and sunscreen applied prior to arriving at school. Also, please remember to include a towel and a plastic bag (for wet items). Parents, this time of year the sidewalks can get very hot for our little ones. So please send your child in shoes they may wear outside and get wet and another pair of dry shoes to change into after water play, so they will not have to walk around in wet shoes for the rest of the day. Often, we have other ECM teachers that assist after water play day changing the children. Please label all of your child’s clothing and towels with your child’s name. This would greatly assist as we try to identify and make sure that each child goes home his/her own clothing.
The children will continue to discover various Bible stories, shapes, colors and community workers as they pertain to their summer curriculum units.
Yours In Christ,
Toddler Department
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July Newsletter
Dear Parents,
In the month of July the children participate in many fun and adventurous activities as they explore the outdoors. From packing the bed roll to star watching, we will do it all. Check out the calendar for all the great exploration that will occur daily! To incorporate our Bible study, some of the children’s hikes will be through the Holy Land where they will follow Jesus’ travels and learn about how Jesus journeyed. Peter the fisherman and Paul the tentmaker, Jesus’ disciples, had important skills necessary for outdoor travel as Jesus and His disciples ministered to others.
Each child will need to bring two bath/beach towels to remain in their classrooms during the month of July. The children will lean to make their own bedroll. The bedrolls will be used as they sleep under the stars and while in their tents. Please label all towels with the children’s names to assist us in identification.
Donations of paper towel rolls, all sizes of rocks, newspapers and any old bed sheets you would like to donate would be appreciated for our planned activities this month.
• Children will explore the great outdoors as Peter, the fisherman did through some fun Water Play activities and shaving cream.
Dates for these adventures include:
PS-3 and older Tuesday and Wednesday, 7/6-7
Wednesday and Thursday, 721-22
Infant III through PS-2 Thursday and Friday, 7/8-9
Monday and Tuesday, 7/19-20
Please send your child in their bathing suits, insect repellant and sunscreen applied prior to arriving at school. Also, please
remember to include a towel and plastic bag (for wet items). This time of year the sidewalks can get hot, please send children in
shoes they may wear outdoors and get wet and another pair of shoes to change into after water play. Thank-you!
• Kid’s Creation will be here again on Friday July 16th. There is a $5 fee for each child in the Toddler III and older age-level’s to
participate (no checks, please).
• Kid’s Creation will visit again on Tuesday, July 27th for children in the Toddler III through PS-3 age- levels. An additional $5 fee is
required for each child to participate in this activity. Children in the PK-4 and older age-levels will visit the Wildlife Park in Alvin. The f
ee for this adventure is $7 for each person attending (children and adults). Please sign-up on the permission form located on child’s
extended care door. Parents are invited and encouraged to attend and drive to this adventure with us. Please indicate if you are able
to attend on the permission form. All children are required to wear their green ECM T-shirt.
In His Name,
The Extended Care Team
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18220 Upper Bay Road