Early Education

Early Education (PreK-Kindergarten)
In early childhood, there exists an unparalleled opportunity to positively influence the development of our children. Pre-Kindergarten years provide the initial step into formal schooling beyond the home. At Veritas, academic and developmental needs are integrated into all preschool activities. Seeds planted during these years take root and produce Christian character and qualities conducive to successful learning: organizational skills and accountability for classroom behavior, responsibility, diligence, politeness, and good manners. Our teachers will guide your child through a curriculum that focuses on linguistic development, gross and fine motor skills as well as social and interpersonal relationships. Each classroom provides a warm, friendly and nurturing environment that allows students to develop socially, spiritually, and cognitively.
The cognitive, physical and social skills of most rapidly developing three-year-olds are significantly different from other ages, according to early childhood brain research.Frog Street Threes curriculum provides intentional instruction in key areas of development so children ages 36-48 months can effectively continue on the path to kindergarten readiness. Key components include:
  • Easy-to-use activities developed around early brain development research.
  • Well-rounded scope of activities that address all developmental domains.
  • Intentional instruction that optimizes key windows of opportunity for growth and development.
  • Social and emotional emphasis featuring Dr. Becky Bailey’s Conscious Discipline®.
 
Art: Our PreK3 Class visual arts curriculum is a process based approach to art making which gives every child an opportunity for experiential learning through age appropriate activities. Basics of art elements are combined with early concepts of math and science inquiry to offer students the opportunity to learn about line, shape, color, symmetry, patterns and contrast.  Creative problem solving and cause and effect are naturally infused into the art making experiences to further the child's ability to use deeper thinking and analytic skills.  In addition, students are exposed to many genres of art, poetry and literature, as well as classical music to broaden their appreciation for the arts.
 
Bible: The Purposeful Design Preschool Bible series focuses on the foundational teachings from the Bible about the nature and character of God, the qualities of His people, and His church. Students are given an overview of the Bible, with an emphasis on God's attributes, biblical characters, the early Church, and what it means to know Jesus Christ and live for Him.
 
Language: Students begin their foreign language exposure with French which utilizes songs, dance, games, chants, and Scripture memory.
 
Learning Centers: Learning Centers throughout the classroom utilize both imaginative play and one-on-one/small-group learning to further integrate and instill concepts learned at the group level. Learning Centers include a Writing Center, Literacy Center (students are encouraged to "read" lots of books), Art Center(lots of painting and projects!), Table activities(small group reinforcement of math or phonics concepts such as sorting, sequencing, lacing beads), Carpet Center( free play with cars, trains, or magna tiles), Block Center (area for imaginative building with large wooden blocks), and Kitchen/Dress-up Center.
 
Music and Movement: During music class students are introduced to the wonderful world of music and movement using the Ready Bodies, Learning Minds curriculum. The curriculum gives students:
  • A clear understanding of reflexes, sensory integration and kinesthetic awareness, and how they impact learning
  • A clear understanding of how learning impacts performance through motor responses, patterns and skills
  • Specific, easy-to-implement activities, exercises and in a motor lab format that focus on immature, faulty or disabled systems and deliver results
 
During the class the student is introduced to music and movement in order to promote early learning with a focus on developing a child's music aptitude, motor coordination, social learning skills and language acquisition.
 
Literacy Development: In the PreK3 class students will be involved in many aspects of literacy development including:  a literature rich curriculum, vocabulary development, formal introduction to the alphabet, phonological awareness, and writing and fine motor skills.
 
Foundational Mathematics: Concepts such as attributes: classification, patterns, one-to-one correspondence, order, numeration, and logical reasoning and problem solving through interactive activities, centers, manipulatives, one-on-one interaction with the teacher, and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) activities.
 
Science: Basic Science concepts are integrated into the curriculum, such as weather/nature, animals and their habitats, plants and how they grow, simple water experiments, as well as learning about magnetic properties. We have fun exploring God's creation!
 
The goal of the PreK program at Veritas is to effectively prepare students for kindergarten by providing ample instruction with kindergarten readiness in mind.
 
Art: Our PreK4 visual arts curriculum is a process based approach to art making which gives every child an opportunity for experiential learning through age appropriate activities. Basics of art elements are combined with early concepts of math and science inquiry to offer students the opportunity to learn about line, shape, color, symmetry, patterns and contrast.  Creative problem solving and cause and effect are naturally infused into the art making experiences to further the child's ability to use deeper thinking and analytic skills.  In addition, students are exposed to many genres of art, poetry and literature, as well as classical music to broaden their appreciation for the arts.
 
Bible: Bible in PreK4 focuses on familiar Bible lessons presented from both the Old Testament and New Testament, emphasizing God’s love. Key features include:  daily real-life application, engaging student activities, purposeful instruction of Bible truths, weekly review and assessment and cross-curricular connections.
 
Language: French is continued from our PreK3 program and focuses on basic vocabulary, alphabet, numbers, prayer and familiar songs.  Language emphasis is placed on familiarity to the children and pronunciation of the words.
 
Learning Centers: Through learning and play centers our students gain social and problem solving skills as they communicate with classmates, share ideas and express emotions.  Other centers are geared toward specific lessons intended to reinforce learning during the week.  Centers allow children to explore the lesson on his or her own. 
 
Music and Movement: During music class students are introduced to the wonderful world of music and movement using the Ready Bodies, Learning Minds curriculum. The curriculum gives students:
  • A clear understanding of reflexes, sensory integration and kinesthetic awareness, and how they impact learning
  • A clear understanding of how learning impacts performance through motor responses, patterns and skills
  • Specific, easy-to-implement activities, exercises and in a motor lab format that focus on immature, faulty or disabled systems and deliver results
 
During the class the student is introduced to music and movement in order to promote early learning with a focus on developing a child's music aptitude, motor coordination, social learning skills and language acquisition.
 
Literacy: Our literacy program uses dramatic play, singing, finger plays, manipulatives, and movement to teach children to rhyme, clap syllables, make and break compound words, and identify sounds. Children are exposed to rich literature to foster a love of reading, build vocabulary and learn how books work. They learn to use new words and develop oral language skills by listening, retelling, and narrating stories. 
 
All literacy instruction is based on the National Early Literacy Report to ensure a strong foundation for reading skills. PreK4 students will be exposed to a variety of literature genres such as personal narratives, predictable text, informational text, nonfiction, classics, fiction, poetry, and fantasy. In addition to a literature rich program students will be taught vocabulary development, phonological awareness, and writing and fine motor skills.
 
Mathematics and Science: The mathematics and science curriculum provides purposeful, engaging math investigations with lessons focused on number and operations; geometry and spatial awareness; measurement; classification and patterning;  and data collection and analysis.
 
The first phase of classical education, the grammar stage, begins in kindergarten. The grammar stage builds a strong foundation upon which Veritas students begin their academic journey.  During kindergarten, students will learn the grammar of each subject, the basic facts of language skills, reading, writing, science, art and history.  At Veritas, the curriculum is designed for students to build a database of knowledge in each subject.  Equally as important as cognitive development, is Veritas’ focus on productive social growth.  A child’s intellectual growth is supported by a balanced emphasis on spiritual, social, emotional and physical maturation. 
 
Kindergarten core curriculum consists of:
  • Bible
  • Phonics/Reading
  • Mathematics
  • Science and Social Studies
  • Writing
  • Art
  • Physical Education
  • French
  • Music and Movement
  • Storytime
Experiential Learning
In addition to core curricular subjects, Veritas Early Education students are engaged in learning through experiential learning outside of the confines of the classroom.  These field trips help enhance the overall learning experience and provides our students with eye-opening engagement with content that they are learning in the classroom.  Experiential learning provides hands-on activities and reaches students' learning capacity utilizing all of their senses.  Experiential learning trips include:
  • Bellaire Fire Station
  • Houston Zoo
  • The Houston Rodeo
  • H.E.B.