Our Early Childhood Program at St. Lawrence provides a warm, Christ-centered environment where 3 and 4 year-olds can grow academically and spiritually in a safe, nurturing environment.

Our program offers:

  • Low student/teacher ratios with a teacher and assistant in each class
  • Integrated curriculum makes connections across many disciplines. Early literacy, math, science, social studies, art, music, movement, technology, and social-emotional development are integrated throughout the curriculum.
  • Play-based learning through thematic units which makes learning fun and engaging.
  • Learning Centers that encourage exploration, discovery and imagination are based on purposeful play. Students make choices, socialize and learn by doing.

All Students who enter our program must be fully potty-trained with the ability to care for their own bathroom needs. Children who enter our 3-year-old program must be 3 on or before September 1st and students entering our 4-year-old program must be 4 on or before

Curriculum:

Religion

The God Made Everything series, which is comprised of God Made Me (Age 3) and God Made the World (Age 4), is a comprehensive early childhood program designed to nurture and enrich the faith and spiritual lives of God’s youngest disciples. This program is carefully planned so that upon completion children are ready to continue their faith journey.

Enrichment

Art, PE, Music, Media, STREAM, Spanish (EC4)

ELA

Our Starfall curriculum covers all domains of early learning and encourages active participation for each child.  Content for each unit of learning is built around a carefully crafted daily routine within an activity-centered day. Language and literacy skills are developed through rich, integrated content as well as the development of their cognitive, socioemotional, and their gross and fine motor skill.

Balance of Instruction and Exploration: Direct Instruction provides a framework so all children will receive target skills. Learning Centers and Exploration provide the children with time to explore and experiment with what they have learned. Learn more about Starfall.

Scholastic “My Big World” Magazine is an additional learning tool that used to maximize student engagement with real world content. Each themed issue is paired with high quality, multimedia teaching tools that deepen learning and help explore seasonal themes.

Learning Without Tears  is a handwriting curriculum that contains engaging activities that build and reinforce important pre-reading and pre-writing skills. These skills include visual discrimination, letter recognition, hand-eye coordination, and perceptual and motor skills.

Additional information:   

The Project Approach: https://illinoisearlylearning.org/pa/ 

Reggio-Emilia: https://www.reggiochildren.it/en/reggio-emilia-approach/ 

Waldorf Method: https://www.waldorfeducation.org/waldorf-education 

Montessori: https://montessori-nw.org/what-is-montessori-education

A Look Into the Early Childhood Classrooms