HEAD START

What Skills Do Children Learn in Head Start?

SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Teachers guide children toward being content, happy, and cooperative through planned daily activities. Teachers support children in building strong self-esteem and developing skills in self-control -- creating a harmonious classroom community.

Children's social/emotional development depends primarily on the relationship with teachers and how children in that classroom or home environment interact with each other. Families play an important role in each child's social-emotional well being and readiness to learn.

LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT

DCPC classrooms are full of materials and activities to improve language skills. We believe all children need time to think and should not be rushed in their communication process; that staff and other adults will listen carefully when children are speaking; and that children are given as many opportunities as possible to use language, one-on-one and in groups.

Children who speak English as a second language have opportunities to improve their language skills in English as well as Spanish or Hmong. Learning English as a second language happens through conversations with bilingual teachers, group activities, and take-home materials.

LITERACY

Because children often develop reading and writing skills simultaneously, many activities are available to children in learning letters, letter patterns, sounds, and writing. Our teachers recognize that children who are excited and motivated to read will enjoy reading and learn to read sooner.

Our programs provide many colorful books at all reading levels, in different languages and on many topics of interest to young children. Children are encouraged to write letters, words, and names when possible during active play with other children and on their own.

PRE-MATH & LOGIC

Children in DCPC programs will demonstrate an increasing interest and awareness of numbers and counting as a means for solving problems, determining quantity, and begin to associate number concepts, vocabulary, quantities, and written numerals in meaningful ways.

Children will learn sorting, matching, counting, and sequencing activities that will lead to complex pre-math, addition, and subtraction skill development.

SCIENCE & SOCIAL STUDIES

Science and social studies activities challenge children to extend their thinking to higher levels. Studies are meaningful to children because they provide opportunities to gain information through direct observation and experimentation -- then to link new ideas to what they already know. Studies help children learn more about new things.

CREATIVE ARTS & MUSIC

Activities in dance, music, pretend play, drawing, and painting are provided in all of our programs. Children love using their bodies and materials to design, create, and explore. These activities help children learn to interact with others, provide activities where children use language, rhyming, and problem solving, as well as improve their large and small muscle coordination.

TECHNOLOGY

Computers with interactive software programs are available for children to use in all classrooms. Many classrooms also have woodworking activities, cameras, CD players, and aquariums with pumps. We strive to give all of our children as many opportunities as possible to learn to use tools and electronic materials.