RIO GRANDE, An independent school serving students pre-K through sixth grade in Santa Fe, NM

Early Childhood "Grandes"

The Early Childhood "Grandes" Program enrolls children between the ages of four and five, preparing them for kindergarten in a warm, nurturing, play- and literacy-oriented environment. The Grandes Program places a strong emphasis on literacy development through open-ended centers of learning that integrate the arts, music, dramatic play, science, math, literacy, and motor skills.

The curriculum is research-based and carefully planned. The daily schedule is balanced between teacher-initiated center activities and child-initiated activities. Each day offers outdoor play using equipment that encourages appropriate motor skills and provides periods of quiet time.

The Early Childhood "Grandes" Program...

• is a full day program with an aftercare option until 5:30 p.m.;
• incorporates a balance of pre-academic skills, such as paper and pencil tasks, while teaching children through hands-on means;
• relies on the direction from teachers as children move to the next level of cognitive exploration and understanding;
• creates structure within the curriculum so children become more independent as the year progresses;
• coordinates with the kindergarten curriculum and sets benchmarks in order to prepare children for kindergarten and beyond.

>>  See "Kindergarten" curriculum >>