PRESCHOOL
“Junior Preschoolers” 3 to 4 Years
THREE IS A MAGICAL YEAR. YOUR CHILD’S MIND IS NOT JUST A SPONGE BUT A SUPER COMPUTER, ABSORBING NEW INFORMATION AND MOST OF ALL MAKING NEW CONNECTIONS.
FOR THE LOVE OF SCIENCE, READING BOOKS, AND GAINING SOCIAL CONFIDENCE, WE’RE NOW IN FULL INSPIRATIONAL TEACHER MODE WITH YOUR 3-YEAR OLD PRESCHOOLER
PRESCHOOL
“Junior Preschoolers” 3 to 4 Years
THREE IS A MAGICAL YEAR. YOUR CHILD’S MIND IS NOT JUST A SPONGE BUT A SUPER COMPUTER, ABSORBING NEW INFORMATION AND MOST OF ALL MAKING NEW CONNECTIONS.
FOR THE LOVE OF SCIENCE, READING BOOKS, AND GAINING SOCIAL CONFIDENCE, WE’RE NOW IN FULL INSPIRATIONAL TEACHER MODE WITH YOUR 3-YEAR OLD PRESCHOOLER
BOOK A COMPLIMENTARY TOUR TODAY!
BRUSHING TEETH AND SHAKING HANDS – TEACHING MORE ADVANCED PRACTICAL LIFE ACTIVITIES AND SOCIAL SKILLS
Our preschoolers look forward to working on their practical life sections during their daily play.
Everyday tasks that we take for granted as adults require a significant amount of concentration to complete from start to finish for our 3-year olds.
Mastering these hands-on activities requires a great amount of focus and logic but provide immense joy and satisfaction when mastered as it boosts preschoolers’ self-esteem in the classroom and life outside of it.
Focusing on clean up, putting materials away, walking in a lineup and tucking chairs in, teaches a respect for the classroom environment. This becomes a shared space for all and provides an introduction to the importance of organization and cleanliness.
Transcending space, we must also be respectful to those around us – hence a focus on social courtesies. Familiarizing preschoolers with the concept of shaking hands, saying please and thank you, how to gracefully interject an adult conversation or how to cough and sneeze discreetly is a fun component for all.
Most importantly, teaching self-care is an initiative in becoming physically independent. Teaching our budding preschoolers how to correctly wash hands, brush teeth and hair, tie shoes and dress themselves are core skills to feeling all grown up.
ENCOURAGING COURAGE AND CONFIDENCE
Positivity, patience and praise are core values of our preschool classrooms. Creating a warm and safe space, teachers nurture the awesome individuality of our 3 year olds.
Enhancing self-confidence and esteem in every preschooler are the building blocks upon which our children construct a strong sense of self-worth and purpose. Role-play, circle time and community-building projects are strategies we implement to introduce self-respect and respect towards others and their environment.
Encouraging our little ones to speak up during play and circle time, increases confidence and ability to resolve conflict.
Providing tools to help them distinguish between right and wrong, we focus on acquiring necessary skills for creative problem solving, socialization and developing a sense of responsibility.
EVEN SHAKESPEARE STARTED WITH ABC AND SQUIGGLY LINES ON A PAGE
It’s time we inspire the curious preschooler to begin reading and writing!
Visual learning is the most effective method to guide young 3 year-olds through the challenging pre-reading stage.
Focusing on recognizing letters and identifying sounds through flash cards and anchor posters, teachers raise a concrete phonological awareness (how words and letter combinations sound).
Since reading is a systematic learning of simple phonetics that eventually lead to more complex phonics and sounds – or complete words, we focus on reading first and writing thereafter.
Subsequently, our inspired preschool teachers combine fun sensory activities with learning how to trace. Hands on activities implement fun into the early stages of writing where preschoolers trace letters and numbers with shaving cream, paint, in sand and much more! This transforms the prewriting stage into an engaging and enjoyable learning.
SEEDING THE LOVE (AND APPRECIATION) OF SCIENCE AND MATH
While we focus on tracing, recognizing and most importantly, comprehending numbers 1-50, art is mainly prescribed to inspire mathematical and scientific concepts.
The preschool program introduces little ones to math concepts with engaging activities such as building geometric shapes, sorting and sequencing with crafts or using music to teach patterns through repetition.
Implementing a love for science is accomplished through cool experiments that ignite the senses as teachers excite curiosities about the human body, animals, weather patterns and space.
Meet yOur Teachers
Chandler Location
Ms. Michaela
Ms. Michaela | Preschool
My name is Ms. Michaela! I was born in China but was adopted and have grown up in Arizona. Some of my favorite hobbies include baking/cooking and finding delicious new restaurants with my fiancé. Growing up, I was fortunate to have some outstanding teachers which is where my passion for working with children comes from. I attended UofA where I graduated with my BA in Early Childhood Education. I have been working in childcare centers since 2015 but have been volunteering with children long before then. I hope to help children realize their full potential and have a lot of fun along the way!
Ms. Tatum
Ms. Tatum | Preschool
Hello, my name is Ms. Tatum, and I am a preschool teacher here at Premier Learning Academy. I was born and raised in Niles, Michigan—I moved here when I was 12 with my parents for change. I graduated in 2018 and worked as a server for 4 years and recently decided to change my profession. I am the oldest of four girls, so I’ve always loved caring for those younger than me. At home, I have a Red Heeler named Gunner who is my fur baby! I love all animals, my favorite color is blue, my favorite sports to watch are football and baseball and my favorite thing to do is spend time with my family and friends!
Ms. Brieanna
Ms. Brieanna | Preschool
I grew up in Utah and moved to Arizona in 2020. I’m a huge soccer fan and played for two years when I was 16-18 years old—Now you will find me watching any soccer games on the weekends. I have a little shih tzu named Darby who is my baby and likes to think she’s an adult! One day, I hope to own my dream dog which is a Standard Poodle. Some of my favorite hobbies include reading and doing the adult coloring books! I’ve always been around kids while growing up and started working with them after high school and have loved working with them ever since!
Queen Creek Location
Ms. Janet
Ms Janet | Preschool
I am a California Native! I moved to AZ in 2019 with my husband. We have been married for 3 years now, and I absolutely love Arizona! I have been teaching in preschools since 1997! I have taught from toddlers to pre-k! I’ve found that preschool and pre-k are my favorite ages. I have had the pleasure of working at PLA for two years now (almost 3), and it has been the BEST preschool I have ever worked at. It has a true family atmosphere. I am so proud to call PLA Home.
Ms. Megan
Ms. Megan | Preschool
I am so excited to have the privilege of being your child’s teacher here at PLA! I have lived in the Gilbert area for 9 years, and was the 100th graduating class at Gilbert High School in 2017! Prior to that, I lived in Mission Viejo, Las Vegas, and Tucson! I’ve been teaching for 6 years now and will continue to teach, grow and learn along with your child! I have loved working with children for as long as I can remember. There is just something so special about helping to mold, educate and bring new experiences to a child’s eager mind that I find so rewarding!
Ms. Jules
Ms. Jules | Early Preschool
I have been at PLA now for just about 5 years and it has been amazing. I’ve worked with many different age groups, and each age group brought me so much joy. My hobbies include drawing, painting and photography! Working at PLA has helped me grow so much as a person and a teacher. I am so excited to continue working with these wonderful kiddos!
