Our Voluntary Pre Kindergarten (VPK) Program has been a high quality program since the program has started in Florida in August of 2005. Parents from Duval and Clay County kindergarten programs have told us that their children graduated from Ivy League Academy have made kindergarten expected year educational gains by mid of the school year.

Teachers

Our teachers are committed to making a difference in your child’s live, dedicating more time to focus on your individual child’s needs and growth, than other teachers in other school childcare centers. Teachers at Ivy League reinforce your child’s knowledge and skill development throughout the day using systematic, explicit, and purposeful activities as well as specific language. Combining both purposeful-engaging curriculum activities and instructional materials, allow your child’s teachers to be successful tailoring learning experiences for your child after knowing the results of his/her assessment.

Curriculum

Our VPK program is based on the Creative Curriculum, complemented by our emphasis on literacy with the use of the “ELLM PLUS” Curricula for our preschool program. What makes our programs unique is the combination of the curriculums mentions above along with our Ivy League Academy team best practices align with Sunshine State Standards, Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Standards, Florida School Readiness Performance Standards, and Head Start Performance Standards and Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale.

Creative Curriculum is a research-based that offers a comprehensive collection of resources to build high-quality classroom environment and age appropriate activities. This curriculum addresses the following areas of development: social–emotional, physical, cognitive, language, emergent literacy, English language acquisition (English- and dual-language learners and effective teaching strategies for teachers) mathematics, science and technology, social studies and arts.

The Early Literacy and Learning Model/Plus ELLM PLUS is a literacy-focused curriculum designed to expand children’s vocabularies and refine their understanding and comprehension of words they know and use. ELLM/PLUS program components are: language and emergent literacy (reading aloud and emergent comprehension; print concepts, oral language, listening, vocabulary, and concept development; letter and sound knowledge; phonological awareness and phonics connections; emergent writing) math, science, social studies, arts, motor development and physical health.

At Ivy League, Instructional routines for pre-school students support the implementation of literacy and language through whole-group, small-group, and individual instruction.

During whole-group instruction concepts are presented or reinforced to ensure and/or extend learning for all children. Concepts introduced in Whole-group instruction are extended through guided practice at the small-group teaching table. During small-group instruction (language and emergent literacy) teachers are able to monitor your child’s progress and address his/her individual needs as he/she converses about and interact with words and concepts.

Environment

Your child will enjoy an awesome learning environment. Circle time and teaching table will happen first. Then, your child will practice using concepts and information independently as he/she works and plays with other children in our learning centers.

Original stories are read at the reading center, while towers and streets are built in our block center. Multicultural grocery shopping and a nice set up table and dress up are performed for imaginative dinners at the dramatic center. Puzzles and play-dough are the favorites for some at the manipulative table while worms and spiders’ samples are looked in detail with magnifier glasses; fun finger paint is used at the easel in the art center while music and dancing is happening across the room at the music and movement center.

Happy teachers, happy children, friendship, generosity, and honesty atmosphere, print rich-environment, multicultural sensitivity, great age appropriate toys, specialized and child-sized furniture and facilities, clean and safe environment are the high quality master pieces of our classrooms.

Assessments

Four years old children (VPK) are assessed three times a year, September, January & May using VPK Assessment kit and VPK Assessment Online Reporting System. Parent conferences are held twice a year or on an as needed basis.

We invite you to talk with our Director and schedule a tour and see the difference for yourself!