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Austin, TX
Early Childhood Program at the JCAA

Parents at this school would recommend this school to other parents.

Review this preschool

Telephone: (512) 735-8100  · Website: http://www.jcaaonline.org/

• Summary
• General Info
• School Philosophy
  & Day-in-the-Life
• Curriculum &
  Teaching Approach
• Quality of
  Teaching
• Home/School
  Connection
• Discipline,
  Health & Safety
• Ages, Schedule
  & Tuition
• Application &
  Admissions
• Kindergarten
  Placement&Tips

General Approach to Learning

	Play-based
	Play-based with some structure
	Predominantly teacher-led instruction
	Montessori
	Waldorf
	Co-op
	Reggio-Emilia

source:

Director's Comments

Play based developmental approach as opposed ot academic focused approach.

Social Skills & Work Habits

OVERALL RATING (5.0)
This school has increased my child's:
Ability to listen and follow directions
Ability to sit still for longer periods of time
Ability to be a part of a group of children
Self-sufficiency and independence
Awareness of others’ feelings
Cooperation with other children

source:

Curriculum and Teaching Approach

	PLAY-BASED	PLAY-BASED WITH SOME STRUCTURE	MOSTLY TEACHER LED	NOT FORMALLY IN CURRICULUM	CONDUCIVE ENVIRONMENT
Language					Yes
Oral language	-		-	-	n/a
Nursery rhymes, poems, songs	-		-	-	n/a
Storybook reading	-		-	-	n/a
Emerging literacy skills	-		-	-	n/a
Cognitive Development					n/a
Math and number sense	-		-	-	Yes
Time & space	-		-	-	Yes
Sci. reasoning/physical world	-		-	-	Yes
Music	-		-	-	Yes
Visual arts	-		-	-	Yes
Physical activity	-		-	-	Yes
Other subjects taught	Judaic Enrichment				n/a

source:

Director's Comments

For preschool children, daily activities are flexible, with a variety of hands-on, child-centered activities that encourage the children to discover, experiment, explore, and develop concepts. Daily activities include art and sensory play, blocks, dramatic play, fine and gross motor development, and music.
Teachers usually plan their weeks around a topic or issue that is developmentally appropriate for the children's age group. Emphasis is not on acquiring facts and knowledge about a specific topic, but rather on children developing the basic processes necessary for learning. A balanced schedule provides experiences in group and individual settings. Stories, music, language experiences, and discussion of unit studies take place in groups. Individually, children choose learning center activities in which they can work and play alone, in pairs, or in small groups.

Parents' Comments

Parent #1
It is a play-based school, however, most classrooms are set up with stations where children choose their own activities and are provided some guidance. There is also circle time, field trips, nature walks, etc.