English curriculum for KG2 from 5 to 6 years old:
Our KG2 curriculum has a strong academic focus to prepare our children to be able to transition smoothly into their next school. Our children go to a variety of different schools with different curriculums and are expected to be able to read and write in Arabic and English. We follow a theme-based curriculum with a hands-on, play-based approach to learning which focuses on:
Literacy
We follow the Letters and Sound Phonics Scheme to enable children to begin the process of reading and writing. Children will learn to blend and segment words and learn high frequency words to support the progress of reading and writing. Children will be given reading books to bring home each week and are provided with opportunities to develop their language through role plays and writing activities.
Mathematics
In mathematics, we look at the concept of number in various ways. The children will learn to recognise and count to 100, be able to understand how much a number represents, recognize number patterns and sequences, and will be taught the 4 mathematical operations.
They will also learn the concepts of money, time, measurements, fractions and shapes and statistics. Children will be taught through practical hands-on activities as well as worksheets and whiteboards. We link the learning of mathematics to the real world in a fun, interactive way.
Science
In Science, the children will be able to explore different concepts through observation, investigation and practical activities. We study a variety of different theme-based topics such as plant growth, understanding body parts/functions, gravity and friction and all about space. The children have opportunities to conduct experiments, develop critical thinking skills and recognise that science is a part of our everyday lives.
History / Topic
Our theme-based curriculum supports the teaching of historical events specifically to Islamic history. The children will learn about the life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) as well as other Prophets. They will have a deeper understanding of the UAE and its traditions, understand what life was like in the past and now and their role/purpose in the wider world. The children will develop their thinking skills through comparative activities.
Art
In Art, the children produce artwork using different materials, methods, and textures. They will use different tools such as paintbrushes, sponges, and various cutting and pasting activities to develop their fine motor skills. Children will be involved in producing creative works of art and learn to express themselves through art and drawing.
Arabic curriculum for KG2 :
Our vision for this age group ( from 5 to 6 years):
A child who is independent, creative, talented, initiative, fulfilled, has self control, has capabilities, has a positive outlook on himself, and socially adaptive; in addition, speaks Arabic fluently, discusses openly and with self confidence.
Our Curriculum : Our nursery offers a thorough educational program in a contemporary and featured way that overcomes the complexity of the ideas conflicting with the principles of modern education.
In our Arabic curriculum, for this age group, the child will be able to learn the Arabic language and scientific subjects through an intellectual and sophisticated process with practical application of that, in the aim of developing perfect intellectual, scientific and linguistic skills; through reading, writing, speaking and listening.
The importance of our curriculum lies in:
1- Making the child understand and differentiate all the letters in Arabic through names, words, sentences, stories, and songs that are related to the surroundings and private world. Therefore, we have implemented the themes program which adheres and serves all the events and stories the child is living at that time.
We have also worked on the sophistication of the artistic and aesthetic side, therefore each theme includes in-class activities and outdoors activities; in addition to the purposeful field trips where the child can explore, compare, conclude and link concepts.
2- Memorizing all of juzu' "Amma", in addition to enriching the child with a lot of Quran verses and Hadeeth related to the units. We also try to teach the child pronunciation and reading through lessons on the " Al Qaeda al Nouranya"
3- We try to help the child gain a lot of mathematical sciences, mathematical operations, and scientific concepts using the abacus method, snap cubes, Tangram, and origami that increases the power of concentration, accuracy of observation, creativity and imagination, self confidence, the speed of understanding and comprehending, and the speed of reading and analyzation.
4 - We aim to implement the values and ethics in the children: Greeting, respect, apologizing, loving, cleanliness , proper speech, organization and order.
English curriculum for nursery :
At our nursery we count on learning through play, and experience; therefore we try to help the children discover themselves and their strengths in a way that interests them.Thus, we help them in improving their strengths in an effective way.Here at Rays of Light we try to develop the child’s different skills.Their scientific, artistic and social skills which helps the children in developing their personality.
One of the important things we like to emphasize, is the children's confidence in every task that they might face.
Through our educational curriculum we try to introduce different areas of education in our daily schedule, by specifying enough time for learning different aspects Arabic.
There is a period for exploring the artistic side of the child, in addition, we have dedicated time for playing which helps the child improve their physical and social skills.
We also educate our children about our Islamic religion to put them on the right path.
Our curriculum depends on improving the different areas that our children can excel in.
We help in the development of the child’s emotional, social and personal growth in teaching them how to control their emotions, and make new friendships and connect with people around them.
We also aid the children in developing their motor and physical growth, through teaching them how to use different tools and objects surrounding them.
We also help them in adapting to a healthy lifestyle, and aid them to take care of their personal hygiene.
In addition, we help the child in language development by teaching him/ her how to listen to others, helping understand some topics and teaching them how to interact with each other. This interaction helps them develop their
vocabulary; in addition to the interaction reading stories for the children in both English and Arabic also helps the child in developing his/her vocabulary through new storybook.
And of course, the cognitive development is one of the most important aspects, therefore we help the children develop their cognitive skills through learning the Shapes, Letters, Colors and simple topics about everything surrounding them.
Last but not least, we introduce to our children small verses of Quran, in addition to easy Islamic topics to help the children understand our great religion.
English curriculum for Pre-k from 3 to 4 years old :
The Pre-K curriculum focuses on developing the whole child and understanding the importance of the unique child. We follow the principles of the EYFS from the UK which sets the standards for the learning development of the child as well as Montessori methods which focus on providing children with a hands-on approach to learning. Learning through play is key to our teaching philosophy. Children in Pre-K will focus on the following seven areas of learning:
Communication and Language
Language is an integral part of a child’s development. We understand the importance of creating rich, language environments for young children. We provide opportunities for them to develop confidence through regular speaking and listening activities in a variety of different ways. We encourage the children to use lots of language during Circle ‘talking’ Time and through speaking and listening games.
Physical Development
For their physical development the children get the opportunity to develop their fine and gross motor skills everyday through a range of media and materials such as pencil control activities, painting, playdough and construction resources. Outdoor play is important aspect of children’s development. Children have access to trampolines, slides, balls and various other physical equipment to exercise their bodies and gross motor skills. We have a purpose-built indoor play area for the summer months so that children can continue to develop their gross motor skills using the gym equipment and mats.
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
We encourage the children to be independent learners as well as interact with their peers and adults in the class, for example, to share, take turns, ask to go to the toilet and to be able to follow the class routines.
Literacy
Pre-K start to learn the letter sounds using the Jolly Phonics scheme. We teach the children using the actions to each sound starting with ‘s,a’t’p’I’n’. The children also get shown the letter formation so they can gradually learn how to write it. We use a range of resources and methods such as letter flash cards, songs, sound games and the use a range of practical activities to make their phonics learning fun and exciting.
Mathematics
In Mathematics, we do various counting activities, through singing, number games and object recognition and rote count and recognise numbers 1-10. We explore the basic shapes, colours, patterns, size and weight and look at comparisons to introduce the mathematical vocabulary.
Understanding the World
The children get the opportunity to develop their knowledge of the world through learning about their environment, community, and surroundings through a theme-based curriculum. They are encouraged to use their senses, develop critical thinking skills through investigative work and enhance their observational skills through experimenting.
Expressive Arts & design
Children are encouraged to be expressive through regular art activities. They are taught to make their own choices and experiment with different textures, colours and materials. Children engage cutting and pasting activities which will further support their fine motor skills.
Arabic curriculum for Pre-k from 3 to 4 years old :
At this stage, we try to build the children's personality and introduce them to oneself and to the environment around them.
In addition to reinforcing self confidence through a curriculum that develops the child intellectually, physically, educationally and socially until one becomes able to explore, develop, and adapt to the surroundings and environment within the family atmosphere in school. The children should feel that school is their second home.
Their friends are their brothers and sisters, so they will be able to merge into the society easily, because school is the door for the child into the social life.
The curriculum for this age group aims to:
1- Teach the child most of the Arabic letters, reading pictures of words related to the curriculum and spelling words that have a right connection to the themes.
2- Enrich the child's vocabulary through purposeful stories and songs related to the themes being taught.
3- Giving the child a lot of experiences and practical concepts like geometrical shapes, types of lines, colors, and simple practical and scientific experiments that suit this age group.
4- Help the child memorize a number of Suras of the Qura'an, in addition to some Athkar, Dua'a and Hadeeth that implements the right ethics and values.
5- Introducing the child's five senses so he can be able to explore himself through multiple ways.
6 - Discover the creative side of the child in the creative and artistic aspects in addition to working on developing this side of the child.
7- Developing the physical and motor skills through giving the morning exercise the right amount of attention.
8- Focusing on the positive behavior and teaching the child discipline, cleanness, organization, keeping things in order and respecting others
English curriculum for KG1 from 4 to 5 years old :
In KG1 the children will begin their learning journey through focusing on recognizing the large and small letters of the alphabet and begin to learn the phonic sounds of the alphabet. The children will develop their fine motor skills through pencil control activities and letter tracing.
The children will also begin to identify letters of their first names and write their names.
Children will be taught phonic sounds through songs, flashcards and practical activities.
In Math, children will read, write, and count numbers to 15.
They will also explore, matching, sorting and classifying objects activities.
Children will also learn to recognize shapes and patterns.
They will also learn simple addition and subtraction sums.
In science, they will explore different scientific concepts related to the theme that they will be studying.
The children will have opportunities to explore through observations, investigations and practical activities to develop their understanding of the concepts.
Arabic curriculum for KG1 :
Our vision for this age group ( 4 to 5 years):
To build the child's personality from the physical, intellectual, and spiritual aspects, we aim to help the child to be able to rely on oneself when accomplishing any task, to be confident with one's skills and to be able to live and adapt with others in different environments.
Our Curriculum: We offer for this age group an educational program that is up to date with all the modern development in the area using a distinctive and supported way and that is reflected in the application of the Montessori system using it's tools.
The importance of our curriculum lies within implementing the system of units that serves the events and occasions.
1- The Islamic education:
We choose some verses from the Quran and Hadeeth that are related to the theme at hand. In addition, to learning a big number of short Suras from Juzu' Amma which the children will complete in Kg2. We also aim to implement the values and teachings of the Islamic religion in our children.
2- Arabic Language:
The right Arabic pronunciation, learning to read and write the letters, learning new words, songs and stories that will help enrich the child's vocabulary.
3- Math:
We help the child gain mathematical skills and operations, in addition to scientific concepts with the support of the Montessori sensory and mathematical tools and placing it within the curriculum.
4- Implementing the right ethics and values in the children ( Honesty, Respect, Apology, forgiveness, asking for permission
and cooperation)
