A few years ago, St. Paul’s Nursery School (SPNS) began implementing the new Rhode Island Early Learning Standards (RIELS) into our program. RIELS provides an introduction to academics with an emphasis on purposeful play and exploration. It is aligned with a program we were currently using, the “Creative Curriculum”. The Early Learning Standards were developed as a national, and later, statewide framework for preschools. It consists of standards, goals and expectations for all young children ages 3 to 5 to ensure they enter kindergarten ready to learn and succeed. Our entire staff has been trained and certified in the RIELS. Let me explain further what the RI ELS are all about.

The RI Early Learning Standards:

• Were developed in partnership with The RI Departments of: Education; Children, Youth and Families; Health; Human Services; Head Start; Kids-Count; and the University of Rhode Island
• Are based on current early childhood educational research and best teaching practices.
• Promote high quality early childhood programs.
• Provide information to families, teachers and administrators on what young children should know, understand and be able to do before entering kindergarten.
• Guide the selection of assessment tools that are appropriate for learners from a variety of backgrounds with differing abilities.

The RIELS are divided into Eight Domains including:

1. Approaches to Learning; (i.e. asking questions, showing curiosity, displaying positive attitudes.)
2. Social and Emotional Development; (i.e. sense of belonging to family and community, making friends, interacting with others, showing self-control.)
3. Language Development and Communication; (i.e. talking, listening, singing.)
4. Literacy; (i.e. being read to, understanding words carry a message, name recognition, developing skills in writing.)
5. Mathematics; (i.e. measuring, counting, patterning, shape recognition, problems solving.)
6. Science; (i.e. curiosity about the natural world, how things work, asking questions, observing and recording their findings and discussing their conclusions.)
7. Creativity; (i.e. expressing themselves through pretend play, painting, building, and music.)
8. Physical Health and Development; ( i.e. young children’s future health and well-being are directly related to strengthening their large and small muscles, using their senses and practicing healthy behaviors.)

Play appears as the first Learning Goal in each of the eight domains. The Early Learning Standards reflect Rhode Island’s strong belief in the important role of play in how children learn. Through play, with peers, children enhance the learning of skills, knowledge and dispositions that guarantees success in later schooling.

Hopefully this gives you a sense of what we provide here at SPNS for the children of St. Paul’s and children from the surrounding communities. On December 8, at 11:00 the SPNS preschool children we will be entertaining the St. Paul’s Seniors during their Christmas luncheon upstairs in the Parish House. This is but one demonstration of three of the ELS domains mentioned above, (Social and Emotional Development, making community friends, Language and Communication, singing and Creativity, decorating the tree with ornaments made by the children). Come and visit us and watch the learning taking place.

We have a limited number of openings left for this school year 2011-2012. We are currently conducting tours and taking registrations for the coming September 2012, (295-7320).

Blessings,
Linda