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Instruction and Assessment

Two students play with plastic eggs by a sensory table filled with various toys

CT Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS)

The CT ELDS are a set of standards that describe what children from birth to age five should know and be able to do. They are used to help adults think about how children grow and learn over time. The CT ELDS help all the adults in a child's life talk with each other using the same words and to think about experiences that will help him/her reach the next steps in development. The CT ELDS includes eight domains or areas of development.

  • Cognition
  • Social and Emotional Development
  • Physical Development and Health
  • Language and Literacy 
  • Creative Arts
  • Mathematics
  • Science and Social Studies

Report Cards and Assessments

  • Report Cards are directly aligned to the 9 domains identified in the CT ELDS. Student progress is reported out using this format three times per year. The fall and spring report cards align with the scheduled family conferences to allow families to meet with teachers and discuss progress in person.
  • DECA is the benchmark assessment for Social and Emotional Learning. Teachers complete a survey for each child identifying what they are currently demonstrating in the classroom. This survey provides ratings in four areas (attachment, self-control, regulations, and behavioral concerns ) along with strategies which can be implemented both in the classroom and at home.
  • The Preschool Early Literacy Indicators (PELI) is the benchmark assessment for literacy completed with each student three times per year. This assessment measures pre-reading skills taught in our curriculum that will prepare students to become readers. 
  • For math, we use curriculum-based assessments based in our Bridges Math Program. These assessments are activities students complete during the math block, aligned to the ELDS, that are used to measure students' progress towards those standards. 

Instruction Programs and Approaches

Literacy
  • Heggerty: Phonological and phonemic awareness
  • Fundations: Phonics and letter/sound identification
  • Learning Without Tears: Letter formation and identification, fine motor skills
  • Interactive Read Alouds
  • Shared Reading
Math
  • Bridges: Number Corner, Calendar, and Workstations
Social and Emotional Learning
  • Second Step
  • Responsive Classroom

 

students use colorful scarves during a creative movement class

Education is truly key to a great head start for a child and thanks to The Friendship School, both of my children have thrived under the direction of their teachers. We really enjoy all of the wonderful activities the teachers think of to keep their students learning. All of the teachers are so kind to each child, and truly work hard to create a warm and rich educational environment. We love the transparency they have with the parents by sharing live pictures and videos of things happening in the class which give us parents the opportunity to be part of their learning experience. Also, families are updated with newsletters detailing all of the learning that is happening around the school. Our kids love their outstanding program and curriculum which includes music, library, art, creative movement, PE and so much more. They all provide a brilliant academic opportunity to our children. Learning at TFS is fun! We highly recommend it!

The Duran Family