ISB’s Pre-K 3 and Pre-K 4 are full-day play-based programs that meet five days per week. In these grades, 100% of the core instruction is in the target language, French or Spanish.

ISB believes that in order to bring out the best in each child, the learning experience in preschool must respect individual learning styles and developmental readiness, and that learning should be joyful.

ISB uses play to introduce inquiry- and project-based learning, allowing students to learn how to ask questions and adapt to group learning while teachers still relate to students as individuals.

These experiences are designed to nurture the development of the whole child - emotionally, socially, academically, physically, linguistically, and culturally. Students start to build literacy and math skills through this highly effective approach.

Preschool Curriculum

ISB’s Preschool curriculum covers six areas: language arts, mathematics and scientific thinking, social studies, the arts (music and visual arts), physical development, and personal and social development. Daily schedules include a balance of activities that are both child-directed and teacher-directed.

Literacy

Literacy in Preschool is focused on growing students’ emergent literacy skills in the target language. Teachers engage students in early literacy skills, such as letter recognition, phonemic awareness, and story comprehension through a variety of activities that are of personal interest.

Students in Pre-K 3 and Pre-4 begin to play with and manipulate letters and sounds in the context of their names, the classroom environment, and word games. Students begin to take ownership of their written name to label their work, take pride in beginning to read their classmates’ names, and start to read the words that surround them in their classroom environment. Students will grow familiar with the full alphabet in the target language by the end of Prekindergarten and continue to consolidate this skill in Kindergarten.

Mathematics

Math education in Preschool is integrated into unit-related projects, games, and class routines. Students develop their number sense and problem solving skills through the use of manipulatives such as building blocks, calendars, and puzzles. Regardless of the task, ISB’s teachers are skilled at differentiating activities in order to support each child’s growth within a nurturing environment.

What are the Benefits of a Play-Based Education?

• Provides a meaningful context for children to learn concepts and skills
• Makes learning fun and enjoyable
• Encourages children to explore and discover together and on their own
• Allows children to extend what they are learning
• Enables children to experiment and take risks
• Gives opportunities to practice cooperative behavior and problem solving with classmates

Academic Overview

• Pre-K 3 & Pre-K 4: 100% core instruction in the target language (Spanish or French)
• Kindergarten: 90% instruction in the target language (French or Spanish), 10% in English
• Full-day programs, five days a week
• 15–18 students with two (or three) teachers per class
• Twice Daily Recess
• Weekly Art, Music, Physical Education
• Play-based program

• School Day Hours
• Pre-K 3 and Pre-K 4: 9:00am–3:00pm
• Kindergarten: 8:30am-3:30pm
• Early drop-off available from 8am-8:45am and extended care available from 3pm–6pm,