Curriculum Detail

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Pre-Kindergarten

The Pre-Kindergarten curriculum is rich and varied, responding to the many ways that children learn and grow. Pre-Kindergarten children are learning to reason and use logic; they learn routines and can follow directions; their ability to use language to solve problems increases; and they enjoy being a member of a group or team. Further, their interest in words increases, and they are beginning to incorporate letters or words into their pictures. They like rote counting and are practicing one-to-one correspondence.

Students become increasingly willing to take risks in their learning and are better able to accept mistakes. In Pre-Kindergarten, part of the day includes many choices; other time is devoted to focused work, such as studying patterns, investigating one of the five senses, or developing ideas that illustrate our similarities and differences.

The Letter of the Week study, which spans much of the school year, is a dynamic experience that includes imaginary travel on a magic plane to new locations; tasting new foods during snack time; reading a special story; participating in a science experiment; and an introduction to handwriting—all of which connect with the chosen letter of the week.

Pre-K Mathematics

Pre-K mathematics includes use of mathematical language; developing number sense; one-to-one correspondence; ordering; comparing; predicting and estimating; sorting; and writing numbers. The students find mathematical experiences within the natural environment, the symmetry of a leaf, the effects of temperature change on water, and other such tangible real-world scenarios.
Pre-K Science

Pre-K students expand upon Nursery’s science explorations with trips to Central Park and an apple orchard. Each week, students participate in a new science experiment that leads them to ask good questions and use all five senses to predict, observe, and document their experience. The experiments are hands-on exercises, such as color mixing, and testing salty, sweet, and sour tastes.
Pre-K Social Studies

Pre-K social studies responds to students’ increased curiosity about their world and focuses on what they know best: their families and homes. It engages children as they learn about commonly shared experiences and identify differences. Pre-K students participate in a variety of activities throughout the year that nurture interconnectedness and a sense of place within families, school, larger communities, and the world. These activities include field trips, cooking, art projects, and narrative illustrations.
Pre-K Physical Education

In Pre-K, students master basic locomotor movements and manipulative skills through carefully structured games that are playful and creative in nature. They are introduced to a wide range of materials—including different types and sizes of balls, beanbags, beach balls, and balloons—all of which encourage the development of eye-hand coordination skills.
Pre-K Music

Music is experiential, and each child is encouraged to participate based on the premise that experiencing music precedes intellectually understanding it. Our music program involves movement, singing, and ear-training games. It also emphasizes singing and the sequential development of musical skills. Students experience and explore concepts such as meter, form, dynamics, rhythmic notation, and melodic notation. The curriculum includes drama games, creative movement, and folk dancing.
Pre-K Spanish

The Pre-K experience is an introduction to comprehending different ways of thinking, communicating, and living in a global society. Teaching language at a young age facilitates the development of foundational skills, including listening, speaking, and phonics. With time, students progress to acquiring more sophisticated skills—such as reading and writing—that enable them to be communicative risk takers.
Pre-K Art

Many projects stem from source materials found in Central Park. Materials are studied in depth in the art studio, and are eventually incorporated into artwork. Projects build students’ vocabulary around artistic methods, materials, and tools. Students are exposed to various artists and artistic traditions from around the world as they gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of art and artistic processes. They become fluent in artistic practices and begin to see the connections within interdisciplinary projects.
Pre-K Language Arts

Pre-K language arts engages children in a variety of language and literacy activities that include recognition of sound-symbol relationships, phonemic awareness, narrative storytelling, writing uppercase and lowercase letters, recognizing print in the environment, and varied fiction and nonfiction literature to support literacy instruction.

Morning meeting times are an essential period when children “read” the Message of the Day, with its intentional word content. As their literacy skills increase, children begin to “decode.” Every day, time is scheduled for them to “Look at a Book;” such moments serve as an introductory independent reading period in which the children can engage with texts. By the end of the year, Pre-K students have gained significant skills in reading and writing readiness that will be the foundation for their language and literacy growth in Kindergarten.

Faculty

Jennifer Golanka

Pre-Kindergarten Head Teacher

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Bio
Jenny graduated from Northwestern University with a BME in Music Education. She began working at Trevor in 2001 as a substitute teacher and joined the faculty full time in 2004. Jenny has written and helped to direct the 4th and 5th grade MiniTerm musical, Relatively Speaking, along with parts of at least two others. She has filled multiple roles at Trevor’s Lower School since joining the faculty, as a Pre-K French teacher, elementary art teacher, Kindergarten assistant, and Head teacher. Prior to joining Trevor, Jenny was the sole proprietor of Vincent Van Dough fancy cookies and Full Circle Designs, a company that sells hand-painted children’s clothing (which she still does). She has also held various positions at schools in CA, HI, and RI. Jenny, who has been in education for 30 years, says, “I teach children to fall in love with learning; create possibilities for excellence and excitement through exploration and experimentation that are all but irresistible, and teach to a child’s potential, all of which are essential components for creating long-term enthusiasm for inquiry, study, and discovery. My students are 4- and 5-years-old, and they will be in school for many years—so, feeling good about oneself as a student is imperative. At Trevor, I have the opportunity to take the time to help every child create his or her own path to success, whatever that path may be.”
Eric Lara

Pre-Kindergarten Head Teacher

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Willow Louis

Pre-Kindergarten Associate Teacher

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Allison Nessim

Nursery Head Teacher (leave replacement)

(212) 426-3300

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Bio
Allison has her masters in early childhood and elementary education from NYU. She taught for 12 years, in nursery, prek, and kindergarten. Allison took some time off to stay at home and raise her own kids, before returning to work 6 years ago. She is entering her fifth year at Trevor!
Rachel Steinman

Pre-Kindergarten Associate Teacher

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Bio
Rachel holds a BA in Math from Hunter College. Rachel comes to this associate position after teaching the Nursery to Kindergarten MakerSpace classes this academic year, as well as working in the AfterSchool program. For three years prior to Trevor, she worked at a tutoring center teaching math to children ages 4–12, and coding to children ages 5–10. Rachel's passion for creative learning aligns with Trevor's commitment to a diverse array of teaching styles, which makes her especially excited to advance with Trevor.
Andy Wilson

Director of Lower School

(212) 426-3305

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Bio
Andy earned his BA from Rutgers University and his MS in Education from Bank Street College of Education. He also completed the NYSAIS Emerging Leaders Institute. Andy comes to Trevor from Ethical Culture Fieldston School, where he was the Assistant Principal. Prior to that appointment in 2013, Andy served as a 2nd-grade teacher, and then as the Learning Coordinator at Ethical Culture. He also previously taught special education at PS 111 and PS 126, and Pre-K through 2nd grade at The Calhoun School.