Early Academy
ADDRESS:
12830 Shady Hills Rd, Spring Hill, FL 34610
EMAIL:
earlyacademy@classicalprep.org
PHONE NUMBER:
813-388-6482
FAX NUMBER:
813-402-0603
Early Academy at Classical Preparatory School
Nurturing a love for what is true, good, and beautiful!
Early Academy provides an inspiring introduction to classical education for little minds. Each of our twos, PreK-3, and VPK programs provide a thorough, yet gentle, foundation for the child before he or she begins his or her formal academic career. Early Academy provides children with a unique educational experience where they will not only learn foundational skills and knowledge, they will also develop a joy of learning and the satisfaction in a job well-done.
In a positive and trusting environment, we teach a content-rich body of knowledge grounded in the classical approach. Early Academy will provide strong foundational skills in phonics and math through structured learning activities that are age-appropriate. Classic works of art and music, famous composers and masters from the past, as well as scientific concepts will be introduced as the children listen to stories, learn poetry, sing songs, experience creative movement, play games, and make crafts.
Scholars will learn the basics of classroom expectations and behavior through structured lesson plans, play, and fun. Lessons in character, service, and compassion will be taught through interactive stories and questions. Scholars are encouraged to build habits of giving attention and respect, listening, following instructions, and cleaning up after themselves through methods that respect a child’s innate wonder and desire for self-discovery.
We want our young scholars to delight in the pleasures of this stage of life– to capitalize on the curiosity and enthusiasm of their youth and to enjoy the songs, stories, games, and rhymes loved by preschool-age children for generations.
Early Academy's Four Goals
Equip scholars with the tools to access the written word as soon as possible in the following three ways.
- Teaching of emergent and early literacy skills like phonemic awareness, letter names, and sounds using explicit and systematic instruction.
- Exposing scholars to the rich vocabulary and complex ideas of classic tales, especially fairy tales from around the world. Vocabulary acquisition is directly linked to reading comprehension.
- Feeding their imagination with the rich language and ideas of timeless poetry through reading aloud and memorization. This exposure to new and creative ideas increases future reading comprehension.
Equip scholars with basic mathematical concepts and skills so they have a strong foundation going forward into higher math, thus equipping them to think in logical and complex patterns.
- Math is taught through structured learning activities that are age appropriate so that when scholars enter kindergarten they are ready for 1st grade math.
Instill a love of learning.
- Scholars want and need to learn actual content. Currently, there’s a popular belief that since computers have made information accessible, people can just look things up. Therefore, why learn facts? Research reveals this is a fallacy. If one must look up a fact, complex thinking is much more difficult because the mind is now occupied with finding a fact, rather than higher level processing. In addition, scholars actually want to learn content. Without it, learning becomes dull. Therefore, all curricula – Early Academy included – overflow with engaging content knowledge.
- Not all content is equal. At Classical Prep’s Early Academy, we select age-appropriate content that has been tried and found to be true, good, and beautiful. We read timeless stories with lovely illustrations; we listen to classic symphonies; we look at excellent art; we commit to memory the lyrical words of enduring poetry. Why waste time on anything else? These children are worth it.
Train the memory.
- Studies have proven that memory is a muscle that grows stronger with use. Allowing children to begin exercising this muscle at an early age gives them an edge in life. Memorization items at Classical Prep’s Early Academy include: poetry, songs, rhymes, scientific and historical facts, geography, and knowledge of the arts.
Meet the Staff
Our teachers are committed to the highest standards of excellence in the classroom, ensuring the quality of your student’s education.
Upcoming Events
We have a lot going on with the Early Academy. Take a moment to see what events are coming up.
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