In The Spotlight
Chuck E. Cheese's
Bring your preschooler to this family-oriented pizza and games restaurant extravaganza.
Oklahoma City Libraries
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The Oklahoma City Zoo offers preschoolers a world of exciting adventures in wildlife exploration.
Spotlight on King’s Gate Christian School
By Joanna Young Parents who drop their preschoolers off at King’s Gate Christian School know that their preschoolers will not only receive the highest quality care, they’ll be spending each day in a fun and unique learning environment. King’s Gate Christian School’s comprehensive hands-on curriculum and positive, safe atmosphere stands out among Oklahoma City preschools.
Preschool Literature-Based Learning
King’s Gate recognizes that reading is an essential part of daily life and uses literature to implement every aspect of its curriculum. Wyndi Bradley, director of King’s Gate Christian School, says, “Everywhere preschoolers turn we want them to see words in print: on the wall, in books, on the teacher board. In everything we do, we try to build around literature so that they can see the importance of literature in their lives.”
Including books in the preschool curriculum also helps preschoolers learn the concepts of reading left to right, top to bottom, and front to back – key elements in emerging literacy. Another technique used at King’s Gate is to frequently record preschoolers’ verbal statements in writing, allowing preschoolers to see the connection between spoken and written words.
Developmental Approach to Preschool Teaching
King’s Gate teachers give heed to the varying stages that individual preschoolers reach at different times, recognizing that various learning abilities occur at different ages and stages. “We provide an environment that fosters learning so that the children aren’t overwhelmed,” explains Bradley. “We don’t expect something from preschoolers that only a seven year old should be doing. We try and meet preschoolers where they are in their development.” Hands-On Approach to Preschool Teaching
Understanding the developmental stages of preschoolers includes applying a hands-on approach to learning. “We provide a learning environment that preschoolers are intrigued in and can get their hands in,” says Bradley. “We have an experiential environment where our children are touching and feeling and building knowledge through their experiences rather than just us telling them information."An outstanding example of King’s Gate’s experiential setting is its preschool science program. Featured in The Daily Oklahoman, King’s Gate’s four acre outdoor science classroom is taught by a wildlife biologist who brings live animals and plant life to the preschoolers. Each year preschoolers plant their own garden, a hands-on lesson in scientific growth and nurturing of plant life.
King’s Gate’s music program is another great example of its hands-on environment. Taught by a certified music education teacher, the program allows preschoolers to experiment with various musical instruments. Music theory, rhythms, patterns, and timing are all taught to preschoolers through hands-on musical instruction.
Hearing-Impaired Preschoolers
King’s Gate provides special consideration to hearing-impaired preschoolers. Partnered with the Heart for Hearing Foundation through the Hough Ear Institute, King’s Gate teachers use microphones and surround sound systems so that hearing-impaired preschoolers can better focus on their lessons. Furthermore, King’s Gate teachers work with individual families to enhance the educational environment for all special needs preschoolers.
An Allergy-Friendly Preschool
Parents of preschoolers who suffer from life-threatening peanut allergies understand the difficulty of finding a safe preschool environment. Therefore, the staff at King’s Gate has worked with pediatricians to understand peanut allergies and to create an allergy friendly environment.
King’s Gate preschool has educated its teachers, training them to administer emergency epi-injections and has implemented “safe tables” and “lunch buddies” so that preschoolers can eat safely without exposure to foods that contain peanuts. Daily snacks are also peanut-free. The King’s Gate staff collaborated with four parents of children with peanut allergies to create a Safe Snacks list to distribute to all of the King’s Gate preschoolers.
Certified Preschool Teachers
While most preschools employ only one certified early childhood teacher and an assistant in each classroom, King’s Gate classrooms are taught by two certified teachers. Working together as a team, these teachers apply their combined experience to teach and assess preschoolers.
King’s Gate Christian School Welcomes Your Preschooler
If you’re looking for a special preschool that incorporates hands-on instruction with a developmental approach to learning, or if you have a preschooler with a peanut allergy or is hearing-impaired, then contact King’s Gate Christian School at (405) 752-2111 or visit www.olcc.org/kingsgate for more information. Enrollment is limited and scholarships may be available.
(Photos used by permission from King's Gate Christian School.)
King's Gate Christian School Accreditation
While many other Oklahoma City preschools are accredited by only state and federal organizations, King’s Gate Christian School receives state, federal, and international accreditation. The Oklahoma Private School Association Commission (OPSAC), the National Academy for Early Childhood Programs (NAEYC), and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) each continue to assess and validate the credibility and integrity of King’s Gate preschool.
King's Gate Christian School Information
Download a King’s Gate enrollment form.
Read about King’s Gate curriculum.