The Alefbet Preschool at Congregation Beth Shalom, Atlanta

Alefbet Preschool aims to serve as a support for whole families, working in partnership with parents to help meet the emotional, social, physical, spiritual and cognitive needs of their yeladim (children). Yeladim are guided in dealing with their feelings and with their peers feelings as well to become members of the larger community of Alefbet Preschool. Our environment is designed to be caring, warm and responsive. Structure is provided through careful room arrangement and with flexible rules and routines that have an order which is safe and predictable. Within the daily regular schedule, children are encouraged to make many individual choices. We believe that children learn best when they are actively engaged in their own work and play. Carefully planned small group and individual activities in art, cooking, music, storytelling, movement, premath and science are the vehicles for providing such experiences. Materials and projects are thoughtfully selected to be appropriate to the developmental levels of the children. Our indoor space is divided into informal interest areas for block building, science, dramatic play, art projects, cooking, manipulative and private spaces, activities and quiet places.