Northway Christian Day School, Dallas

Our curriculum and teaching strategies provide a framework for establishing specific age-appropriate goals. These goals encompass the skills, attitudes, and understandings to be mastered to ensure continued successful learning. Due to age differences and previous experiences, children will have diversity of knowledge and abilities. Children’s strengths and skills serve as a starting point for new instruction rather than becoming a limitation. In addition, academic achievement cannot be separated from social growth. Children learn in the context of their social relationships as they observe and interact with peers and adults. NCDS has a curriculum guide and a set of learning objectives for children 18 months through the Transitional Kindergarten classes. The Preschool classes use the Creative Curriculum by Diane Trister Dodge and Laura J. Colker as a basic starting point. Children learn by actively exploring their environment. Each classroom is set up in interest centers. Academic enrichment is added to the program through the weekly or monthly units and the Sound of the Week program.