Welcome to Stepping Stones at Ezell Harding. We are a preschool serving children ages 18 months- PreKindergarten. Our philosophy is that each child will be in a safe, Christian environment with carefully trained and qualified teachers and caregivers. Each class will focus on building the social, emotional, cognitive, physical, and spiritual development of every child. We accomplish this goal through play, daily circle time lessons, age appropriate educational activities and centers, along with daily Bible lessons. We partner closely with parents to ensure we are meeting the developmental needs of each child. Stepping Stones is licensed through the Tennessee Department of Education. Our goal is for each child to be fully prepared and have all the tools they need to be successful learners upon entering the Kindergarten classroom.
Learning Through Play
Did you know that play is a critical part of Early Childhood Development? While playing, a child is developing creativity, social skills, critical thinking, problem solving, and their communication skills. Our preschoolers spend time each day in free play, center time, and outdoor/indoor recess to help build these skills. Play is a time when a teacher can see a child’s big ideas come to life.
Daily Circle Times
During circle time, the children are listening to a story, singing, learning letters and sounds, numbers, counting, and so much more. Circle time is a favorite for teachers and students because that’s often when the child has their “light bulb” moments as the child begins to show what they are learning by asking and answering questions. Stepping Stones uses the Frog Street Press curriculum along with other supplementations to help build vocabulary and increase excitement in learning.
Educational Activities
Teachers incorporate activities into the daily schedule which may include coloring, art projects, hands-on activities to develop fine-motor skills such as manipulatives, handwriting, and learning how to use scissors appropriately. We incorporate sensory experiences into centers and lessons. Classwork is tailored to the level of development for each age group and progresses as the child grows. Children will also attend weekly music and library classes.
Daily Bible Lessons
Our favorite time of the day is our time spent learning about God and Jesus. We use The Beginners Bible and have developed lesson plans to teach the children the most loved stories of the Bible. We also include a time to sing the children’s favorite Bible songs, teach the children how to pray, begin to memorize scripture, and our children attend a weekly chapel service.