Preschool

At Caldwell Academy, we are dedicated to nurturing young hearts and minds. Our preschool program offers a joyful, Christ-centered environment where your child will grow in both wisdom and character.

A key outcome of a classical education is the development of confident learners who love to explore and grow. How do we achieve this? It begins with ensuring that each child is developmentally ready for the next step in his or her educational journey. Our preschool classes are designed to help children build a solid foundation for academic success, fostering confident, eager learners who are excited about school.

Preschool Teacher Assistant reading to students

Future Flyers (Ages 3 ½ - 4 ½)Our Future Flyers class is designed for children who are ready to begin their school experience. We focus on helping each child grow in independence, confidence, and readiness for the learning ahead. This class is structured to develop essential skills in both a nurturing and playful environment.

Age: 3 ½ by the start of the school year
Focus on developing gross and fine motor skills, emotional and social growth, and basic life skills
Multi-sensory instruction that engages different learning styles
A balance of structured activities and unstructured play
Special attention to helping children become comfortable separating from parents or caregivers
Guidance through transitions as children adjust to moving between activities and routines
Encouragement in verbal communication, expanding vocabulary, and understanding and following simple instructions

Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.matthew 19:14 (ESV)

Eagle Explorers (Ages 4 ½ - 5 ½)
Transitional Kindergarten

We understand that many children enter Kindergarten without the readiness they need to succeed long-term. This is often not about academic skills but rather about being developmentally prepared for the challenges of school life. At Caldwell Academy, we aim to bridge this gap and give children the tools they need to thrive in their K-12 education.

Our Eagle Explorers class offers an enriching learning environment for children ages 4 1/2 and 5, blending academics with a love for discovery. Through music, art, outdoor free play, and engaging stories, children learn in ways that stimulate their creativity and deepen their joy for learning.

Age: 4 ½ by the start of the school year
Focus on gross and fine motor skills, emotional and social development, cognitive skills, and early academic learning
A multi-sensory approach to instruction, encouraging active participation
Structured activities and free play for balanced development
Opportunities to experience transitions both in and out of the classroom, including specials that introduce new settings and authority figures (e.g., art class with the art teacher)
Development of communication skills, including expressing needs, sharing ideas, and engaging in simple conversations, while listening attentively and understanding non-verbal cues

Ready to Thrive: Choosing the Best Start for Your Child

Insights from Janet Speckman, Grammar School Principal

When Is the Best Time to Start Your Child's Educational Journey?

Choosing the right time to begin your child’s educational journey can be a daunting decision for many parents, especially those with children whose birthdays fall in the late spring, summer, or early fall. Should your child be one of the oldest in their grade or one of the youngest? Should they begin Kindergarten immediately, or would an additional year of nurture and play ensure they are developmentally ready to succeed?

At Caldwell, we recognize that choosing the right time to start school is not just about age or academic skills. It is about ensuring your child is developmentally ready for the challenges ahead.

Finding the Right Fit for Your Child

Kindergarten and Eagle Explorers: What's the Difference?

Our Kindergarten curriculum is more structured and academically oriented, featuring clearer expectations. In Eagle Explorers, we place a strong emphasis on social and emotional development. Our motto is, "No worries!" We are dedicated to nurturing each child's confidence and preparing them for school. When a child transitions from Eagle Explorers to Kindergarten, we ensure a smooth continuation of the solid foundation built in the Eagle Explorers program.

Building a Strong Foundation in Eagle Explorers

Early Literacy

The curriculum is designed to provide a solid foundation for early literacy in a playful and engaging manner by exploring one letter of the alphabet each week. Eagle Explorers learn about letter formation through fun crafts and hands-on activities, laying the groundwork for reading and writing. In addition, students learn essential pre-writing skills, including top-to-bottom and left-to-right strokes.

Mathematics

Eagle Explorers students begin by exploring shapes, patterns, and colors. They also develop early numeracy skills through the use of manipulatives.

Bible

Bible stories are an important part of the Eagle Explorers curriculum, providing children with a foundation for moral and spiritual development.

Why Social and Emotional Development Matters

Understanding the Developmental Differences

Eagle Explorers (4½–5½)

Teaching is based on love, patience, and nurturing
Focuses on playfulness and simplicity
Emphasizes keeping things engaging and fun
Children’s brains are still developing complex skills
Tasks are simpler, with a focus on engagement rather than structure
Abstract academic concepts are not yet a primary focus
Less emphasis on executive function and multi-step directions

Kindergarten

Teaching is based on love, patience, and nurture
Demands are higher, with a greater focus on structure
Emphasizes developing executive function, including the ability to follow multi-step directions
Introduces more academic structure, such as letter recognition and phonics
Children are expected to manage abstract concepts in writing and math
Skills such as following multi-step directions and understanding academic concepts are emphasized more than playfulness
Development of academic foundations becomes more formalized

What Does Early Education Success Look Like?

Caldwell Academy defines a successful early education experience as helping children become independent, confident, and comfortable in their school environment. In Eagle Explorers, if we can help children learn to have respectful conversations, take turns, follow simple instructions, and navigate social situations, we have done our job. Academic success will come, but social-emotional development is the foundation that puts children on the path to success.

The Gift of an Extra Year

Parents often worry that an extra year in Eagle Explorers might lead to boredom or a lack of challenge for their child. However, we have experienced the opposite. Many families look back on their child’s experience in Eagle Explorers and share how grateful they are for giving their child the additional year, the gift of time. Children who are not developmentally ready for Kindergarten may struggle more, leading to frustration.

In Eagle Explorers, children who are beginning to learn how to read are also developing important skills such as fine motor control and proper pencil grip. The diverse range of skills they practice, including hand-eye coordination, following teacher instructions, and social interaction, ensures they remain engaged and continue to grow.

What Happens When a Child Is Not Ready for Kindergarten?

When a child is not developmentally ready for Kindergarten, it often becomes apparent within the first few months. They may struggle to keep up with their peers, particularly with basic tasks such as recognizing sight words, understanding letter sounds, and following multi-step directions. Over time, this can lead to frustration, behavioral issues, and a decline in confidence.

Year after year, an extra year in Eagle Explorers helps children build the confidence and skills necessary for a smoother and more successful transition into Kindergarten.

Logo Image

Logo Title

In This Section