PRE-K3 Curriculum at Austin ISD
Austin ISD follows the Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines and uses Teaching Strategies research-based Creative Curriculum for all our Pre-K students.
Creative Curriculum helps Pre-K students achieve positive outcomes through learning experiences that are engaging and relevant to their lives. It features exploration and discovery as a way of learning, and supports the district objective to teach the whole child with a focus on social and emotional learning.
Pre-K3 students receive instruction that is:
- Innovative: delivering cutting-edge resources that are unique, effective, and based on the latest research.
- Responsive: including solutions that address educators’ challenges and help create a responsive learning environment.
- Supportive: providing robust guidance to support each educator’s professional journey.
- Comprehensive: aligning to all state early learning guidelines and the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework
- Developmentally Appropriate: promoting learning experiences designed for each age-group and flexibly tailored to each child’s needs with high-quality, research-based resources.
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Schedules vary from campus to campus, so please be sure to check with your child's school for specifics.
Morning
- 7:30–8 a.m., Arrival
Breakfast in the classroom, welcome ritual and arrival procedures. Children sign-in and participate in table activities. - 8–8:15 a.m., Circle Time #1
Read aloud, shared writing, math, science, and other content-based activities. - 8:15–9:30 a.m., Learning Centers and Small Groups
Children work in free-choice centers. Teacher works with small groups throughout the morning. - 9:30-9:45 a.m., Circle Time #2
Read aloud, shared writing, math, science, and other content-based activities. - 9:45–10:15 a.m., Outside Play
Children participate in unstructured and free-choice outdoor play. Sand, water, musical instruments, and other materials/activities are provided. - 10:15–10:30 a.m., Story Time
Children participate in active story time, including songs, chants and dance. Children prepare for lunch and dismissal. - 10:30–11 a.m., Lunch
The teaching assistant and the Pre-K lunch monitor sit with children to assist with the meal and model appropriate behavior. - 11-11:12 a.m. End of the Day Review & Dismissal
Afternoon
- 11:21–11:51 a.m.Lunch (PM Group)
Lunch in the classroom, welcome ritual and arrival procedures. Children sign-in and participate in table activities. - 11:51 a.m.–12:06 p.m.Morning Meeting
Welcome & Song/Music. Read aloud, shared writing, math, science, and other content-based activities. - 12:06–1:36 p.m.Center Time & Small Group
Children work in free-choice centers. Teacher works with small groups throughout the morning. - 1:36–2:21 p.m. Outside Play & Water/Restroom
Children participate in unstructured and free-choice outdoor play. Sand,water, musical instruments, and other materials/activities are provided. - 2:21–2:41 p.m. Independent Reading Time & Story Time
Children participate in active story time, including songs, chants and dance. - 2:41–2:57 p.m. Say Goodbye, Prepare for Dismissal.
PRE-K4 Curriculum at Austin ISD
In Pre-K4, children are introduced to concepts that provide the foundation for all future learning. Conscious Discipline is the district supported social-emotional framework that helps young students regulate their emotions and prepare their brains for learning. As they work with their school family, students develop skills in Social Studies, Language, Reading, Writing, Math, Science, Technology and Fine Arts.
Frog Street provides an integrated, developmentally appropriate, and culturally responsive curriculum used in all classrooms for 4-year-olds across the district. Teachers use their expertise to blend hands-on, whole group and small group opportunities that provide a fun environment for young learners to flourish and practice their skills at a pace that is just right for them.
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Schedules vary from campus to campus, so please be sure to check with your child's school for specifics.
Morning
- 7:30-8 a.m., Arrival and Oral language development
- Breakfast in the classroom, Welcome Ritual, Arrival Procedures
- 8-8:15 a.m., Circle Time; Language Arts
- Read aloud, shared reading, write aloud and shared writing
- 8:15–9:15 a.m., Centers/Small Groups
- Children work in free-choice centers. Teachers work with children in small groups.
- 9:15–9:30 a.m., Circle Time; Mathematics
- Children learn basic math concepts in whole group with a more focused lesson conducted in small groups. Teachers reinforce math skills in centers and throughout the day.
- 9:30–10:30 a.m., Centers/Small Groups
- Children learn basic math concepts in whole group with a more focused lesson conducted in small groups. Teachers reinforce math skills in centers and throughout the day.
- 10:30–11 a.m., Lunch
- 11–11:30 a.m., Outside P.E. or music movement
- Children participate in unstructured and free-choice outdoor play. Sand, water, musical instruments, and other materials/activities are provided
Mid-Morning to Early Afternoon
- 11:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m., Rest/Quiet Reading or Other Quiet Activity
- 12:15 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Circle Time; Science
- Children participate in hands-on activities that are inquiry based.
- 12:30–1:30 p.m., Center time
- Children work in free-choice centers. Teachers work with small groups.
- 1:30–2 p.m., Recess
- 2–2:15 p.m., Circle Time; Review the Day
- 3:10 p.m., Dismissal