Pre-CORE (Ages 2-3)

OVERVIEW

Village East Gifted (VEG) believes that gifted toddlers are like "old souls". They understand concepts beyond their years, use vocabulary words they were never taught, remember almost every event and person they have ever encountered, possess deep sensitivities and have an extraordinarily-astute intuition. Accordingly, VEG begins teaching its enrichment program as early as two years of age when learning comes easily and new knowledge is seldom forgotten. Through VEG's unique dialectical practices, our students learn to verbally articulate their complex thoughts before they have even mastered the written word. VEG teaches its students and their families to "never underestimate the abilities of gifted children".

METHODOLOGY

VEG implements a "100% Academic" curriculum facilitating the development of appropriate learning activities motivated by each student's academic level. Since some participants already know all their shapes, colors, numbers, letters and sight words and others are still developing these skills, "VEG "teaches up", not "down" to the highest level of comprehension in each class.

Students never learn what they already know or encounter the same lesson twice. Our very young learners are continuously challenged, refreshed and forever "entertained" by our unique lessons and learning activities. There are wheels to spin, "geometry concepts" to be used in artistic ways and problem-solving activities in which to participate… all with a strong emphasis on creative expression and cooperative learning. There is always a sense of 'academic spontaneity' in the air… yet, our feet are firmly on the ground. VEG lessons have "no walls" allowing its very young participants to quickly (in just a few classes) evolve into 'academically-satisfied' learners knowing that many of their questions have been answered, unique insights have been recognized and the complexity of their thought processes validated.

CURRICULUM

The Pre-CORE curriculum, for ages 2-3, covers the following simplified components of the CORE curriculum: SAT/ACT vocabulary, Latin word roots, early reading skills, geography, sign language, biology activities, earth science, meteorology, early math concepts, basic geometry, dialectical writing, "hands-on" grammar, lateral thinking, early logic, time concepts, spatial reasoning, blueprint patterning, memory development, and a unique, foundational architectural curriculum.