The Oxford Writing and Literacy Program (O.W.L.) has been specifically designed to give each child numerous opportunities to use many forms of language and communication in meaningful and useful ways. Our classrooms are “print rich” environments with numbers, letters, books and words on display and ready for children to explore. Activities are planned by teachers to incorporate writing and literacy into everyday activities and allow children to express themselves as individuals.
The Hatchling Program
Infants (6 weeks to 18 months)
The first 18 months of development are critical in a child’s language acquisition skills. Our caregivers work hard to ensure each child has a variety of opportunities for communicating and expressing individuality.
Highlights of our Hatchling Program
- Children learn to comprehend language, develop listening skills, express language, and communicate socially
- Children gain early literacy skills and are introduced to Spanish and American Sign Language
- Each child is read to individually and in small groups each day
- Children are encouraged to touch, point at, and turn pages in books
- Children begin to explore writing instruments like markers and crayons
- Songs are used to reinforce early language development
- Caregivers are constantly talking with infants to encourage conversations and vocal expression
Owlets
Toddlers (18 months-3 years)
As your child progresses in their language development it is important to build on not only their communication skills but also other early literacy skills.
Highlights of our Owlets Program
- Children learn how to comprehend and express language and use simple grammatical rules
- Children are helped to communicate socially
- Children develop a love of reading, poetry, storytelling, books, and singing
- Children are read to individually, in small groups and/or in large groups each day
- Children are exposed to new books, songs and ideas frequently
- Children use their small motor skills to develop a proper grasp for writing. Children participate in guided handwriting activities
- Children explore the alphabet and start to recognize letters by sight and sound
- Spanish and American Sign Language are taught and used during daily activities
Barn Owls
Preschool / Pre-K (3-5)
n our preschool and prekindergarten classes you will see children preparing for kindergarten. Teachers and students work hard in our Barn Owls program to understand concepts in print and build early reading and writing skills.
Highlights of our Barn Owls Program
- Children continue to develop social communication skills
- Children are read to everyday individually, and/or in small and large groups
- Children learn letter recognition and start to recognize simple sight words
- Children learn and develop an appreciation of reading
- Letter recognition and/or site word books are sent home weekly with each student
- Children learn early phonics skills
- Each child participates in guided handwriting
- A variety of books are shared in the classroom to give children a wide variety of subjects
- Children identify all capital and lower case letters
- Children learn to sequence three pictures to tell a story and learn about predicting stories and events
- Memorize simple poems & rhymes
- Spanish and American Sign Language lessons continue to expand on basic concepts, such as colors, numbers, and animals
Gray Owls
Kindergarten (5-6)
In our Gray Owls program children are prepared for the competitive area elementary schools. Not only do children learn phonics, sight words, handwriting, and communication skills but teachers also help develop a lifelong love of reading.
Highlights of the Gray Owls Program
- Children master the Dolch Primer Sight Word List
- Children are taught to understand concepts of print and use writing and books in normal everyday activities
- Children are exposed to a variety of books to expand their world-view
- Children read patterned and familiar texts
- Children learn to identify letters and numbers
- Children learn about story structure and predictions
- Children are asked to respond to reading sections
- Children are taught to communicate thoughts, feelings, judgments, understandings and attitudes about reading material
- Children dictate and write sentences and stories
- Children learn about conventions of print
- Children continue to memorize stories, poems and rhymes
- Spanish and American Sign Language lessons expand on basic concepts and begin to include simple phrases
