First Lutheran School’s Early Childhood Education curriculum is a combination of the Tennessee State Guidelines, the Core Knowledge Foundation’s Preschool Sequence, the Letter People, and scripturally sound religious curriculum from Concordia Publishing House.

ECE's philosophy
First Lutheran Early Childhood Education’s staff believes that we have been purposefully blessed with each child and family that comes through our doors. We faithfully teach and serve our children and their families by developing their minds, bodies and spirits. We follow Tennessee Department of Education licensing guidelines and accreditation guidelines from both SACS and NLSA in a unique and enriched curriculum and an outpouring of God’s Word, resulting in an exemplary program that cultivates confident lifelong learners.

Holistic approach
First Lutheran ECE partners with parents to provide spiritual, intellectual, emotional, social, and physical growth for our students.

What we provide

• A quality education with an enriched yet developmentally appropriate learning curriculum
• Small class sizes. We recognize the benefits of small class size on your child's academic and social growth. Our programs exceed the Department of Education student/teacher ratio guidelines by adding an aide well BEFORE we approach maximums.
• A caring, well-trained, and experienced staff.
• Christian love shown to all children and their families to ensure they grow in the knowledge of Jesus.
  

Programs

• ECE 3-year program: 3 years old by September 30 of year entering.
• ECE 4-year program: 4 years old by September 30 of year entering.
• Begindergarten program: Children ages 4 and 5 who are transitioning between preschool and kindergarten or have missed the kindergarten cutoff date.
• Before and after school care: Busy parents can take advantage of care before regular school hours from 6:30-8 a.m. From 3:30-6 p.m. we have “Second Session,” which is a bit more relaxed, but still reinforces what was learned during the school day by outdoor and indoor games and teacher-supervised free choice center play. The program is available to ECE students daily except for ECE teacher conferences and holidays which will be posted and on yearly and monthly calendars.
• Summer program: Summer Day Camp is held the first week of summer through the beginning of August. Camp is open to children ages 3-12. Our experienced staff keeps kids happy and busy with games, arts and crafts, science, cooking, music, sports, water play, movie day, and more
  

Enrollment options

• Five full days (6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.)
• Five half days (6:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)
• Three full days (M-W-F 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.)
• Three half days (M-W-F 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.)
• Two full days (T-TH 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.)
• Two half days (T-TH 6:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)

Academics

• Letter recognition and phonetics
  
• Early literature and pre-reading
  
• Numbers and early mathematics
• Social studies
  
• Colors (through classroom arts and crafts)
  
• Shapes
• Health and safety
  
• Kindness and manners

Enrichment

• Cherub handbell choir
  
• Science experiments
  
• Music and movement (students use scarves, bean bags, parachutes, instruments, etc. as we sing to fun and entertaining music selections and do movement to enhance our rhythm and movement to music)
  
• Body in balance (beginner nutrition information including portions and food groups, along with beginner yoga movements (no philosophy) and balance exercises such as balance beam, stepping stones, etc.)
  
• Spanish
  
• Classical art and music appreciation
  Beginner bios (we learn of historical figures and do an activity to help the children remember some of the information shared)
  
• Pastor talks with one of our pastors
  
• Gym
  
• Computer class
  
• Library visits
• Accelerated Reader Comprehension

Daily activities
Children develop social skills, small and large motor skills and language through a variety of daily child-initiated and teacher-directed activities, including writing practice, story time, Jesus time, Spanish, show and tell, computers, library, science, handbells, and more.

Staff
Our teachers are trained and experienced in Early Childhood Education; several are members of early childhood learning organizations such as NAEYC. They are dedicated to helping children learn first and foremost about Jesus, as well as developing their intellectual, social, emotional, and physical potential.

Licensing
First Lutheran ECE follows guidelines and is licensed with the Tennessee Department of Education, and is accredited by the SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) and NLSA (National Lutheran Schools Association).

Download our complete schedule (PDF file)
Download our complete curriculum (PDF file)
Download the ECE handbook (PDF file)

Please see our Academics page for an overview of the entire school curriculum.

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