Early literacy & pre-writing
Letter sounds and phonological awareness, storytelling and retelling, name writing, journaling with drawings and emergent writing.
Back to Our Curriculum
G.R.A.D.E. Age Pathways · 3 – 5 years
G.R.A.D.E. Scholars™
Kindergarten readiness with depth — not worksheets.
The Scholars™ pathway prepares children for kindergarten and beyond through the full G.R.A.D.E. Learning Framework™: early literacy and pre-writing, early math and patterns, STEM exploration, creative expression, cooperation and confident communication — taught through meaningful play and small-group, educator-guided experiences.
Age-Appropriate Activities
What Scholars™ do each day
Every activity follows the G.R.A.D.E. Learning Process — Connect, Invite, Teach, Explore, Observe, Reflect, Share — adapted to this stage's readiness.
Early math & patterns
Counting with meaning, comparing and measuring, shapes in the real world, simple graphing and pattern-building games.
STEM & science exploration
Building challenges, sinking and floating experiments, magnets, ramps, planting and observing — questions that lead to real investigation.
Creative expression
Art with intention, music and rhythm, dramatic play with storylines, and the World Languages Academy™ as optional enrichment.
Cooperation & leadership
Group projects, helper roles, conflict-resolution practice and the confidence to share ideas in front of friends.
Independence & readiness routines
Managing belongings, following multi-step directions, self-care skills and the stamina for group learning — all gently practiced.
Developmental Milestones
What we watch for and nurture
Milestones are observed, documented and shared with families — never forced. Every child develops on their own timeline, and our educators adapt each day's invitations accordingly.
Literacy & language
- Recognizes many letters and their sounds
- Writes their own name and attempts simple words
- Retells stories with beginning, middle and end
- Speaks in full sentences and shares ideas clearly
Math & reasoning
- Counts to twenty and beyond with understanding
- Recognizes and creates patterns
- Compares quantities, sizes and lengths
- Solves simple problems and explains their thinking
Social & emotional
- Builds real friendships and works in small groups
- Manages feelings with words and simple strategies
- Takes turns, shares and resolves conflicts with support
- Shows persistence when a task is challenging
Physical & independence
- Uses scissors, crayons and pencils with control
- Hops, skips and moves with coordination
- Manages dressing, hand-washing and belongings independently
- Follows multi-step routines without prompting
A Day in the Life
Rhythm and predictability, Monday through Thursday
Grade Club's regular care week is Monday – Thursday. Times shift with each child's needs — especially for infants, who follow their own feeding and rest rhythms.
- ArrivalSign-in routines, name practice and a calm choice of morning invitations.
- MorningSmall-group literacy and math experiences, the week's investigation, snack and outdoor exploration.
- MiddayLunch with conversation and manners, read-aloud, then rest or quiet time.
- AfternoonSTEM and building challenges, art and dramatic play, music and movement, and project work.
- PickupA Brightwheel recap of the day's learning experiences, observations and progress toward readiness.
Part of the G.R.A.D.E. Learning Framework™
Pillars this pathway emphasizes
- Growing Minds — early literacy, phonological awareness and confident communication.
- Reasoning & Discovery — early math, patterns and STEM investigation.
- Developing Hearts — cooperation, leadership and emotional readiness for kindergarten.
- Expression & Language — art, music, dramatic play and optional World Languages Academy™.
- Exploring Our World — community, culture, nature and real-world connections.
The Home Connection
How we keep you close
- Learning experiences and developmental observations shared through Brightwheel.
- Readiness progress communicated with specifics — what your child is working on and what's next.
- Photos and classroom updates when your family has authorized them.
- Kindergarten-readiness conversations as your child's graduation approaches.
Daily updates — meals, rest, diapering or toileting, activities and developmental observations — are shared through Brightwheel, with photos when authorized.
Private · Small-Group · Intentional
See G.R.A.D.E. Scholars™ in person
Tour our private, small-group program in Avondale, Arizona and see how this pathway feels for your child.
Questions? Call 480-389-6357