Schools
Preschool Lesson Plans and Curriculms with Angela Johnson, Executive Director of CHALK Preschools
Angela Johnson shares the secret that energizes the Chalk pre-schools and how the school focuses on both academic and physical development.
Johnson tells the Patch about the California-based school’s My Gym program and her favorite annual events.
Patch: What is your school best known for?
Angela: CHALK Preschool is best known for our program being Energized by My Gym. The children not only get time to play outside they also have at least 30 minutes a day of My Gym. The schools all have their own My Gym room where we utilize curriculum from My Gym. The Building Blocks that we focus on for My Gym are: Fundamental Skills, Sports and Fitness, Stretching and Strength, Tumbling and Hanging, Balancing and Agility and Body Knowledge. Another thing we are known for is that all of the teachers in the schools have at least a Bachelor’s Degree in Education.
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Patch: Can you tell us a little about the curriculum?
The curriculum in based on the Early Learning Standards. We have goals and monthly themes that the teachers write lesson plans for. We have both large and small group activities for the children throughout the day. We focus on educating the whole child. In addition to our curriculum the My Gym curriculum teacher the children about keeping their bodies healthy by both the gross motor play and the healthy lifestyle lessons.
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Patch: What is your favorite event at the school?
We have Spirt week at the schools where all children participate and get so excited. It could be dressing in the pajamas or wearing their CHALK t-shirts. We also have family nights where we have potlucks and the families all participate, it is a great time to talk to the parents and get to know them better. One of my favorite events is parent-teacher conferences. We offer them once a year and it is a time for parents to sit down with the teachers and talk about their children without the children present. We do evaluations on the children twice a year.
Patch: What makes Chalk Preschool standout?
CHALK being energized by My Gym definitely makes us stand out. The My Gym program is done daily with the children and it is all included in the tuition. Parents pay tuition monthly but we do not require any fundraising or ask families to contribute any other money besides the tuition.
How can readers contact the school or learn more? All of our information is available on our website at www.chalkpreschools.com. Westwood-310-446-5400, Venice- 310-827-7300, Manhattan Beach-310-546-1700.