Curriculum
We Offer:
About our Curriculum
Good Shepherd Day School utilizes The Creative Curriculum for Preschool and Handwriting Without Tears. These curriculums are our blueprints to reaching our goals at each developmental stage with each individual child in a classroom setting.
The educational curriculum offered at Good Shepherd Day School is child-driven and learning centered based. It is designed to meet each child where they are while also challenging each age group in developmentally appropriate ways so that children gain self-confidence and self-esteem. Children are encouraged to be imaginative, creative, respectful, self-sufficient, and expressive. They also begin to understand what it means to be and have a friend.
Instructional Period
3 hour instructional period offered to students daily
The goal of the instructional period is to: Make sure our students are Kindergarten ready socially, emotionally, physically, and academically in a nurturing, faith-based environment.
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Follow classroom routines and directions
Demonstrate age-appropriate social skills (sharing, taking turns, cooperating with peers)
Communicate needs and ideas clearly using language
Recognize letters, numbers, colors, and shapes
Show early literacy skills such as listening to stories and recognizing their name in print
Use fine motor skills (holding crayons, scissors) and gross motor skills appropriately
Demonstrate independence in basic self-care tasks
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Kentucky Early Childhood Standards
Kentucky Academic Standards (Kindergarten Readiness Indicators)
Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) guidelines
Faith-based values consistent with the mission of Good Shepherd Day School
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Early Literacy and Language Development
Letter recognition, phonological awareness, storytelling, vocabulary development, and pre-writing skillsEarly Mathematics and Cognitive Skills
Number recognition, counting, patterns, sorting, problem-solving, and basic measurement conceptsSocial-Emotional and Faith Development
Cooperative play, emotional regulation, respect for others, and introduction to Christian values through stories, prayer, and daily interactionsFine and Gross Motor Development
Art activities, manipulatives, outdoor play, and movement-based learning
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Our Music & Movement program is a joyful, high-energy experience that each classroom attends 1–2 times per week. Designed especially for young learners, these sessions nurture creativity, coordination, listening skills, and self-expression through engaging, hands-on activities.
Children are introduced to a variety of musical instruments, giving them opportunities to explore rhythm, sound, and tempo. Through guided musical movement and simple yoga-inspired exercises, they build balance, body awareness, and confidence while having fun.
Our classes feature songs across a wide range of exciting themes — from dinosaurs and transportation to seasonal celebrations and holidays — keeping learning fresh, imaginative, and meaningful. Every session encourages participation, social interaction, and a love of music that supports early childhood development.
Music & Movement is more than just a class — it’s a time to sing, move, explore, and shine!
Children’s Chapel Program
The instructional period includes early Christian formation facilitated by our school chaplain who also serves as the Children and Families Minister for Good Shepherd Church. The chaplain uses the Godly Play curriculum to teach our students the stories of the Christian faith.
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To help our students know the goodness of God as they learn the stories, songs, and traditions of our Christian faith
To help our students become fluent in religious language in order to make meaning of their experiences of God
To help our students know the Holy Trinity Who dwells inside them and loves them infinitely
To partner with Good Shepherd Day School parents in nurturing their children’s faith so that our students and their families will be rooted in Love for life.
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1. Weekly chapel time with each classroom (15-minute chapel time for 2’s and 3’s, 25-minute chapel time for 4’s and kindergarten students)
Once a month “Music Wednesday” for our 4’s and kinder students led by Good Shepherd’s Music Director, Dr. Mattilda Middleton
All-School Chapel once a year
Weekly chaplain’s note inviting families to go deeper through Worship, Formation, and Outreach opportunities at Good Shepherd Church
We seek to maintain a Christian environment at our school for both the primary and secondary offerings. We do so by grounding ourselves in Good Shepherd’s 5 Core Values and the love ethic of Jesus as he gives it to us in the Sermon on the Mount.
Enrichment Care Period
Enrichment care is offered for the convenience of our families before and after the instructional period.
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Extended Care and Supervised Play
Safe, structured supervision before and after instructional periods, allowing children time to unwind, explore, and interact with peers.Creative and Hands-On Activities
Art, music, dramatic play, and sensory activities that encourage creativity, self-expression, and imagination.Social Skill Development
Opportunities for cooperative play, sharing, turn-taking, and building positive relationships with peers and caregivers.Physical Activity and Outdoor Play
Daily opportunities for gross motor development through playground time, movement games, and age-appropriate physical activities.Faith-Based Character Development
Reinforcement of Christian values such as kindness, respect, gratitude, and compassion through daily interactions and gentle guidance.Rest and Relaxation Time
Quiet time or rest periods to support children’s physical and emotional well-being.
Program Goals
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Two’s (20+ months)
Foster a love for the school environment
Transition from home to school
Promote independence
Cooperate with others
Provide sensory play, group time, story time, and art opportunities
Introduce primary education basics
Introduce our Handwriting Without Tears (HWT) writing curriculum & Mat Man
Children attend Morning preschool two, three, or five days a week from 8:30-11:30am.
Enrichment Care Period options: 1:00pm (lunch) or 3:30 or 5:30pm (nap & afternoon activities).
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Three’s (36+ months)
Build independence in self-help skills and self-care
Foster the skills to build friendships and cooperatively play with peers
Continue HWT - Recognize capital letters, practice letter sounds (phonics), and practice letter writing
Math - Count to 30, simple addition, count down from 10, recognize shapes, and recognize and complete patterns
Science - Experiment, explore, and expand children’s awareness of the natural world
Children attend Morning preschool two, three, or five days a week from 8:30-11:30am.
Enrichment Care Period options: 1:00pm (lunch) or 3:30 or 5:30pm (nap & afternoon activities).
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Four’s
Follow multi-step directions, use words to express themselves, resolve conflict peacefully, provide appropriate answers, and become aware of other’s feelings
Gross and Fine Motor Skills - Catch a ball, run with control, balance, hold writing tools correctly, tracing, and use scissors correctly
Language Arts and HWT - Knowledge of rhyming, opposite and positional words, sequence events, and name upper and lowercase letters
Math - Sort and classify, sequence by size, recognize and repeat patterns, identify shapes and colors, count items (one to one correspondence), name numbers 1-20, and sequence numbers 1-10
Children attend Morning preschool four or five days a week from 8:30-11:30am.
Enrichment Care Period options: 1:00pm (lunch) or 3:30 or 5:30pm (nap & afternoon activities).
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Kindergarten
Areas of instruction meet the Kentucky Core Standards for Kindergarten
Language Arts (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt reading program and Handwriting Without Tears writing program) - Recognize upper and lower case letters, practice consonant and vowel sounds, rhyming, recognize syllables, vowels, and sight words, blend letters to make words, and identify characters and settings
Math - Sort by various attributes, write numbers 0-20, add and subtract, use number words, ordinal numbers and positional terms, identify 2D and 3D shapes and symmetry, use standard and non-standard measurements, collect data, skip count, and understand time concepts
Science and Social Studies are integrated as well
Children attend five days a week from 8:30-2:30pm.
Enrichment Care Period options: 3:30 or 5:30pm (afternoon activities).