The preschools follow established and approved curriculums for preschool children. We include specific curriculum to meet the unique needs of children with disabilities. The curriculum is based on the preschool standards for New Mexico, New Mexico Early Learning Guidelines. Teachers use a variety of resources in order to meet the guidelines and provide maximum multi-sensory learning opportunities that are developmentally appropriate, child-centered, and hands-on. The early learning guidelines are research based and can be accessed at https://prek.ped.state.nm.us

Zoo-phonics is a kinesthetic method for teaching students the letters and their sounds through animals using each letter’s character, signal, and sound. This includes naming the letter, the sound the letter makes, and the
Zoo-phonics animal and signal associated with the letter.

Handwriting Without Tears (HWT) is a multi-sensory program that enables students to develop their readiness and school skills. The program includes using wood pieces, magic boards, chalkboards, modeling clay, workbooks, and music. (may be used in centers)

Flexibility, Endurance, and Strength (FES) is the physical education program the preschools use on a regular basis with the students to increase their muscle strength, physical mobility, balance and control. FES is promoted by our physical and occupational therapists. Flexibility consists of a series of mild stretches performed to increase children’s range of motion and reduce their risks of injury to otherwise tight muscles and joints.
Endurance training is designed to increase oxygen flow within the body: thereby generating energy for both the body and mind. This increases children’s ability to attend to various tasks for greater periods of time before tiring. Endurance training is any activity that increases the heart rate such as: running, jogging in place, dancing, jumping jacks, etc. Strength involves using resistance to build muscle strength. This increases blood flow, encourages muscle development, builds strength and stimulates the mind. Typically, small water bottles filled with either colored water or sand are used for this series of exercises. The size and weight of the bottles are individually designed to fit the size, weight and abilities of each student.
Early Learning Second Step addresses social-emotional skills. Instruction includes: Skills for Learning, Empathy, Emotion Management, Friendship Skills, and Problem Solving. The program has been carefully designed to guide children to learn, practice, and apply skills for self-regulation and social-emotional competence.

PAX
Imagine if you found a simple, inexpensive tool that can positively change the lives of all the students in a classroom, school or community.
Farmington Preschool Academies use such a tool, called PAX Good Behavior Game in our classrooms. How does this tool help your child? It is a proven strategy with more than thirty years of scientific study that shows how PAX Game leads to reduced classroom disruptions, fewer symptoms of inattention and impulsivity, reduced aggression, fewer referrals and suspensions and more teaching time.
The Game is played three times a day during regular classroom instruction. The students in the class help define the rules that are set up to create a more "wonderful school". They play in teams chosen by the teacher. Teams get a "spleem" for disruptive behavior, if they have three or less their team still wins. The winning teams then get a "Granny Wacky" prize which is a 10-30-second fun exercise in the classroom, such as tip toe tag, air guitar, make animal noises, etc.
During this game, the students are exercising the portion of their brain that controls impulsivity. They also learn to support one another rather than make fun of each other. All of this helps to reduce inattention and disruptions, which in turn, enhances learning. Ask your child about the game in their classroom.

If you are interested in seeing any of the curriculums, please contact your student’s teacher.