In our Beginners and Pre-Kindergarten reading program, students are exposed daily to both fiction and non-fiction print and enjoy read-alouds, shared reading, and weekly meetings with their eighth-grade reading buddies. Our faculty focuses on phonemic awareness, letter identification, and letter/sound correspondence. Our reading groups are based on individual abilities, so that our instructors can meet each learner where they are at. Teachers monitor and evaluate such skills as listening comprehension, reading comprehension, making connections, questioning, and predicting, to name a few. Students are asked to retell a story to include the beginning, middle, and end of the story.

In writing, we work on fine motor development, using the Handwriting Without Tears curriculum to support handwriting and journal writing lessons.

In math, our Beginners and Pre-K students understand and use math vocabulary. They learn to rote count to 100 and study 1:1 correspondence, number identification, 2D and 3D shapes, and simple and complex patterns. Students also sort and classify groups, graph and interpret data, and learn the calendar days of the week, months, year, as well as time awareness – yesterday/today/tomorrow.

In our Beginners and Pre-K classrooms, science is about exploring, experimenting, and asking big questions about the world. We build on young children’s natural curiosity through hands-on investigations that encourage observation, prediction, and problem-solving.

Through activities like exploring nature, experimenting with cause and effect, and learning the basics of coding with tools like Ozobots and Scratch Jr., students begin to understand how things work and how to think like scientists. They’re also introduced to the engineering design process, learning to plan, test, and improve their ideas—all through age-appropriate challenges that feel like play.

Science is woven in throughout the day and across all areas of learning, helping students make meaningful connections.

Through collaborative, tactile activities and projects, our youngest students at Sage can explore the full range of artistic disciplines while working on fine and gross motor skills, foundational arts, and interpersonal skills. Students learn the different ways they can express themselves and relate to their peers and the greater world around them.

Children in our Beginners and Pre-Kindergarten programs learn to identify all the parts of a book, e.g., spine, cover, title, verso page, barcode. They are taught to recognize the differences between fiction and nonfiction as they begin to find resources independently in the library. Students gather in the library each week for story time.

In our Beginners and Pre-K programs, movement is an essential part of each day. Through games, guided activities, and free play, students develop coordination, balance, spatial awareness, and confidence in their growing bodies.

Our physical education program encourages children to try new movements, follow directions, and work together—all while having fun. Activities are designed to support gross motor development, build strength and flexibility, and help children understand concepts like teamwork, effort, and perseverance.

Whether they’re jumping, dancing, or playing group games, our youngest learners are building healthy habits, self-awareness, and a lifelong love of movement.