​Teacher: Mrs. Lambert

Aide: Ms. Mattern  

Terrific Tigers 

Monday through Friday: 9am-12pm​

This class is for children who are 4 to 5 years old and are heading to kindergarten the following year.


Terrific Tigers is a five‑day junior kindergarten for children ages 4–5 who will enter kindergarten the following year, designed to deepen readiness skills through consistent practice and individualized instruction. The class builds on pre‑K exposure by reinforcing letter concepts, phonics, number sense, and classroom routines with deliberate repetition that strengthens confidence and independence.​

Learning approach and classroom experience

The child‑to‑adult ratio is 1 to 5 with a maximum of 10 students, enabling certified teachers to provide targeted support and consistent practice that prepares children for kindergarten. Small class sizes let certified teachers tailor lessons to each child’s needs while maintaining predictable group routines. Daily, theme‑based lessons combine teacher‑led instruction, hands‑on centers, and child‑directed exploration to solidify literacy and math skills, advance writing and name work, and practice social problem solving, motor control, and self‑help routines.

Curriculum Snapshot:

​​Daily, play‑based junior‑kindergarten curriculum that reinforces phonics (Zoo‑Phonics), introduces CVC and sight words, strengthens number sense (1–20, counting to 100, patterns), and advances writing, science, motor, social‑emotional, and self‑help skills to ensure kindergarten readiness.


  • Early Literacy — Zoo‑Phonics letter/sound work; phonics; introduction to CVC words, sight words, and word families; storytelling and rhyming.
  • Early Numeracy — Number recognition 1–20; one‑to‑one correspondence; subitizing; counting to 100; counting by 10s; patterns and sorting.
  • Name & Writing — First and last name recognition, spelling, and emergent writing practice.
  • Science & Discovery — Experiments, observations, weather, life cycles, plants, and insects.
  • Social-Emotional Skills — Sharing, responsibility, manners, conflict resolution, and cooperative play.
  • Motor Development & Self-Help — Fine‑motor tasks (cutting, pencil control); gross‑motor play; dressing and classroom independence.
  • Creative Expression — Art, music, finger play, dramatic play tied to weekly themes.
  • Play Centers & Materials — Blocks, dramatic play, sensory activities, manipulatives that extend learning.
  • Seasonal Activities & Community — Holidays, field trips, and community‑focused themes.
  • Introduction to cvc words, sight words and word families.