Jr. Cubs – Building Blocks to Education

Jr. Cubs teacher Star Mansfield builds blocks with Michael Ugbaja when he was in Jr. Cubs.

Jr. Cubs Sophie Whybrew, left, and Katherine West learn about the color blue as they make blueberry muffins.

When USJ announced it would be adding a 2-year-old Jr. Cubs program to its Lower School educational portfolio in 2009, the first class was full within a few days. In 2010, the second year of the program, USJ has two full Jr. Cubs classes.

“This shows the need and the desire for parents to place their young children in a quality, developmentally-appropriate program,” said Lower School Director Debbie Ford.

For working mother, ChiChi Ugbaja, who already had four children at USJ, the Jr. Cubs program was what she wanted for her son, Michael. She enrolled him in last year’s first class. “I believed the school would provide a nurturing environment and a challenging program for him,” said Ugbaja. “People wonder why they should enroll their 2 year olds. My suggestion would be to do so if you are really looking for positive, developmental growth as well as academic growth. As a working mom, this goes a long way.”

Ugbaja chose the USJ learning environment over day care because it had more opportunities for learning. “The Jr. Cubs program has more to offer,” she said. “They learn as they play. While the 2 year olds may think they are playing, the teachers are enhancing that play with mathematics, reading, spelling, and such. I saw all of these things while my son was in Jr. Cubs. He learned how to interact not only with close family members, but also with others. The program helped him to be on a routine schedule that helped his developmental and academic growth.”

“Our faculty is dedicated to the reality of just how much an early childhood program can impact a child’s life,” said Jr. Cubs teacher, Star Mansfield. “The children see it as fun and play, but they are actually getting a huge jump on their academic journey.”

The age-appropriate, curriculum-based program includes the same enrichments offered other USJ?pre-kindergarten students, including library, physical education, art, music, Spanish, and character education. Through the program, the students gain an academic advantage and learn social skills, an invaluable combination that benefits them throughout their academic years, Mansfield said. “The skills obtained in the Jr. Cubs program translate into a well-behaved and mannered child in the classroom who is focused on learning.”

“There is no doubt my son had the most wonderful and positive experience during his Jr. Cubs year,” said Ugbaja. “The staff is still making it enjoyable for Michael as he transitions from Jr. Cubs to Cubs. Jr. Cubs also has helped my child acquire the stepping-stone concepts and skills that he needs.”

“The Junior Cubs program is truly the best start for an education of a lifetime,” said Mansfield.

(The Jr. Cubs program fills quickly each year. If you are interested in the program for your child, contact Admissions Director Kay Shearin at 731-660-1692 or kshearin@usjbruins.org. You also can enroll online. Jr. Cubs must be 2 years old by September 30. They do not need to be potty trained.)

A Closer Look at Cubs, Jr. Kindergarten

By Beth Hudson, Lower School Assistant Director

USJ has a developmentally appropriate preschool where children learn through watching, listening, and exploring in their environment. That environment is rich in hands-on, engaging, and meaningful activities.

Our children learn how to ask and answer questions as they learn more about the familiar and the unfamiliar topics through science and social studies units. Our curriculum in both literacy and in math helps to expose students to more reading, writing, and hands-on math in a fun and non-threatening way. This, in turn, helps to create that desire to learn more.

The Wright Group’s series Focus on Pre-phonics and Sadlier-Oxford’s Emergent Reading Library is used in the literacy program. The children are taught pre-reading skills through phonics, phonemic awareness, and print awareness. Multi-level skills are taught in whole groups by using morning messages, big books, and charts. Individual needs are met in small groups and one-on-one with the teachers and teaching assistants. The children are also learning how to write in personal journals through pictures and inventive spelling.

Wright Group’s Growing with Mathematics is our source for math. It has been researched and recognized by the National Council of Teachers of Math Principles and Standards, National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Education. The lessons are designed to develop number sense and computational fluency as students explore a range of strategies for problem solving. The program is carefully sequenced using a developmental approach accompanied by a wide range of hands-on learning experiences.

Concepts are introduced in a large group setting through calendar activities, direct lessons, and everyday routines. Many of those activities include counting, sorting, graphing, and learning about patterns. Small groups, learning centers, and one-on-one instruction help each individual student to practice and improve his/her mathematical skills.

The teachers are able to skillfully weave in academic goals and objectives as they build on what the children can do, as well as challenge them to try new things. The children are encouraged to contribute their own ideas, use their problem-solving strategies, and pursue their own interests. The way our students learn may look like play, but it is play with a purpose. Thank you, ASG, for funding these new materials.

(Note: A child does not need to be potty-trained to enroll in our Jr. Cubs program for two year olds. The child must be potty-trained to enroll in our Cubs program, which is for children who are three years old by September 30 of that year.)