Empowering Young Minds, Shaping the Future
At Soul of Memphis Head Start, we nurture growth through quality education and skill development. Join us in creating an inclusive space where every student thrives and builds confidence for a brighter tomorrow.
Background
The Head Start program has had an uneasy relationship with local districts in the past (Samuels, 2014). However, over the years it has been proven to be very successful. President Lydon B. Johnson believed that every child could achieve success and created a program to reflect that belief.
There are 4 key foundations of the Head Start model:
Education: The program supports the child's early literacy, math, social skills, fine motor and gross motor skills, creativity, and problem solving.
Health & Nutrition: We provide nutritious meals to make sure each child is healthy and ready to learn.
Family Engagement: We partner with families and provide several ways for parents to become in involved in the program and classroom.
Community Partnerships: We partner with our local community organizations to provide resources and support to our families.
Head Start goes beyond academic and makes sure the child's whole self is being nurtured and developed. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs theory focuses on meeting the needs of children in a specific order, in order for the child achieve self-actualization as they reach the top of the pyramid (Yurdakul & Arar, 2023).
The Head Start model was chosen because it has a holistic approach in helping a child reach academic success.
At Soul of Memphis Head Start, the curriculum, instruction, and activities are closely aligned to give children a great start at learning and preparing for kindergarten.
The curriculum focuses on what the students are expected to learn such as math, early literacy, science, social-emotional skills, communication, problem-solving, and creativity.
The instruction is how the teachers bring the curriculum alive, and it looks different through each educator. This includes, whole group instruction, small groups. modeling, and one-on-one support.
The activities are mostly hands-on and allow the children to engage with blocks, books, coloring, painting, exploring nature, singing, dancing, story-telling, and dramatic play.
Aligning the three ensures the children are able to learn and play together and hold the teacher accountable for making sure the activities are intentional and purposeful.
Our Services at Soul of Memphis Head Start
Preschool Classroom
Our preschool classroom is very welcoming and nurturing, designed to spark curiosity, creativity and a love for learning! The classroom is divided into several learning centers, including math, literacy, dramatic play, and science and exploration.
Each center is designed to support social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development through hands-on play, encouraging students to explore, experiment, socialize, build, make choices, and create independence.
There is child-sized furnishing in the classroom to ensure accessibility and comfort for each child.
You should expect to see and hear play-based learning where the children are actively engaged in different activities. You will see learning centers with labels to connect the print to words. There will be visuals on the wall that includes the alphabets with corresponding photos, numbers, classroom rules and expectations, and student's works. You should also expect to see the teacher at the student's level engaged in play and modeling.
Pre-Kindergarten Classroom
Our Pre-Kindergarten classroom is very warm and safe environment created to give the children a perfect balance of play and learning, as they prepare for Kindergarten. The classroom is divided into several learning centers, including math, literacy, dramatic play, science and exploration.
Each center is designed to support social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development through hands-on play, encouraging students to explore, experiment, socialize, build, make choices, and create independence.
There is child-sized furnishing in the classroom to ensure accessibility and comfort for each child.
You should expect to see and hear play-based learning where the children are actively engaged in different activities. You will see learning centers with labels to connect the print to words. There will be visuals on the wall that includes the alphabets with corresponding photos, numbers, classroom rules, and student's work. By the end of Pre-K, students will be ready to take on Kindergarten!
Before & After School Care
Our Before and After School Care program is designed to give children a warm, safe, and fun environment outside of regular school hours to support parents and guardians.
Before School Care
The children are welcomed into the classrooms to breakfast, quiet reading, light activities and reading to help them start their day.
After School Care
The children are welcomed into the classroom to get homework support, recreational play, and enrichment activities. Children also receive additional support and tutoring on areas they are struggling in. Students are also provided a light snack to help them refuel after a long day at school.
Our Before and After School programs are in place to help busy parents while giving children a safe, fun, place to learn and grow!
Parental Engagement & Volunteer Opportunities
Here at Soul of Memphis Head Start, we love to connect to our families and community! Parental engagement is strongly encouraged to show children the value of working together. Community members are also encouraged to support us in several roles that contribute to our children's success.
Some volunteer opportunities include:
Reading to the class
Chaperoning field trips
Assisting in the classroom during special activities
Facilitating and assisting with fundraisers
Career Day
Parents and community members are able volunteer at all levels! Your involvement makes a huge difference!
Sign up to volunteer today!!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050B48A8AB2EA7F49-58979834-soul
At-Home Activities
Learning continues at home! Here's a list of activities that you can try at home to help your Preschoolers!
Literacy & Language
Read aloud daily and ask questions about the story. Allow the child to retell the story in his or her own words.
Practice writing the child's name, alphabets, and numbers. Allow the child to learn how to use a pencil and coloring utensils.
Math Skills
Counting with objects around the house.
Sorting and matching with socks, colors, toys.
Measuring by helping mom or dad out in the kitchen!
Fine Motor Skills
Practice cutting with safety scissors.
Practice using a tweezer to pick up small objects to strengthen pincer grasp.
Gross Motor Skills
Have a dance party and incorporate some animal moves.
Creativity and Expression
Play dress up.
Pretend to be an Uber driver or Waitress and watch your child re-enact his or her experiences.
Play karaoke with instruments and let your child express themselves.
Social Emotional Skills
Reward your child for small acts of kidness.
Gallery
Empower your future through knowledge and creativity.
Register your child today to secure your spot!