la maternelle
The Preschool
A unique early childhood program to acquire a French naturally
Enroll my child
At La Petite École de Chicago, we are proud to offer a stimulating preschool program designed to nurture the development of children aged 3 years and above. Based on the French curriculum, our preschool prioritizes play-based learning within a structured framework, providing your child with a solid foundation for academic and social growth.
The “Maternelle,” or preschool in French, is an essential and unique stage in your child's education. In France, school is mandatory for children when they turn 3. Therefore, our "Cycle 1" program includes children from 3 years old to Kindergarten: PK3, PK4, and K (Petite Section, Moyenne Section, and Grande Section), in a multi-grade environment.
The preschool curriculum at LPEC is taught in French immersion to allow all students to acquire the language, whether their families speak French or not.
The last year of preschool, Kindergarten (Grande Section), is the first bookend of a two-year process when children learn the fundamentals of reading, writing, and counting. Students also begin to write in cursive, an essential skill — ensuring they are prepared for primary school.
on apprend en jouant !
The curriculum
Our preschool programs are fully taught in French since language acquisition is a crucial step for their future success at school. The curriculum includes five learning domains:
Language
Our priority is to make sure that students are able to speak, write, and understand.
Structure their thoughts
Students discover numbers and how to use them, explore shapes, organized sequences.
Exploring the world
Your children find their way in time and space, explore the natural world, objects, and matter.
Art
Arts and crafts enhance the students' expression, leading to improved self-confidence, as well as music, dance, theater, and circus skills.
Physical Activities
These help children develop their gross and fine motor skills. Gross motor skills support their emotional development. Physical exercises, under the direction of the teacher, help students learn to follow the guidelines of each task, respect each other, and challenge themselves. Fine motor skills give them confidence to begin to hold a brush, a pencil, and eventually a pen. Our children find the space to develop intellectually.
Evaluation process
At La Petite École de Chicago, we evaluate the acquired skills of each student. A report card is issued yearly in preschool. Parents are invited twice a year to a private meeting with their child's teacher to speak about their child's progress and answer questions they may have.
une journée type
A typical day at LPEC
Le matin
8:15 – 8:30
Children arrive at the school
8:30 – 8:45
Free time
8:45 – 9:00
We gather the children for the rituals (date, counting, alphabet, sing along…)
9:00 – 10:00
Group work: some work in autonomy on a skill they acquired, and the rest work with the teacher to learn new material. Then they switch places.
10:00 – 10:45
Snack time and recess
10:45 – 11:20
Physical education
11:20 – 11:45
The children are gathered together for a group time
L'après-midi
12:00 – 1:15
Lunch and recess
1:15 – 2:15
New sounds (language), nap time for PK3
2:15 – 3:30
Art and individual work with the teacher
3:30
End of the day
La prochaine étape...
Have more questions? Ready to schedule a parent interview? Call us or Register
Mon–Thu 8:30a – 3:30p · Fri 8:30a – 2:00p · 620 Lincoln Avenue, Winnetka