Preschool

Sequence of Programs

Starboard – children are two by August 15
Pre-K – children are three by August 15
Jr. K – children are four by August 15

Starboard

The Creative Curriculum for Infants, Toddlers & Twos incorporates meaningful learning activities into daily routines and provides a safe, nurturing environment for students to explore the world around them. This curriculum is research-based and top-rated to support caregivers and families as children make this transition from home to school. Lessons are designed around the child’s natural curiosity. Our teachers create meaningful interactions that help young children learn to regulate their emotions and behaviors, participate in a group, develop relationships with people in their lives, and have confidence in their own learning. This curriculum prepares and supports students as they then transition into The Creative Curriculum for Preschool. Potty training is emphasized, with the goal of children toileting independently by age three.

Pre-K & Jr. K

The Creative Curriculum for Preschool empowers children to be confident, creative, and caring learners through play-based, hands-on investigations—a research-based approach that incorporates language, literacy, and mathematics throughout the day. Through intentional lesson planning, our educators promote discovery and inquiry with opportunities for children to think critically, problem-solve, and develop process skills with rich, interactive investigations of relevant and interesting topics in the classroom.

Judaics & Hebrew Language

We approach our lessons with children through Jewish lenses. Our strong love and respect for Judaism are communicated through our actions, celebrations, intergenerational connections, traditions, and learning experiences. Beyond customs, rituals, and holidays, we seek to imbue our classroom with a depth of Jewish values every day. Jewish values are incorporated daily with the Hebrew language, and include our weekly Shabbat celebration.

Shabbat is celebrated each Friday morning with prayer, songs, and Torah stories with our clergy and music leaders. The last Friday of each month is our Family Shabbat, where families are welcome to join us to help welcome Shabbat. The Hebrew language is introduced with Hebrew Through Movement. Learning a foreign language at an early age increases cognitive abilities such as analytical mathematics, critical thinking, creativity, and flexibility of mind. The Alef-Bet, Hebrew alphabet, is introduced in Starboard. Children also learn about Israel and Israeli customs.

Enrichment

Starboard, Pre-K, and Jr. K children attend exceptional enrichment programs on a weekly basis. Enrichment programs include art, library, P.E., music, and Hebrew.

We want to hear from you!

Please contact us with any questions by emailing the BKL ELC front desk at bklfrontdesk@timemphis.org or calling 901.937.2784.

Learn More

Meet the Temple Israel Team

BKL ELC Homepage

Learn about Membership

Hear What Others Have to Say

When searching for a preschool for our children, Barbara K Lipman stood out above the rest. In our search, we were prioritizing a caring staff, a strong curriculum, and daily learning of our Jewish faith. We have not been disappointed! Our children, ages 1 year and 3 years, are continuously developing new skills and knowledge both physically and mentally. It is easy to see how much our 3-year-old is learning, from reading and writing to singing holiday prayers in Hebrew. We appreciate the staff and love that our kids are so happy. I have full confidence that our kids are well taken care of each and every day.

Emily & Adam Saslawsky

From the moment we began our search for the right place for our daughter, we knew we wanted the best. That’s why we chose the Barbara K. Lipman Early Learning Center at Temple Israel. The exceptional faculty at the ELC have partnered with us as parents throughout each step of our daughter’s development. The faculty and staff at the ELC understand that a child’s early years are crucial, and they go above and beyond to create a nurturing environment where each child receives the individual attention and support they need to thrive. More than anything, we know that our daughter is loved by everyone at the ELC, and we have a supportive community surrounding us to give her a solid foundation. We are very thankful for the ELC!

Jennifer & Daniel Allen

The Barbara K Lipman Early Learning Center has been an invaluable experience for our family. Our daughters, aged 1 and 4, have thrived in its nurturing and enriching Jewish preschool environment. The staff’s dedication to their growth and development is truly commendable. The school’s focus on both education and Jewish values has left a lasting, positive impact on our family. We wholeheartedly recommend this center to any parent seeking a loving and supportive preschool for their children.

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