CURRICULUM PHILOSOPHY

We provide an early learning environment for children 1 to 6 years of age. Our goal is to provide a warm and caring, home-like atmosphere, where all families, no matter their race, religion, how they identify or economic level, feel welcome and appreciated.

The core of our curriculum is the warm and welcoming interaction children have each day with friends and teachers. Each classroom is set up in learning centers (home center, building, library, art, sensory, and manipulative, science and listening center) so the children learn to manage their time, make good choices and problem solve. The day is a balance of active and quiet times so children are active but not over stimulated.

Our Lead and Lead Assistant Teachers are educated professionals and build a team with parents to provide the best possible education and care for the children. Please share any ideas, concerns, or recommendations you have with them. We have annual parent-teacher conferences between November and January or upon parent or teacher request.  We ask that you share your concerns with them, not the aides that open or close the center.

We invite parent participation in our classrooms, on field trips and at annual center events such as curriculum night, Fall Festival, classroom events and the end of the year picnic.

Each week we present the children with new stories, songs, books, and activities. We provide age and developmentally appropriate activities that encompass all aspects of early childhood education. We extend and enrich the children’s play so the projects and activities can change during the week depending on the children’s interest and direction they take.

We plan a balance of child directed and teacher directed activities and are committed to giving children the social/emotional (self-esteem, independence, self-help skills, separation), cognitive (art, language development, math, cooking, science) and physical (building, large and small motor) skills they need. Teachers use a variety of learning approaches to meet each child’s individual needs to develop the whole child. Teachers are committed to giving the child opportunities to learn the skills they need to be successful in life.

We are aware of new research concerning all aspects of child development so we can implement new ways to instruct children. Children already know so much! This kind of curriculum encourages teachers to focus on the child’s development and to build on the child’s existing strengths. Our main focus is the serious work children do through play, and we work on cognitive skills that are to be mastered before kindergarten. We focus on the child’s interest to guide us. If the child shows an interest in a concept or activity, we have the materials to help that child achieve his/her goals.

We use Creative Curriculum and Teaching Strategies Gold for assessments.  This helps us teach intentionally and see what goals and objectives the children are meeting so we can set individual and group learning goals.