Our Educational Model
Assumptions
Each child is unique in his/her growth and development rates. Children posses an internal potential for learning. Interaction with a child directed environment can aide a child to internalize experiences by exploring the world around them. Social, emotional and cognitive needs can all be fostered by a sensitive and knowledgeable caregiver who is close at hand to assist the child to construct a sharp and clearer picture of reality.
Goals
The goals of our program encompass the formation of socialization skills, the structure of a sturdy emotional base and the internalization of knowledge, all in a secure, non-stress, child-oriented environment. The formation of socialization skills shall be afforded by interaction of children with children in a secure and interesting environment. Caregivers will be present in as non-restrictive a way as possible to promote harmony and cooperativeness in the classroom. Games, group experiences and activities designed to bring children together shall be offered in an effort to foster the birth and evolution of socialization skills. Children need to grow and develop at their own rate in a nurturing environment. In the classroom situation, it is the caregiver’s responsibility to meet and satisfy children’s emotional needs. Learning experiences shall all be offered to be in accordance with children’s individual abilities. By experiencing success, children can develop a strong and healthy self-concept. A caregiver who is affectionate and accepting and sensitive to children’ needs will help them to form a sturdy emotional base. The environment shall be constructed in such a way as to encourage exploration and allow children to utilize investigative skills in an effort to internalize problem solving techniques and knowledge.
Curriculum
(Show all information)-----(Hide all information)The curriculum shall comprise activities to highlight the following areas:
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LANGUAGE ARTS - Language as a tool to promote the child’s descriptive skills, understanding of language, speaking vocabulary, to explain feelings and to help social interaction. Stories, group times, dramatic play, puppetry will be integral parts of this program. All curriculum activities shall be designed to foster and improve language skills and self-expression.
CREATIVE ART- The art program shall include a variety of interesting activities to be carried out by the child in his own way. Children will be allowed to develop their own individual creativeness. New and novel materials, a comfortable, non-restrictive environment and an enthusiastic teacher shall all contribute to the child’s artistic independence and success. These will all be attempted in an effort to strengthen self-concept and to emphasize the child’s ability to think and act on his own individual thoughts and ideas.
MATHEMATICS- The recognition of numbers, quantity comparisons, shapes, one-to-one correspondence and all related mathematics activities shall be achieved through the use of concrete materials, experimentation and the child’s own exploration. Teachers shall present activities that will be in conjunction with children’s individual developmental levels.
SCIENCE- Science shall be offered in an effort to accentuate to the children the relationships that exist in the world around them. Physical experimentation will be a significant portion of this program. Other activities will include: manipulation of new and novel materials, introduction of simple science equipment, weather charts, nature walks, field trips, etc. Children will experiment with and experience the relationships that exist in the world around them.
MUSIC- Music shall be offered in an effort to encourage the practice of socialization skills. Rhythm activities, the manipulation and introduction to musical instruments, singing, dancing, circle participation, will all be a part of this program. Music activities will be designed to promote interaction and relaxation: a comfortable getting together and getting to know one another experience.
SENSORY EDUCATION- Education of the five senses will be an integral part of the total Educational Program. Utilizing the five senses will help children to internalize knowledge as they explore and experience their surroundings.
COMPUTER LEARNING- Computers are offered in an attempt to teach children the basic fundamentals of the new technology that is rapidly growing around us. Our center has purchased software programs that are age appropriate for each classroom. The children will learn fundamental keyboard tasks, as well as working with a ‘mouse.’ Such concepts as colors and shapes and letters and numbers are an integral part of all of our software programs. Creativity skills can be exercised with other software programs that allow children to create their own stories and pictures. These can be printed out and sent home as a special project.
LARGE & SMALL MOTOR- A portion of each day will be set aside to give children the opportunity to exercise their bodies. According to seasonal temperatures, children will have free time outside in the playground, or inside on various other large motor equipment. This is a very important opportunity for children to release pent-up energies and emotions.
Methods
Teachers will offer various activities to the children and they will choose which they prefer to partake in. Children will not be forced to participate in any one activity. Teachers will be non-restrictive participants and only interfere when necessary to set limits and keep harmony in the classroom.
Style
Both structured and informal activities shall be offered by the teacher. The teachers’ role will depend on the activity being presented. In a structured science experiment, for example, the teacher will organize the activity and supervise the carrying out of activities. This will be necessary to insure safety, and to initiate an understanding of process. In an art activity, the teacher may set out the materials and allow children to finish the activity in their own way, her role - merely that of an on-looker.