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Discovery Station
Early Learning Center Curriculum Philosophy We believe that all children learn best by doing. We know that by allowing children to explore and interact and experiment with the things in their environment that they will gain knowledge that will last a lifetime. Learning is not just hearing something, repeating what someone says or copies actions by others; it requires active thinking and hands on opportunities. In their early years, children explore the world around them by using their senses (touch, taste, listening, smelling & sight). This is also a time when they are developing their self-esteem- the essential skill to learning! With a good sense of self, children are able to develop good habits and attitudes. We allow them to explore and learn at their own pace while encouraging then to go for more and building on their interests in a way that is best for them. Our curriculum follows the following areas of development to capture and to take advantage of any opportunity to discover and learn. Social- To encourage children to make friends, develop relationships in a positive way, trust others and themselves and to belong. Emotional- Allow children to develop good habits & self control. Also to take advantage opportunities for independence, pride and self esteem and to have a positive outlook and personal goals. Cognitive- To allow children to acquire learning skills such as the ability to solve problems, ask questions, use words to describe what they want and their ideas or feelings. We help children to become more confident learners by allowing them to explore and discover at their own pace & interests and experience success! Physical- To help children develop their large and small muscle skills and to feel comfortable and confident with who they are and their bodies. All in all we want to inspire! As the educators we will focus on guiding each child based on their needs. We will encourage their natural curiosity and their desire to explore, promote wonder and foster creativity. These events do not just happen but must be thoughtfully planned and created. Ideas are pulled from a variety of sources such as informational sites books and other printed materials, gathering input and ideas from others and tapping into our own experiences and memories of fun, exciting and interesting events that we want to share. This allows for individual expression and personalities to shine from our teachers and make both teacher and student happy. We believe that the learning must reflect the needs, interests & skills of both child and adult that visit and spend time in the classroom. While infants & most young toddlers are not capable of creating or doing ‘projects’ in the traditional sense, they will be building life skills they will need later on in life and here at Discovery Station. The teachers plan and prepare activities and encounters that will encourage curiosity and wonder. Our goal is to lure them into learning & discovery. The activities or encounters will offer them chances to explore, experience investigate observe & interact with the world around them using all of their senses. Older children will begin putting this experience to good use by learning to investigate & interact at a higher level that allows them to formulate their own plan, questions, solutions and conduct their own investigations of how things work & don’t work in the world around them. Many times you may not see ‘projects’ coming home but be sure they are learning! Even when it’s disguised as play. Activities themselves may include Art, Dramatic Play, Outdoor Play, Science and hands on exploring etc. These are all just laying the groundwork for discovery through the process of play. We pay close attention to each child’s need & level of development we can build on area of need & positively encourage them always mindful to support self-esteem, confidence & positive social interactions. We learn and can best assist children the best by watching them and taking note of any learning & experiences they are gaining. The purpose or objective of observations is to: *Communicate goals and milestones reached to you the parent or caregiver. *Help us educators plan, adjust and/or create activities to foster deeper learning. *Notice each child’s effort and acknowledge it by taking each child's work and effort seriously and give it value. *Gives us a deeper and clearer understanding how children (and sometimes a specific child) learn and/or interact best. *Help each child make sense of discoveries or experiences. Documentation may be offered by individual teachers by one or more of the following. *Individual notes home. *Posted activities or works completed within the classroom. *Child portfolios showing progress or a collection of child’s own works. The activities we plan, the way we organize, the toys and materials we select and offer and the way staff interacts with your child will all impact your child & is designed to accomplish the goals of not only Kindergarten readiness but of a lifetime of knowledge. Our goal is to prepare your child for each new step or adventure including school. Each week our teachers will prepare, in advance, a curriculum and lesson plan of interactive activities for a pre-selected theme. It will be posted for you to review in each classroom. Watch for all the fun stuff your child will be creating and learning and discovering! |
