Our center follows research-based, developmentally appropriate practices that provide the foundation for NAEYC standards for accreditation. For young children research tells us that they learn best by “doing” or through play. Play is their “textbook.”
Each day is filled with opportunities for both active involvement and quiet reflection. Children have a wide variety of “hands on” experiences that encourage them to be active learners, to lead, to follow, to solve their conflicts, to listen, to appreciate differences, to count, to reason, to create, and to use their muscles. Children are encouraged to make choices throughout the day’s activities. Among the many choices are science exploration, math games, manipulatives (i.e. blocks, legos, puzzles), art, language —expressive and receptive— cooking, and reading. When the children gather together as a group in circle time, they may sing songs, dance, discuss the weather, discuss letters in the alphabet etc.
For infants and toddlers, the materials and equipment are used to encourage and maximize exploration, sensory learning, motor learning, experimentation and discovery.
Our teachers create intentional, planned, play-based environments that facilitate all areas of development while at the same time allowing enough flexibility to respond to each child’s individual needs. Teaching focuses on close observation and attunement to each child’s unique talents and abilities such that the planning for optimal learning opportunities is maximized for each child. Emphasis is placed on the process (the doing) rather than the product. The purpose is to help each child reach their highest potential intellectually, socially, physically and emotionally as well as nurture a genuine life-long love of learning.
The daily schedule consists of large and small group activities structured group activities, outside play, multiple learning centers, family style meals and snacks, and time for rest.
- Greeting/Arrival: Parents escort their child to their classroom and to their teacher.
- Small Group Activities/Choice Time: After arrival, children choose from a variety of centers and play areas in their classroom.
- Large Group Time: Children meet with their teachers who have planned a variety of activities such as music, movement, weather and other skill building activities to focus on the specific developmental needs of the group.
- Outdoor Activities: Twice each day children go outside except in extreme weather conditions. The children choose from a variety of activities including climbing, outdoor dramatic play, tricycle riding, sliding and other large motor games.
- Departures: Parents pick up their children from their classrooms and talk with their teachers about the day’s activities.
