Arts
Daily scheduled activities promoting creativity and self-expression. Art activities are generally open ended and with care and attention to material all creations are beautiful. It is the process not the product that counts. Children love to use art materials and develop their creative skills. Using crayons, scissors, paintbrushes, play dough, etc. helps develop fine motor skill in a fun and meaningful manner.
Music and Movement
Children love music and moving so this is always a joy. There are several times throughout that day that singing is incorporated into our day. Circle opens with a gathering song and several more are shared in our group setting. Music is joyful and educational; songs require memorizing; lyrics provide information to our themes. Actions to our favorite songs keep children interested and engaged and help our circles move from quiet to busy using both fine and gross motor skills as well as self expression through dance.
Musical instruments are a favorite and along with dance help children develop rhythm and tempo.
Language and Literature
Spending time in a language rich environment encourages children to experiment with new words. Group discussions help children gain confidence in public speaking at a young age before this becomes an issue.
Literature is a daily activity shared throughout the day; in a group circle we share at least two books, one fun book, and one that provides information to enhance our theme. Literature is a true love of mine. Books allow for imagination, understanding and building language, creative thinking, listening skills, drama, adventure, sequencing, beautiful illustrations, and an understanding of written words.
Phonics and Emergent Writing
Games, songs, letter stories, and hands on activities are used for teaching letter recognition, letter sounds and conjunctions. Group activities using the chalkboard as well as tabletop activities are used to gain experience in letter construction as well as word construction. This is something we share daily and through repetition the children absorb the information through visual, audio, and tactical activities; working to include each child’s unique learning styles. We teach without pressure, we introduce the information through fun interactive activities.
Story development
We use several different methods to teach story development. As a group we create stories on the chalkboard with me providing the first sentence and the children adding to it with their creative spin on the topic. It is great to see their imaginations come alive. We also choose a topic, usually related to our theme and have the children create their own book being the author and illustrator. This allows for artistic creativity, cognitive creativity, and gaining love and respect for books.
Early Math skills
-Number recognition
-Number value
-Sequencing
-Patterning
-Counting
-Simple addition and subtraction
Using games, calendar, objects, stories and discussions the children gain and understanding of numbers in a fun and natural manner.
Science
Science is worked into our daily activities through our monthly themes as well as our daily exploration of the world around us. Children love to work with sand, water, magnets, magnifying glass, as well as many ingredients that change form when mixed. The study of animals allows us to introduce biology in a fun and interesting manner that holds meaning for the children.
Social Studies
Social Studies is also a subject that is planned into our curriculum through our monthly themes as well as any emergent interests that arise. We work on themes that include our community, our county, and our world. We discuss family dynamics that are familiar to us as well as the various animals in our themes. It is amazing to discover the family habits of the various creatures that surround us whether they are other mammals, reptiles, birds, fish, etc.
Computer Fun
We have just introduced computers into the center. Our world has become a technical environment and felt it important to add this to our leaning centers. Children grasp this new information so quickly and it can be a great learning tool if used in conjunction with the rest of our program. Rather then using the Internet we have purchased educational software. Various educational fun games can be used with the guidance of the teachers. Children seem extremely eager to spend time on the computers.
Physical Activity
Children love to move and it is important to me to instill an active lifestyle into children while they are young. Habits that begin at an early age are carried into their later years. We have scheduled times throughout the day for gross motor development. We have two outdoor play sessions on most days throughout the year. We have an outdoor play area on the premises, local parks and a river close by. On days when the weather is not suitable we transfer our large motor skill activities indoors.
Health and Nutrition
Working hard with the children we encourage proper hygiene through continual hand washing, keeping objects including fingers out of their mouths, using tissue to clean noses and sneezing into their sleeves. Tables, shelves, toys, etc. are disinfected on a regular basis.
Nutrition is the second half of the equations. If children can build healthy eating habits they stay healthy and energetic and more capable of reaching their full potential. We provide a healthy breakfast and afternoon snack daily and encourage parents to supply a healthy lunch. Working to have all food groups included in all meals and snacks. Reducing the amount of sugars, fats, preservatives and additives in their foods.
Daily scheduled activities promoting creativity and self-expression. Art activities are generally open ended and with care and attention to material all creations are beautiful. It is the process not the product that counts. Children love to use art materials and develop their creative skills. Using crayons, scissors, paintbrushes, play dough, etc. helps develop fine motor skill in a fun and meaningful manner.
Music and Movement
Children love music and moving so this is always a joy. There are several times throughout that day that singing is incorporated into our day. Circle opens with a gathering song and several more are shared in our group setting. Music is joyful and educational; songs require memorizing; lyrics provide information to our themes. Actions to our favorite songs keep children interested and engaged and help our circles move from quiet to busy using both fine and gross motor skills as well as self expression through dance.
Musical instruments are a favorite and along with dance help children develop rhythm and tempo.
Language and Literature
Spending time in a language rich environment encourages children to experiment with new words. Group discussions help children gain confidence in public speaking at a young age before this becomes an issue.
Literature is a daily activity shared throughout the day; in a group circle we share at least two books, one fun book, and one that provides information to enhance our theme. Literature is a true love of mine. Books allow for imagination, understanding and building language, creative thinking, listening skills, drama, adventure, sequencing, beautiful illustrations, and an understanding of written words.
Phonics and Emergent Writing
Games, songs, letter stories, and hands on activities are used for teaching letter recognition, letter sounds and conjunctions. Group activities using the chalkboard as well as tabletop activities are used to gain experience in letter construction as well as word construction. This is something we share daily and through repetition the children absorb the information through visual, audio, and tactical activities; working to include each child’s unique learning styles. We teach without pressure, we introduce the information through fun interactive activities.
Story development
We use several different methods to teach story development. As a group we create stories on the chalkboard with me providing the first sentence and the children adding to it with their creative spin on the topic. It is great to see their imaginations come alive. We also choose a topic, usually related to our theme and have the children create their own book being the author and illustrator. This allows for artistic creativity, cognitive creativity, and gaining love and respect for books.
Early Math skills
-Number recognition
-Number value
-Sequencing
-Patterning
-Counting
-Simple addition and subtraction
Using games, calendar, objects, stories and discussions the children gain and understanding of numbers in a fun and natural manner.
Science
Science is worked into our daily activities through our monthly themes as well as our daily exploration of the world around us. Children love to work with sand, water, magnets, magnifying glass, as well as many ingredients that change form when mixed. The study of animals allows us to introduce biology in a fun and interesting manner that holds meaning for the children.
Social Studies
Social Studies is also a subject that is planned into our curriculum through our monthly themes as well as any emergent interests that arise. We work on themes that include our community, our county, and our world. We discuss family dynamics that are familiar to us as well as the various animals in our themes. It is amazing to discover the family habits of the various creatures that surround us whether they are other mammals, reptiles, birds, fish, etc.
Computer Fun
We have just introduced computers into the center. Our world has become a technical environment and felt it important to add this to our leaning centers. Children grasp this new information so quickly and it can be a great learning tool if used in conjunction with the rest of our program. Rather then using the Internet we have purchased educational software. Various educational fun games can be used with the guidance of the teachers. Children seem extremely eager to spend time on the computers.
Physical Activity
Children love to move and it is important to me to instill an active lifestyle into children while they are young. Habits that begin at an early age are carried into their later years. We have scheduled times throughout the day for gross motor development. We have two outdoor play sessions on most days throughout the year. We have an outdoor play area on the premises, local parks and a river close by. On days when the weather is not suitable we transfer our large motor skill activities indoors.
Health and Nutrition
Working hard with the children we encourage proper hygiene through continual hand washing, keeping objects including fingers out of their mouths, using tissue to clean noses and sneezing into their sleeves. Tables, shelves, toys, etc. are disinfected on a regular basis.
Nutrition is the second half of the equations. If children can build healthy eating habits they stay healthy and energetic and more capable of reaching their full potential. We provide a healthy breakfast and afternoon snack daily and encourage parents to supply a healthy lunch. Working to have all food groups included in all meals and snacks. Reducing the amount of sugars, fats, preservatives and additives in their foods.