Curriculum

Our curriculum is designed to meet the developmental needs of each child. The curriculum utilizes authentic assessment tools as well as child led lesson plans, as well as, teacher directed lesson plans.

Curriculum is rooted in play.
Children learn through play. Play allows the child to explore the environment freely without direct adult control of the environment. Rather, the environment is designed for each aspect of development and set in learning centers.

The natural world and local community of the child is pivotal in helping the child develop a sense of self as well as being part of the larger, global environment.

While specific content areas are focused on, they are developed in such a fashion that they are seen as part of the whole child. These areas are:

  • Math
  • Science
  • Social Justice/Social Studies/Multiculturalism
  • Language, Writing and Reading
  • Music
  • Art
  • Physical Development- Gross and Small Motor Skills
  • Social/Emotional Development
  • Cognitive
  • Sensory Experiences
  • Health and Safety
**For specific content areas, please see heading Content Areas

Please note that these areas, while separated by content, are not learned in a vacuum, they are part of the whole child and are learned in varying combinations of lessons/skills.

Overall, we feel our curriculum is designed to help the child move from isolated, one time experiences, to a coherent intentional plan that capitalizes on the opportunities that emerge each day.

Assessment

The child is assessed using as many authentic tools as possible. The primary form of this is through anecdotal records. At times it may be necessary to assess the child using outside sources in the form of evaluations and assessment data sheets but these should be limited. The child will collect samples to be included in their portfolio. The child is in control of the content of the portfolio, while the adult may ask to include documents in the portfolio, the child is the one to assess their own growth and development through annual review of their portfolio work. The assessment will be used to help guide lesson plans.

Lesson Plans

Lesson plans will reflect the assessment and interest of the child. Plans may be theme based but should always reflect the interest of the child and their learning objectives. Webbing and KWL (What you Know, what you Want to know and what you have Learned) and inquiry based approaches will be utilized. While some lessons may be pre-planned, many will be written as a reflection of the days learning activities. The curriculum also guides the lesson plans.