Quality Early Childhood Learning and Child Care

Our school learning environment introduces children to the joy of learning at an early age and provides a framework in which intellectual and social development goes hand in hand. In order to develop his or her physical and intellectual powers to the fullest, the child must have freedom - a freedom achieved only through order and self-discipline.

Through the defined order of the environment, the child gradually creates order and learns to distinguish between his impressions and gains a mastery of self and environment. The "prepared environment" of the learning centers in each class possesses order and disposes children to develop at their own speed according to a child's own capabilities and sensitivities and in a noncompetitive atmosphere. The years between 3 and 5 are the years a child most easily learns the ground rules of human behavior (good habits and manners). The method by which children are taught might well be called "programmed learning." The structure of our learning environment involves the use of teaching materials designed to test each one's understanding and to correct his or her errors. The only valid impulse to learning is the self-motivation of the child. Children move themselves toward learning. The teacher prepares the environment, programs the activity, functions as the reference person and exemplar, offers stimulation, but it is who learns, who is motivated through the work itself to persist in a chosen task. In addition to our carefully prepared learning environment, we will be incorporating some traditional educational methods to prepare the children for kindergarten class.