​Approaches to Learning

The manner in which children construct their own knowledge is informed by the

individual child’s temperament.

• Children solve problems encountered in play.

• Children gather information and formulate ideas about their world.

• Children make plans and follow through on their intentions.

• Children demonstrate flexibility in their thinking.

• Children exercise their creativity.

• Children reflect on their experiences.

• Children believe they are capable and competent.

 

Social-Emotional Development

Children develop and express a positive self-identity.

• Children build relationships with other children and adults.

• Children recognize, label and regulate their feelings.

• Children demonstrate empathy toward others.

• Children engage in cooperative play.

• Children manage actions, words and behavior with increasing independence.

• Children regulate the expression of their feelings.

• Children resolve social conflicts.

• Children develop an internal sense of right and wrong.

• Children develop a sense of belonging to their family, the class, and in the community.

 

Language and Literacy

Language and literacy skills are developed through children’s social relationships and their desire to communicate with others. Speech and print exists to provide information and to support children’s successful communication of their big ideas.

• Children understand language and express themselves using language.

• Children read for pleasure and information.

• Children demonstrate knowledge about environmental print.

• Children understand the connection between spoken and written words.

• Children write to represent ideas and use writing in their play.

• Children use writing tools such as chalk, crayons, markers, and pencils.

• Children’s writing evolves from scribbles to letters as they age and develop.

 

Math and Science

Children two to five years of age construct a variety of fundamentally important informal mathematical concepts and strategies from their everyday experiences; they are primed to manage numerical situations and problems. Science learning takes place as children actively engage with objects and events in the real world.

• Children count, combine and separate quantities of objects.

• Children identify, describe, copy, complete, and create patterns.

• Children measure to describe, compare, and order things.

• Children manipulate, identify, name and describe shapes.

• Children gather information using all their senses, by discovering how tools and materials work, and by observing others.

• Children observe, classify, experiment, predict, and draw conclusions.

 

Physical Development

Play and daily routine activities inform children’s healthy growth and physical development.

• Children know about their bodies and how to navigate them in space.

• Children demonstrate strength, flexibility, balance and timing in using their large muscles.

• Children demonstrate fine motor development through dexterity and hand-eye coordination.

• Children develop self-care skills, including toileting, teeth-brushing and hand-washing.

• Children learn to enjoy a variety of healthy foods.

• Children take initiative to stay well hydrated, and understand the importance of drinking water.

• Children learn to read and respond to their body’s needs for food, water, sleep and exercise.