Childventures’ Curriculum: Preschool Program

Core Knowledge Approach

This curriculum is based on the most up to date scientific research about how young children learn, as well as research into the best preschool practices used around the world. It is specifically designed to provide children with a solid foundation of the knowledge and skills they will need for later learning.

The key characteristics of the Core Knowledge Preschool Program include:

• Setting high expectations for all children
• Providing an explicit, sequenced and coherent curriculum that is content and language rich
• Integrating the teaching of conceptual knowledge and skills in a step-by-step manner

The Core Knowledge Preschool Program at a glance …

• Movement and coordination
• Autonomy and social skills
• Work habits
• Language
• Mathematical reasoning
• Orientation in time and space
• Scientific reasoning
• Music
• Art

Virtues Project

The Virtues Project is a positive, holistic program which is designed to bring out the best in children and adults. Through daily interactions simple strategies are used within the curriculum to help children to remember who they really are, and to know that the purpose of life is to have a life of purpose. Virtues are the content of our character. They exist within each child in potential. The project is a way to awaken these already existing virtues, allowing each child to act on the best within them.

Montessori Approach

Montessori is a system of education that is based on a child’s developmental need for freedom within limits, as well as a carefully prepared environment that guarantees exposure to materials and experiences. Everything a child sees, listens to, feels and tastes enhances the education of their mind.

The Montessori method fosters through a prepared environment:

• Self-directed learning in a whole learning environment
• Classroom materials and social setting is supportive of the child
• Together, the Directress and child form a relationship based on trust and respect that fosters self-confidence and a willingness to try new things
• Materials are multi-sensory, sequential and self-correcting, thus facilitate learning
• Directress functions as a designer of the environment, resource person, role model, demonstrator, record-keeper and observer of each child’s behavior and growth

Goals of a Montessori classroom

• Developing a positive attitude toward learning
• Helping each child develop self-confidence and independence
• Assisting each child in building concentration
• Fostering an abiding curiosity
• Developing habits of initiative and persistence
• Fostering inner security and sense of order in the child
• Supports child’s individuality, and unique learning style