Philosophy
When children initiate engagement with materials, their pathways to learning are open, they are happy, they are engaged, and they crave more. The goal at Discovery Cottage is to inspire children to become "excited learners", and we accomplish this through an Emergent Curriculum as well as teacher planned activities.
An Emergent Curriculum refers to what happens when teachers observe what children are interested in and allow the children to expand their excitement into various modes of learning. The result is that the children gain a sense of empowerment to feel free to experiment, create, and voice their budding ideas.
The teacher planned activities are based on ideas that we think your children will love, and if they don't (which sometimes happens), we are open to changing the activity for it to become more engaging for your child.
Although we plan a nature walk, set up science experiments, and provide materials for art, the kids have the freedom to explore and lead with their personal excitement in the moment. Whether it is encouraging children to create a new ending to a traditional story or to create a physical challenge outdoors for their growing bodies, our jobs are to extend the potentials for learning in all areas of the day. We create special projects that emerge from the children's interests, as well as from our own passions.
There are many important avenues of development for your growing child. Each day a daily schedule is followed to make sure that the whole child is nurtured through: exercise outdoors, creating art, moving to music, eating an organic snack, reading books, having time for free exploration of materials and toys, gathering as a community, and being noticed and loved by their teachers and friends.
An Emergent Curriculum refers to what happens when teachers observe what children are interested in and allow the children to expand their excitement into various modes of learning. The result is that the children gain a sense of empowerment to feel free to experiment, create, and voice their budding ideas.
The teacher planned activities are based on ideas that we think your children will love, and if they don't (which sometimes happens), we are open to changing the activity for it to become more engaging for your child.
Although we plan a nature walk, set up science experiments, and provide materials for art, the kids have the freedom to explore and lead with their personal excitement in the moment. Whether it is encouraging children to create a new ending to a traditional story or to create a physical challenge outdoors for their growing bodies, our jobs are to extend the potentials for learning in all areas of the day. We create special projects that emerge from the children's interests, as well as from our own passions.
There are many important avenues of development for your growing child. Each day a daily schedule is followed to make sure that the whole child is nurtured through: exercise outdoors, creating art, moving to music, eating an organic snack, reading books, having time for free exploration of materials and toys, gathering as a community, and being noticed and loved by their teachers and friends.
Foundations
for a Successful Life
There are many skills which your child will gain during his/her time at Discovery Cottage, these are some of the most important to us:
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A love for Nature/What a wonderful world!
We get out there everyday, touching, observing, climbing and exploring. It is ok/encouraged to get dirty. A love for Singing/We sing all day long! We don't just wait for Music Time, we sing at lunch, we sing on the swing, we sing on Friday Walk Day, we just keep making up songs and filling the space with joy. Self-Confidence/It is good to be YOU! From choosing the color of their paper, to an instrument, to creating their own words to songs, when a child is affirmed that any choice he/she makes is OK, his/her self-confidence begins to bloom, and the child begins to learn that it is OK to be who they are. Language Expression and Social Emotional Readiness/Let's Make Peace! These skills include: learning how to resolve conflict meaningfully, listening to others, learning how to enter into play, and understanding social cues. You can only learn these skills in a group. Feeling Part of a Community/We love you! Recognizing each child's strengths is a worthy endeavor. We make sure to take time to notice each child and let them know that they are loved. The idea of "teamwork" is worked into many aspects of our day. Special rituals keep us connected during the day like: each child's photo is hung above the snack table, hands together for a group cheer before music/art time, and snack song. |
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Emergent literacy, math, science, art, music, emotional health & energy
Emergent Literacy is the understanding that your child does not simply learn to read or write in one day. Instead this is a long process which is built on step by step with all of their different life experiences. At Discovery Cottage Preschool:
~Pre-Writing is encouraged at Discovery Cottage by allowing preschool
children to have access to writing utensils and paper in the "office"
to add emergent writing into any of their dramatic play games. They may start with scribbling, then begin single letters and eventually their name or more. In the Preschool
class each child has their own Journal which they continue to add to
throughout the year. We have ABC letter games, ABC art projects etc. When we paint and color at art time this is fine motor skill practice which gets kid's hand muscles ready for writing (preschool & EEP). Children also have the opportunity to dictate their own stories for the teachers to write down for them into their own journals or they create their own books (pictured above).
~Pre-Reading skills begin with forming a love for books and using them as way to evoke curiosity and fun. In the EEP children learn how to: hold books from left to right, point to identify pictures & colors, begin to count, and have basic self reflection on single concepts in stories. They also learn how to enjoy a story in a group setting. This involves making books very interactive with lots of singing and fingerplays to make it joyful and fun.
In the Preschool class we have longer discussions about stories or how ideas in books relate to our personal lives. We also: have the kids read the letters of the titles of books, point out lots of rhymes, leave blank spaces for kids to fill in the rhyme, make up alternative endings, act out the story (retelling practice), and continue to make books interactive. Kids also choose to read books on their on during Center Time (pictured above).
In the Preschool class we have longer discussions about stories or how ideas in books relate to our personal lives. We also: have the kids read the letters of the titles of books, point out lots of rhymes, leave blank spaces for kids to fill in the rhyme, make up alternative endings, act out the story (retelling practice), and continue to make books interactive. Kids also choose to read books on their on during Center Time (pictured above).
Math-Preschool Standards which are addressed include: 1)Numbers-their relationship to quantity & their correct symbols. 2) Measurement 3) Shapes 4)Size. These topics are explored through hands on activities such as: cooking, science experiments, construction sites, shape pieces to create mandalas (pictured), blocks, art, music and books. The EEP is being introduced for the first time to the basics of numbers which is mostly in songs and books.
Science-Our goals is for kids to get excited about asking questions and making hypothesis, irrelevant if they are right or not. We do formal science experiments and record them in our group journal. There is an emphasis on making a guess about what will happen, observing, and noting the results. Some experiments are hands-on and goopy, others are something we keep checking on over time, and others are observations of natural objects. We also spend a lot of time in the garden planting and enjoying the bounty of the earth (Preschool only).
Art-We offer a process-oriented approach to art. We paint, draw, stamp, do collage, use playdough etc. A strong emphasis is on the child's enjoyment, experimentation, creative expression, and learning how to use basic art supplies (i.e. glue bottle, glue sticks, scissors). Children at this age learn a lot from watching each other. As children get older in our program we offer a mixture of process-oriented art and crafting projects to learn new skills and to challenge their budding desire for more.
(EEP & Preschool)
(EEP & Preschool)
Music-A time for Gross Motor activity, high energy moving, creativity, listening skills practice and so much FUN! There is lots of running, dancing, laughter, giggles, and joy. We build obstacle courses, pretend to be animals, sing, do group drumming, and experiment with various instruments.
(EEP & Preschool)
(EEP & Preschool)
Emotional Health-Although there is a lot of focus on the traditional subjects listed above, your child's emotional well being is also a skill they must develop through trial and error each day at Discovery Cottage. The following skills will serve them throughout the rest of their life: how to make friends, keep friends, resolve conflict with friends, how to speak up for themselves if they are shy, how to be aware of others if they are overbearing, how to take turns, how to share in other's joy, how to help other's who are sad, how to calm down if they are upset, how to manage in a group, and how to share in the excitement that life has to offer with a community of others.
May Pole
Energy-We are personally interested in an energetic connection to the Earth. We look forward to opening up discussions/observations with your child about: his/her connection to the energy of nature, to your child's awareness of his/her own energy, to a connection with animals & plants, to the changes that the seasons bring, and becoming a helper to keep the earth clean.
Behavior Guidance
Discovery Cottage programs are set up in a way to prevent the need for much discipline. Instead of focusing on the problem we focus on prevention by:
Daily Schedule
This is planned with thoughtfulness on a mixture of loud and quiet activities. If there is too much quiet the children will get antsy and/or bored, which may lead to aggression. If there is too much loud activity the children may get tired or overstimulated and may react with aggression. During free time we often have a loud room and quiet room choice where the individual child can choose where to spend his/her time.
A Predictable Structured Daily Routine
This is helpful for children to feel safe about what to expect and when their parents are coming back. Children still have lots of time for free play, but there is also structured activity to redirect their high energy.
Conscious Transitions
As we change from one activity to the next we give warnings that the activity is almost over. This gives a child time to finish what they are doing and lessen the chance of a break down.
Giving Attention to Each Student
Children are given attention so they do not need to be "bad" to get attention (often in the form of chasing, tickles and hugs).
Knowing the Individual Child
We try to give them special attention during those harder times and knowing what upsets them in particular.
Redirecting Behavior
Redirecting before it comes to a climax and explosion point.
Or by helping kids..........
"Make Peace"
When two children become angry about an issue, a discussion is facilitated by us to help the two children communicate:
1- their original intentions
2- clarify any miscommunications
3- figure out how to get both their needs met
4-"Victim" learns to speak up for him/herself by
telling the friend not to hurt again/take toy
5-"Harmer" learns to have self control with
friends and promises not to hurt again
6-ending with shaking hands and saying "peace"
(w/ an optional hug-so everyone feels love)
-Rare need for sitting separate
Rarely if someone hurts another person physically, we will be more stern and tell the "harmer" to sit down. The place where they are directed to sit is usually near the very spot where the incident happened, but away from other children and toys. This sitting is mostly a concrete way for the child to realize that the behavior was above what we consider "OK" in our program. This also allows us a moment to assess what happened and comfort the hurt child. Communication between both children is always the next step after they have both calmed down, and often once we talk we realized that both children played a role in the situation. We do not use the word "time out". This doesn't happen very often and usually used when the hurt child is crying.
A Happy Family
From our observation the longer the group spends time together, and practices using the skills they have learned to communicate their needs to another child (i.e. "Can I have a turn in 5 mins?"-this is a common phrase you will here here) and both parties feel heard and understood, the less aggressive behavior is present. Of course there are exceptions to this rule.
Corporal Punishment (bodily punishment) such as spanking, hitting, slapping, etc. will never be used at Discovery Cottage.
