Building the future leaders

Our Curriculum

Our curriculum is based on 3 programs:

Project Approach, Responsive Classroom, & Second Step

Project Approach

We use the Project Approach, or project based learning, because it allows young learners to be directly involved in making decisions about the topic focus and research questions, the processes of investigation and in the selection of the culminating activities.

We guide our students through in-depth studies of real-world topics, these studies are child lead and supported by a teacher throughout our investigation. It's broken down to 3 phases:

1. Getting started/brain storming

2. Active investigation of the topic; transforming our space and centers, experimenting and creating to answer their own questions about the topic.

3. A reflective culminating project “what did we learn?”

Responsive Classroom

Responsive Classroom is an approach to teaching based on the belief that integrating academic and social-emotional skills creates an environment where students can do their best learning.

This includes effective transitions through songs or activities, self-help tools such as sand timers for turn taking, visuals that will help our students know what to do, learn new skills, and feel included.

For example, Morning Meeting is an engaging way to start each day, build a strong sense of community, and set children up for success socially and academically. Each morning, we will gather together and follow these components: Greeting, Share, Activity, Morning Message

In doing so, using responsive classroom allows for positive and nurturing environment

academically and emotionally.

Second Step

We use Second Step to improve young students' executive-function skills—like attention, memory, and self-control. The program is taught through 28 Weekly Themes that include five- to seven-minute activities and puppets to be taught throughout the week.

This program teaches self-regulation, empathy, emotion management, friendship skills and problem solving as well as transitioning into kindergarten.

We strongly believe it is important at this age to support development of social-emotional skills as research shows that social emotional learning leads to improved academic outcomes and behaviors.

As our mission states, we are in it for the long run to build up the leaders of tomorrow.

Observations/ Progress Reports

As you know, Ms. B’s Garden is a play-based center. Using all these components and teaching strategies and tools, our students will learn while having fun in a safe and inviting environment.

Observations will be conducted informally throughout our days together and assessments will be administered at the end of each quarter. These assessments will measure their basic literacy and math knowledge using everyday items. They will be conducted in the classroom in a safe and fun setting.

Progress reports will be shared with you and follow up meetings can be arranged. Typically, this happens in winter, spring and at the end of the school year before summer begins.

Curriculum