Curriculum

The curriculum at the Early Childhood Education is as unique as the children and community of learners we serve. Each classroom balances both teacher-directed and child-initiated learning with an emphasis on responding to children's learning styles and building on their strengths and interests. The classroom community is carefully planned to support the educational goals of the program, as well as the individual needs and development of each child. Children need consistency, yet welcome challenges. At the ECEC children are given every opportunity and encouraged to express themselves, develop language, thinking, and problem-solving skills through open-ended questions. Special attention is given to providing activities that the child can complete successfully as well as experiences that offer challenges help every child achieve confidence as a capable do-er and thinker.

In all ages groups, the curriculum is evident and intertwined throughout every activity offered including but not limited to diapering or potty-time, snacks and meals, time outdoors, bi-weekly visits to the bookmobile, watching the refuse truck on Friday as he takes our trash, tending to the many plants and pets at the center, and so on. ECEC (in collaboration with our Clark State ECE Program) is a leader in early literacy development. Our children are confident, capable and enter formal education eager to learn and prepared for success through the play and hands-on investigation experiences.

The Early Childhood Education Center recognizes and promotes the enormous benefit that children gain from playing outdoors in all weather. We encourage outdoor experiences and free play through a minimum of three times experiences daily. A popular misconception is that cold weather causes children to become ill or catch colds; in fact, just the opposite is true! Time spent outside, even in cold weather, is beneficial for children because it affords the opportunity to breathe fresh air as opposed to warm recycled air (a breeding-ground for germs, viruses, and lice), develop gross motor skills, and promote physical exercise which may discourage childhood obesity and the risks involved (juvenile diabetes, low self-esteem, etc.). All children at the ECEC are offered lots of water-play including playing in the rain, sprinklers and small wading pools (less than 24" deep) when the weather permits and sensory tables, water transfers, etc. indoors.

The methods, activities, opportunities, experiences, and environment that are used to teach our children are not confined to the pages of a curriculum, or to standards, or guides, or a program. The curriculum is evident and intertwined throughout every activity offered including but not limited to diapering or potty-time, snacks and meals, time outdoors, bi-weekly visits to the bookmobile, watching the refuse truck on Friday as our trash is lifted up, dumped, and hauled off, tending to the many plants and pets at the center, and so on. ECEC (in collaboration with our Clark State ECE Program) is a leader in early literacy development.

ECEC children are confident, capable and prepared for kindergarten, through learning experiences based in play, hands-on investigation, and revisiting experiences and skills when they graduate from ECEC.

Infants, Toddlers & Waddlers

We rely heavily on the philosophy of Magda Gerber and Resources for Infant Educarers (RIE), the Ohio Infant-Toddler Guidelines, the Program for Infant Toddler Care (PITC) and the Creative Curriculum for Infants, Toddlers & Twos (by Diane Trister Dodge, Sherrie Rudick, Kai-lee' Berke) while planning for learning experiences for our youngest.

Infant and Waddler daily routines and activities emphasize oral-sensory resolution where the infant must first form a loving trusting relationship with the caregiver or develop a sense of mistrust. Our low ratios offer one-on-one time to be responsive to individual needs, schedule, temperament, and development. Lots of time is devoted to daily routines - building relationships, family style dining, small meals and snacks throughout the day, and trying things out!

Toddler energies are directed to development of physical skills, doing pouring, touching, tasting, talking, writing, helping, climbing, reading, painting, walking, grasping, muscular-anal control, as well as forming relationships and positive social-emotional skills.

Preschoolers

Making choices, becoming more independent and assertive, character development, beginning to take some responsibility for actions, learning to empathies with others, divergent thinking, locomotor skills, and discovering the world through hands-on play...aligned with the Ohio Department of Education, Early Learning Content Standards and utilizing the Creative Curriculum® for Preschool (by Diane Trister Dodge, Laura Colker, and Cate Heroman) as a base, we have integrated our own resources blending the research of many theorists and experts in the field, competencies in all areas of development (cognitive, physical, social, emotional, creative, and spiritual).

School-Agers

The Early Childhood Education Center offers children from kindergarten to age 13, a safe, fun environment where decision making, independence, creativity, field trips, and fun learning experiences are valued. As children begin to develop more abstract thinking and cognitive skills, experiences to help them develop socially, emotionally, and physically are more important than ever.