Course Groups

Second Step for Early Learning is a curriculum that promotes social and emotional learning in young children.  The curriculum teaches:

• Skills to help children develop skills for learning: listening, focusing attention, following directions, asking for help
• Empathy:  identifying feelings, accidents, caring and helping
• Management of emotions and behavior:  feelings in our body, strong feelings, naming feelings, managing disappointment, anger and waiting
• Friendship Skills and Problem Solving:  fair ways to play, having fun with friends, inviting to and joining in with play, saying the problem and thinking of solutions, and speaking assertively.
• Transition to Kindergarten:  learning in Kindergarten, riding the bus, making new friends.

Second Step provides fun lessons that include games, activities, and songs. The skills learned are useful in school, on the playground, and at home.

Lessons in the Child Protection Unit help students recognize, report, and refuse unsafe situations.  The curriculum covers safety with guns, fire, crossing streets, riding on wheels, riding in a car, around animals, and personal safety (to avoid abuse). Children learn the “Ways to Stay Safe Rule”:  stop and think if it’s safe and what the rule is, say words that mean no, and tell a grown-up.  They also learn the “Always Ask First Rule”:  always ask a parent or bigger person in charge first to check if it’s safe or when someone asks them to do something, go somewhere, or tries to give something to them.

The Creative Curriculum® for Preschool is one of the most widely used pre-K curricula. The curriculum helps teachers create high-quality learning environments and support early childhood best practices, theories, and research.  Research shows that a whole-child approach to education—one where children develop not only math and literacy skills but also social–emotional, physical, language, and cognitive skills—is developmentally appropriate and better prepares children for life well beyond their time in a classroom.  The curriculum supports PLAY as the most effective method for learning in early childhood.  It includes guidance for working with children who have special needs and for working with children for who are learning English as a second language.  It also includes guidance in creating partnerships with parents

IMIL stands for I am Moving, I am Learning.  This program is built upon the research about the positive impact that good health has on learning.  It follows research in child development – children like to move and need to move to build strong bodies and they need to eat well for their very best brain development.   Teachers are guided to incorporate movement throughout the day, as well as support children in participating in moderate to vigorous activity every day.  Children participate in activities where they learn about what foods are good for their bodies and brain so they can make good choices when it comes to food.