OUR VISION
We provide the very highest quality education and child care programs for children. We provide a place where children may develop a positive self esteem while learning about themselves, others and the world in which they live. Our teachers plan programs to meet the individual needs, abilities and interests of each child in our care. We treat each child and their family with respect and dignity. Children are nurtured, held and encouraged through positive support and guidance throughout the day. We treasure the uniqueness of each child in our care. PHILOSOPHY
Our commitment is to help children acquire the skills necessary to learn and to support family’s success. We believe:
• Children always come first, before planned curriculum, before rules, and before adult convenience.
• The best learning happens in relationships that are characterized by personal respect and caring responsiveness.
• Children learn best in environments which motivates them to want to learn.
• Learning happens when children are allowed the freedom to choose their own activities.
• Curriculum is everything that happens to the child while he/she is at the center and is generated from the staff, parents and other children. CURRICULUM
The curriculum used by California Children’s Academy is based on the foundation that children learn by doing. Our developmentally appropriate emergent curriculum is organized around the strengths and interests of the children and is offered in a way that will appeal to children in their individual stage of development and reflect their cultural diversity. Every day there are opportunities for all children to explore materials and create meaningful experiences. We believe that children will discover and learn by making the decisions needed to work through an activity rather than being told exactly how to accomplish a task. Play with a purpose is the primary vehicle for our curriculum. The curriculum is individualized, and offers children first hand learning experiences. The California Children’s Academy campuses teachers use the DRDP 2010 to assess each child’s developmental level and design learning experiences that will encourage each child to develop his/her knowledge and skills. Our emergent curriculum provides opportunities in several basic areas:
• Language and Literacy – Children are encouraged to build their verbal expression with many opportunities to engage in conversations with adults and peers. Literacy skills are promoted through the print rich environment and activities that promote an interest and awareness of letters and letter sounds as well as opportunities for writing.
• Mathematical Thinking – Children develop a sense of number by actively participating in real life mathematical experiences and with a variety of materials that build math skills, such as counting, sorting, matching, and shape recognition.
• Scientific Thinking – Children learn by exploring the world around them. We nurture children’s natural curiosity and intrinsic need to discover by offering them opportunities to use their five senses through measuring, comparing, questioning, predicting and analyzing results.
• Social Studies – Children explore roles and relationships in the world around them through dramatic play, block building, recognizing similarities and differences in people, families, professions, and understanding the reasons for social expectations.
• Emotional and Social Development – Children are encouraged to develop a healthy self-concept and self-regulation through interacting with others, problem solving, and conflict resolution.
• Physical Development – Children are provided opportunities to engage in physical activities that will promote their large and small motor skills through the use of materials and equipment such as slides, balls, climbing structures, bicycles, scissors, playdough, paint, puzzles, and lacing cards.
• Personal Health and Safety - Children are given opportunities to make healthy food choices and develop safe practices.
• The Arts – Children are encouraged to express their creativity through art, self-expression, music, and dramatic play.
