Learning is a process of figuring things out, making connections, getting ideas and testing them, taking risks, making mistakes without fear of ridicule or embarrassment, and trying again. An optimum learning environment provides opportunities to explore, as well as to investigate questions and ideas.
A real teacher is a collaborator and supporter of this learning process, rather than someone who attempts to create, control or manipulate learning. This type of support requires respecting and trusting the learners, talking with them, providing opportunities for interaction with people and things, sharing and modeling learning, supporting the risk and mistake making processes, celebrating good ideas, satisfying accomplishments, and helping troubleshoot when things go wrong. It also means providing the time for children to investigate their own ideas, and being a flexible and patient observer of a process that does not always appear to be sequential or organized.
We also believe that because the outside world is so complicated, exploring it can result in delivering multiple truths as a result. We therefore offer opportunities for group activities as well as privacy to play or work individually. Family is very important to us, and parent involvement is essential for our program. We work closely with parents to ensure the best progress for each child. From time to time, we will organize potluck events, so we could get to know each other, in the effort to make our preschool a real community of children, parents and teachers. We also invite parents with special skills to join us for the demonstrations inside the classroom. Because of lack of language skills, children develop many different ways to express themselves; a hundred different ways of thinking, of discovering and learning through painting,drawing and sculpturing, dance and movement or pretend play. Each one of these Hundred Languages must be valued and nurtured. As teachers, we need to be open-minded to a special talent, which a child may have, to help him/her preserve it. The world of mathematics , numbers and their function is presented to your child in a logical, understandable, and exciting manner. The Teacher observes and responds to your child’s interests and needs. The teacher provides a stimulating and beautiful environment that allows your child to grow and flourish. The teacher is an explorer that needs to stay open-minded to the possibilities, and participate in the project without controlling it. Documentation is a part of our dialogue with children, parents, and teachers. Documenting helps us better understand the child and the process of learning. Every child gets a binder upon enrollment, where we save the projects and take notes that are related to that child.