Curriculum
At The Academy Early Childhood Education Center, we are dedicated to fostering an engaging, inspiring, and nurturing environment for our young learners. Our educational approach combines the Creative Curriculum with project and play-based learning methods, tailored to meet the developmental needs and curiosity of young children. Discover how our unique curriculum supports the growth and creativity of every child.
About Our Curriculum
The Creative Curriculum
The Creative Curriculum is a research-based early childhood curriculum that focuses on meeting children's developmental needs through rich, well-organized learning environments. At The Academy, we utilize this curriculum to provide a comprehensive, customizable framework that promotes hands-on, exploratory learning. This curriculum aligns with our state's early learning standards, ensuring that each child is prepared for kindergarten and beyond.
Project and Play-Based Learning
We complement the Creative Curriculum with project and play-based learning strategies that encourage children to explore their interests in meaningful ways. This approach allows children to engage in projects that are driven by their natural curiosity and enthusiasm. The projects are often emergent, based on children’s interests, and can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks.
Our Educational Approach
- Interactive Learning Environments:
- Our classrooms are designed to offer diverse learning zones — reading nooks, science corners, art stations, and block-building areas — and each area provides materials that invite exploration and manipulation. These environments stimulate creativity and problem-solving skills.
- Teacher as Facilitator:
- In our school, teachers are facilitators of the learning experience. They observe and listen to the children’s interests, then guide the projects to encompass multiple learning areas including math, literacy, science, and the arts.
- Child-Centered Projects:
- The project portion of our curriculum happens through in-depth studies of topics that are relevant to children. Topics such as trees, buildings, clothing, and much more. These studies typically last 4-6 weeks and are driven by investigative questions. The project topic is integrated into our morning gathering time, interest areas, and small group work. When children engage in project work, they learn to work collaboratively, think critically, and express their ideas and emotions
- Incorporating Play:
- Play is at the heart of our curriculum. Through play, children develop social skills, self-regulation, and cognitive abilities. Our role-play areas and outdoor playtime are integral parts of the daily schedule, facilitating both structured and unstructured play.
The Academy's goal behind this developmentally appropriate curriculum is that children can learn many important discoveries about their world through natural play. By allowing guided play throughout the day, children can acquire skill development in the areas of social, emotional, cognitive, and physical. Play is a critical way for children to learn and understand themselves and their environment.
At the Academy, we strongly believe that it's the process, not the end product, that truly matters in your child's learning journey. We focus on fostering a love for learning, curiosity, and exploration, aligning with current educational philosophies that emphasize holistic learning over rote memorization or test scores.
Our staff enhances developmentally appropriate programs by offering challenges just beyond the level of your child's present mastery skills. This takes place in a classroom where children are safe and valued, their physical needs are met daily, and they feel psychologically secure.
Relationship Building
The Academy feels there is an essential balance between applying general knowledge of Early Childhood Education practices and the experience a teacher gains in forming a relationship with each child and their family. Building relationships with our families is very important to us at The Academy.
You, as the parent, are the most important person in your child’s life; you are your child’s first teacher. We offer the most effective early childhood education program that will meaningfully involve you, the parent. Learning is viewed as a joint effort between teachers and parents.
The Academy staff will make every effort to build a strong bond with our families. A successful working relationship begins with respect and trust. At The Academy, every child’s social and emotional needs are as important as their developmental academic needs. Relationships are built at The Academy.
Click below to learn about the programs we offer for different age groups.
Age 4 to 5 years
The Academy Early Childhood Education Center warmly invites you to explore one of our campuses to see how we create an authentic education experience that children love.
Immersing yourself in a "hands-on" experience at The Academy is the most effective way to feel confident when deciding which early childhood education program to choose for your child.
Feel free to drop by at your convenience - no appointment is necessary to tour our campus. We believe that witnessing our environment firsthand will offer valuable insights into your child's enriching journey.
