Curriculum
At Oakview Village Childcare we implement the High Scope approach to teaching and learning. The philosophy behind High Scope, based on Jean Piaget’s ideas, is that children should be involved in their own learning. They ‘learn by doing’, often working with hands on materials and carrying out projects of their own choice. High Scope’s approach encompasses all aspects of child development and involves teacher and parents in supporting and extending children’s emotional, intellectual, social, and physical skills and abilities. The central concepts associated with the High Scope’s approach are Active Learning, Adult- Child Interaction, Learning environment, Daily Routine, Assessment, Key experiences and Plan-Do-Review.
Active Learning - We believe that children learn best by pursuing their personal interests and goals, children in High Scope’s settings are encourages to make choices about materials and activities throughout the day. Children explore, ask and answer questions, solve problems, and interact with classmates and adults.
Adult-Child Interaction - The adults working with the children see themselves as facilitators or partners than managers or supervisors. High scope training emphasizes positive interaction strategies: sharing control with children, focusing on children’s strengths, forming authentic relationships with children, supporting children’s play ideas, and adopting a problem-solving approach to social conflict.
Learning Environment - the space and materials in a high scope setting are carefully arranged to promote active learning. The centre is divided into interest areas organized around specific kinds of play; for example, block area, house area, small toy area, sand and water area, book area and art area.
Daily Routine - High Scope teachers give preschoolers a sense of control over events of the day by planning a consistent daily routine that enables the children to anticipate what happens next. Central elements of the preschool daily routine include plan-do-review, sequence, small and large group times, greeting time and outside time.
Assessment - High Scope teachers are trained to use the High Scope Child Observation Record (COR) for ages 2-6 to evaluate children’s developmental progress. Teachers take daily anecdotal notes on children’s developmentally significant behaviors during children’s normal activities in the program.
Special Needs - High Scope teachers approach children with special needs by emphasizing the broad cognitive, social, and physical abilities that are important for all children rather than by focusing on the child’s deficits. The teacher identifies where the child with special needs is developmentally, and then provides a rich range of experiences that would be appropriate at their level of development.Testimonials
