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EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

The Education Component strives for the creation of secure, friendly learning environments for children enrolled in the Head Start/Early Head Start Program. Children are explorers, eager to move about and playfully interact with their surroundings. They learn best by manipulating and investigating the world around them through the use of their five senses.

Piaget's theory of cognitive development, Montessori's respect of children, Dewey's discovery learning and Similansky's play stages, Drs. Lilian Katz, Sylvia Chard and Judy Helm’s Project Approach, Head Start Federal Outcome Framework as well as the Ohio Early Learning Content Standards, served as guideposts for planning our developmentally and individually appropriate program. Project-Based Curriculum for Head Start and Creative Curriculum for Early Head Start is the framework for learning. The concepts embrace the standards of the National Association for the Education of Young Children and are consistent with developmentally appropriate principles. As children learn best through play, a block of time is devoted to play. We believe that play is a non-threatening learning strategy that allows children to explore in the stimulating environment planned by experienced teaching staff.

Exposure to experiences with a wide variety of physical, cognitive, social and emotional concepts will provide the necessary skills for success in life. Building readiness in children is emphasized, rather than rote teaching of letters and numbers. Our ultimate goal is that children leave Head Start with positive learning experiences and high self-esteem.

We encourage creativity, developmentally and individually appropriate curriculum and a commitment to working together with parents to help their child grow as a unique individual.