Curriculum

We are a participating partner using the ACCESS Curriculum. ACCESS stands for Assessment-supported, Child Centered, Emergent/negotiated, Science emphasis, and Standards integrated.

We incorporate the following principles within our curriculum and instruction:

Learner-Centered & Inquiry Based

Our curriculum starts with a very simple question: What are the students interested in?  From there, teachers link a student’s interests to various learning goals which have been derived from observational, informal, and formal data collection.

Developmentally Appropriate & Ohio Standards Aligned

All aspects of our curriculum, from the content to the methods of delivery, are developmentally appropriate and align with the available literature on child development, developmental psychology, adult-child interactions, and other areas of research.  This means that our curriculum includes promoting the development of young children across all developmental domains in a manner which maximizes positive outcomes.  At the same time, we are easily able to incorporate the Ohio Early Learning Development Standards and the Ohio K-3 Standards.

Grounded in Modeling & Authentic Learning

Modeling is the most powerful teaching tool available for teachers or parents of young children.  Using a modeling approach, students are able to emulate specific behaviors and thought patterns without teachers inadvertently undermining a student’s intrinsic motivation or love of learning. Whenever possible, we provide authentic learning experiences for students:  Real items, real photos, real empathy, real problem solving, and real inquiry.

Individualized & Assessment Supported Instruction

Instructional decisions such as additions to the classroom, setting learning goals, and specific activities & lessons are supported by assessment results.  Observational, formal, and informal assessment results are maintained for each student which allows teachers to tailor the curriculum to each student’s needs.  Our classrooms are inclusive and sensitive to the developmental needs of each student.  No student is “lost in the crowd” and each student is able to develop at her own pace with the supports she needs personally.

Education from Birth

We understand that education and learning begin from the moment a child leaves the womb.  All of our classrooms work on meeting learning goals so each student is consistently making progress across all developmental and academic domains.  By the time students leave our center, they are prepared for the next steps in their education and prepared to seek personal success in life