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                                              My Ideal School

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                                              My Ideal School

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By: Nichole Donahue
The American Women's College
Professor Shirley Montovani
October 31st, 2020

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School Name: Explore and Learn Preschool

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School Name: Explore and Learn Preschool

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Explore and Learn Preschool's name reflects the importance of children having the opportunity to explore their environment. Whether it is inside or out the children will discover the most amazing things. When children have the ability to explore and conduct experiments they will accomplish learning.

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At Explore and Learn Preschool every student learns as an individual. Children will have the opportunity to learn and grow physically, socially, emotionally, and intellectually. Children will be encouraged to explore their indoor and outdoor environment. At Explore and Learn  Preschool the children will have confidence and also have a feeling of being accepted for who they are. Our staff thrives on providing a positive environment for the children and families to feel welcomed. Please feel free to schedule a visit with us. We will also email you our schedule and hours to see if it will accommodate with your schedule. "Everyday a new adventure awaits...."

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Our curriculum is open ended and the children will be encouraged to learn through play. According to NAEYC children who participate in open ended activities will be more focused and relaxed. When children feel this way they are ready to learn. The children will get a new topic to discuss each week. The teachers will take into consideration of what the children are interested in. Children will also explore the great outdoors and conduct scientific experiments. In our center children will have the opportunity to explore through play:
~Mathematical Reasoning
~Scientific Thinking
~Earth Science/ Nature  (when weather permits)
~Stem Research
~Art/ Writing
~Music & Movement
~Mindfulness
~Dramatic Play
~ Problem Solving
~Social and Emotional Development
~Sensory Activities
~Library Area
~Gym with endless activities
~Summer Program
~Endless Stories

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Everyone is welcomed at Explore and Learn Preschool. In our program we encourage a positive and friendly environment to all. Our daily schedule reflects the needs for your children. We have a daily picture schedule posted along with other pictures throughout the classroom. Our program displays culture in the classroom by using posters, dolls, and books. We believe in positive reinforcement and we understand that every child is entitled to have an off day. Our centers will focus on you child's social and emotional development, cognitive development, language development, physical development, and their approaches to learning. (ChildCare.gov)

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Our staff is provided with iPads to complete observations on your child's progress. They are also for the use to communicate with the families through email and classroom communication applications. Parents who sign up with the Class Dojo app will receive a daily picture and  a message about how their child's day is going and what they did. Children will get to explore the classroom computer by using educational games. This will allow them to become familiar with the computer and how it works.

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Our program encourages family involvement in and outside the classroom. If you would like to come in and give a helping hand or just to read a story it is greatly appreciated. Just reach out to your child's teachers through email, the class dojo, phone, or send in a note with your child. Our teachers will send home monthly newsletters about what is happening in the classroom or any current events that are going to take place. Some events include family fun night, bingo for books, movie night, art show, and the family picnic!

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Our program works with other schools to help support our community. An example is our food drive. Staff and students  from local schools will work together and collect canned and boxed goods for the local food bank. Children and families will be encouraged to donate old books which will then be given to our local library. Teachers will have the children create cards and pictures to send off to the soldiers. We also help out our local animal shelter and collect food and supplies for them. Our center will provide food for our families in need through the holidays.  Our goal is to support our community and introduce the importance of this to our students. They will learn the feeling of giving and they will get to carry that with them forever.

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The past six weeks have been amazing. I have learned so many new things. I love how I get to connect my learnings to my preschool classroom. This course helped me understand the importance of how a classroom environment will affect a child's learning ability. I also learned many different teaching strategies to use in my classroom that will benefit my students and coteaches. I never realized how important technology is inside the classroom. Now I understand the importance of it and how educators encourage students to use it the proper way.  I also have  a whole new meaning of positivity in the classroom. Children can become stressed so by providing a positive learning environment children will become less stressed and will feel comfortable to learn.

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ChildCare.gov. (2020, October). Your Child's Development. [Article]. Retrieved from: https://childcare.gov/consumer-education/your-childs-development
NAEYC Teaching Young Children. (2014, March).Characteristics of Process-focused Art Experiences. [Article]. Vol.7, No. 3. Retrieved from: https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/tyc/feb2014/process-art-experiences