Curriculum
THEMATIC CURRICULUM
At Annie & Friends, Ms. Annie designs a well researched thematic curriculum based on different themes. Each week is a new theme in the classroom and each day is focused on one aspect of the theme. Ms. Annie designs the theme by taking inspiration from HighScope approach to education which promotes active and play based learning. Thematic learning promotes a lot of social interaction and center activities among preschoolers, which helps them construct knowledge around a concept by exploring a theme through different perspectives like arts, crafts, math, science and others.
STEAM CURRICULUM
At Annie & Friends we take pride in weaving in regular STEAM activities to provide cognitive challenge to our young friends. Research suggests that STEAM activities promote creativity, curiosity and problem solving abilities when introduced at a young age.
Thematic STEAM activities form an important part of our well researched curriculum. We involve children in regular science experiments where they are able to identify cause and effect relationships of different elements and develop a rational understanding of their daily activities. Based on quarterly assessments of each individual child, we also dedicate 20 minutes of daily math time where each child learns at their own pace with a customized curriculum designed for each individual child based on their current skill level.
SCHOOL READINESS
Children learn as they play. Most importantly, in play children learn how to LEARN. - O. Fred Donaldson.
The term school readiness is used to highlight the development in children that makes it likely for them to succeed in a formal school setting. Considering the current kindergarten standards, school readiness does not only imply the academic success of a child, but more importantly, focuses on their social and emotional development that makes it easy for them to settle in a more formal learning set up where they are expected to follow the rules, take responsibilities, share and develop healthy peer relationships.
At Annie & Friends!, the daily thematic lesson plans based on High Scope approach provide a wide platform for hands-on learning, exploration and cooperative and interactive play which caters to the social and emotional growth of preschoolers, in addition to their linguistic, cognitive as well as physical competencies and assures their holistic development for their ideal school readiness. With this, a teacher-student ratio of 1:6 allows each child to gain individual attention from the teacher, which improves scope for a quality preschool experience and further enhances their developmental strengths.
POSITIVE REINFORCEMENTS
“Praise your students, focus on their strengths, tell them what you believe they can do. Then watch how quickly they rise to their full potential.” - Anonymous
Positive reinforcement is an important social approach used by Ms. Annie in her daily preschool class. From a theoretical perspective, positive reinforcement is used as a motivational tool by the teachers to appreciate and encourage the development of their early childhood learners. This approach nurtures a positive self attitude in children which makes them believe in their own strengths and potential and encourages them to move beyond their capabilities. It develops an “I can do it!” attitude among preschoolers which widens the horizon of their potential at an early age.
With this, Ms. Annie uses positive reinforcements to incept children with an intrinsic motivation to do better, rather than relying on external motivations like stickers, presents etc. It enhances their social competency to repeat a positive behavior as they believe it is right, rather than doing it out of the lure to gain materialistic rewards from adults. This intrinsic motivation at an early age develops an important social awareness in young preschoolers which helps them in their later years.
LEARNING WITH BAKING
Cooking with kids is not just about ingredients and recipes, its about harnessing empowerment, imagination and creativity. - Guy Feri
Cooking always was an important aspect of Constructivist theory of education. The theorists believed in involving children in a cooking experience in school to provide them with a platform to work together and actively create unique learning experiences based on real life experience. At Annie & Friends, we believe in making learning fun and engaging for the children. To give them a unique hands-on learning experience, we amalgamate learning with baking! Children enjoy regular baking sessions in school related to the ongoing theme. Ms. Annie uses the baking sessions to leach children about different smells, ingredients and even measurements. Our children know that 1/2 is less than 1 due the numerous baking sessions that they have been a part of!
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
At the end of the day, the most overwhelming key to a child’s success is the positive involvement of parents - Jane D Hull.
Based on her national and international teaching experience, Ms. Annie truly believes in the importance of the involvement and participation of a parent in their child’s development. Parents will receive a weekly newsletter every Friday. Our newsletter is called, 'Highlights of the week'. This is a detailed report that will update them about all the fun things that happened in their child's classroom in the whole week and acts like a weekly report card of the child's progress for the parents. This keeps the parents in loop about their child's development and always keeps them informed about the latest school activities.
