Intentional Teaching:

Our educators are purposeful and thoughtful in their interactions with children. Intentional teaching includes:

• Careful observation and documentation of children’s development and learning

• Thoughtful planning of experiences that build on children’s current understanding and interests

• Strategic use of scaffolding techniques to support children at their individual developmental levels

• Deliberate selection and arrangement of materials to promote specific learning goals

• Mindful use of time, transitions, and routines as teaching opportunities

• Reflective practice to continually improve teaching effectiveness

Positive Guidance and Social-Emotional Support:

We recognize that social-emotional competence is foundational to all other learning. Our approach to guidance:

• Emphasizes teaching rather than punishing, helping children develop self-regulation skills

• Creates predictable, consistent environments where children feel safe and secure

• Builds warm, responsive relationships that form the foundation for learning

• Helps children identify and express emotions in appropriate ways

• Teaches problem-solving and conflict resolution skills

• Models and explicitly teaches social skills such as sharing, taking turns, cooperating, and showing empathy

• Recognizes and responds to each child’s unique temperament and emotional needs

Anti-Bias, Culturally Responsive Practice:

We are committed to creating an inclusive environment that affirms and celebrates diversity. Our program:

• Reflects the cultures, languages, and family structures of enrolled children in materials, images, and activities

• Addresses stereotypes and biases when they arise, promoting critical thinking about fairness

• Exposes children to diversity beyond their immediate community, building appreciation for differences

• Uses teaching materials and approaches that are culturally sustaining rather than simply tolerant

• Examines our own practices, policies, and materials for potential bias

• Partners with families to understand and honor their cultural values and child-rearing practices

• Adapts our practices to meet the needs of children with diverse abilities and learning styles

Language and Literacy Development:

We create language-rich environments where children are immersed in meaningful communication throughout the day. Our approach to language and literacy:

• Engages children in conversations that extend their vocabulary and language skills

• Provides daily experiences with books, including interactive read-alouds and opportunities for independent exploration of books

• Incorporates literacy throughout the environment through meaningful print, writing materials, and documentation

• Honors and supports home languages while building English language skills for multilingual learners

• Develops phonological awareness through songs, rhymes, and word play

• Provides varied experiences with different types of texts and print purposes

• Supports emerging writing through authentic purposes and developmentally appropriate approaches

STEM Learning (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics):

Young children are natural scientists, engineers, and mathematicians. Our program:

• Encourages curiosity, questioning, predicting, and investigating

• Provides opportunities to explore cause and effect, patterns, and relationships

• Integrates mathematical thinking throughout daily experiences (counting, measuring, comparing, sorting, graphing)

• Offers open-ended materials and challenges that promote engineering design thinking

• Uses technology intentionally and judiciously when it enhances learning goals

• Helps children develop scientific practices such as observing, documenting, and forming explanations

• Creates meaningful contexts for mathematical problem-solving

Creative Expression and the Arts:

We recognize that the arts are both valuable in themselves and vehicles for learning in other domains. Our program:

• Provides daily opportunities for creative expression through visual arts, music, movement, and dramatic play

• Values the creative process rather than emphasizing product creation

• Offers diverse materials and mediums for artistic exploration

• Uses music and movement to support learning, build community, and express emotions

• Encourages dramatic play as a context for language development, social learning, and making sense of experiences

• Recognizes multiple forms of expression and supports children in communicating through various modalities

Physical Development and Health:

We understand that physical development is intertwined with all other areas of learning. Our program:

• Provides daily opportunities for both gross motor and fine motor development

• Creates safe yet challenging environments that promote physical risk-taking and confidence

• Teaches health and safety concepts in age-appropriate ways

• Supports developing self-help skills and independence

• Offers sensory experiences that support sensory integration and body awareness

• Recognizes the connection between physical activity, nutrition, and cognitive function

• Adapts activities and expectations to accommodate children’s varying physical abilities