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formerly GFALC
Raising the standard for Early Childhood Education
Our mission is to provide a safe and nurturing environment that promotes your child’s curiosity while instilling a life-long love of learning.
Foundations
for lifelong success.
Brain growth is most aggressive before birth and into early childhood. Experiences affect the shape of that growth.
Safe, Loved,
Ready to Explore.
Responsive Care
Nurturing & responsive care is key to supporting healthy brain development.
Positive & negative experiences, shape a child’s development and have lifelong effects.
The right care for children ensures that the child’s brain grows well and reaches its full potential.
Primary Care
Primary care is a practice in which the care of each infant or toddler is assigned to one specific caregiver. Consistent, responsive, and meaningful interactions with a primary caregiver build a child’s attachment with a familiar adult.
Primary caregiving strengthens relationships with families, and supports the development of trust and security between the infant or toddler and the primary caregiver.
Infant Care
6 weeks - 12 months
This component of care is practiced with infant aged children from 6 weeks - 12 months old
Toddler Care
12 months - 24 months
This component of care is practiced with toddler aged children from12 - 24 months old
Two's
24 months - 36 months
No evidence exists to suggest this component of care is beneficial for this age group
Preschool
3 years - 4 years
No evidence exists to suggest this component of care is beneficial for this age group
Pre K
4 years - 5 years
No evidence exists to suggest this component of care is beneficial for this age group
Respectful Care
Respecting a child means treating even the youngest as a unique human being, not as an object.
Speaking with a child to inform them what they can expect. We tell them we are going to wipe their face and invite their help. We tell them we are going to pick them up, giving them a moment to prepare. We show care and respect for their bodies when changing their diaper and do not force them into uncomfortable or distressing positions.
Infant Care
6 weeks - 12 months
This component of care is practiced with infant aged children from 6 weeks - 12 months old
Toddler Care
12 months - 24 months
This component of care is practiced with toddler aged children from12 - 24 months old
Two's
24 months - 36 months
This component of care is practiced with Two's children from age 24 - 36 months old
Preschool
3 years - 4 years old
This component of care is practiced with Preschool children from age 3 - 4 years old
Pre K
4 years - 5 years old
This component of care is practiced with Pre K children from ages 4 - 5 years old
Personal Care
How your infant spends their day with us has a lot to do with their natural rhythm at home.
Personalized care plans support daily schedules, nutritional guidelines, and other unique needs. When your infant knows what to expect, trust and confidence can be built. Your infants routine is important, creating consistency between home, and school, helps your child and family be successful.
Infant Care
6 weeks - 12 months
This component of care is practiced with infant aged children from 6 weeks - 12 months old
Toddler Care
12 months - 24 months
This component of care is practiced with toddler aged children from12 - 24 months old
Two's
24 months - 36 months
No evidence exists to suggest this component of care is beneficial for this age group
Preschool
3 years - 4 years
No evidence exists to suggest this component of care is beneficial for this age group
Pre K
4 years - 5 years
No evidence exists to suggest this component of care is beneficial for this age group
Milestones Matter.
Educational Development
Our curriculum is research-based, focusing on the development of the whole child. Addressing the developmental needs of a childs' cognitive, social, emotional, language and physical abilities. In addition our programs aims to develop confidence, creativity, and a life long love of learning.
Observation
When a teacher observes a child within their care, the educator can then better understand the children’s strengths or weaknesses. Through observations, educators’ planning can help make improvements to the environment and better facilitate learning. Observations can identify special needs, documentation of skills, and provides a better understanding of the child.
Infant Care
6 weeks - 12 months
This component of care is practiced with infant aged children from 6 weeks - 12 months old
Toddler Care
12 months - 24 months
This component of care is practiced with toddler aged children from 12 months - 24 months old
Two's
24 months - 36 months
This component of care is practiced with Two's children from ages 24 months - 36 months old
Preschool
3 years - 4 years old
This component of care is practiced with Preschool aged children from 3 -4 years old
Pre K
4 years - 5 years old
This component of care is practiced with Pre K aged children from 4 years - 5 years old
Development Plans
Observations help build "progress reports." These reports asses the development of a childs' cognitive, social/emotional, language and physical development. This report helps build an individualized, one-on-one or small group, learning experience that builds on what the child knows, and takes the next steps to build their knowledge.
Infant Care
6 weeks - 12 months
This component of care is practiced with infant aged children from 6 weeks - 12 months old
Two's
24 months - 36 months
This component of care is practiced with Two's children from ages 24 months - 36 months old
Preschool
3 years - 4 years old
This component of care is practiced with Preschool aged children from 3 -4 years old
Pre K
4 years - 5 years old
This component of care is practiced with Pre K aged children from 4 years - 5 years old
Documentation
Documentation provides evidence of skill growth, helping to gain better insight into a childs ability and build accurate progress reports. Documentations types may include:
-
Written observations with language samples
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Drawings or attempts of writing
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Pictures of constructions
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Videos
Infant Care
6 weeks - 12 months
This component of care is practiced with infant aged children from 6 weeks - 12 months old
Toddler Care
12 months - 24 months
This component of care is practiced with toddler aged children from 12 months - 24 months old
Two's
24 months - 36 months
This component of care is practiced with Two's children from ages 24 months - 36 months old
Preschool
3 years - 4 years old
This component of care is practiced with Preschool aged children from 3 -4 years old
Pre K
4 years - 5 years old
This component of care is practiced with Pre K aged children from 4 years - 5 years old
Curiosity
leads the way.
Studies
Studies are exciting and engaging, hands-on, project-based, investigations of topics that are relevant in the everyday lives of children. Studies tap into the natural curiosity, and create a learning environment that is both fun and intentional.
Two's
24 months - 36 months
This component of care is practiced with Two's children from ages 24 months - 36 months old
Preschool
3 years - 4 years old
This component of care is practiced with Preschool aged children from 3 -4 years old
Hands on.
Project Based learning is an in-depth exploration of a child or teacher-initiated topic.
The project approach provides opportunities for children to take agency of their own learning and represent this learning through the construction of personally meaningful artifacts.
It is crucial that students are allowed to learn in a variety of ways. Hands-on learning means that youngsters are not expected to sit in a chair; they are actually actively engaging all 5 of their senses as they explore and learn.
Project-Based.
Project Based learning is an in-depth exploration of a child or teacher-initiated topic.
The project approach provides opportunities for children to take agency of their own learning and represent this learning through the construction of personally meaningful artifacts.
Investigations.
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Light
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Rocks
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Containers
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Shoes
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Seats
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Paper
-
Bags
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Brushes
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Clothes
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Wheels
-
Water
-
Sand
-
Trees
-
Buildings
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Insects
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Simple Machines
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Balls
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Pets
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Roads
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Reduce, Reuse & Recycle
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Exercise
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Music
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Signs
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Gardening
What is a study?
The study approach is a method of integrating content learning through children’s in-depth investigations of a meaningful topic. Children raise questions about the topic, and through exploration and discovery, they find answers to their questions. Throughout the school year, children explore a variety of studies through first-hand exploration and discovery.
Teachers are able to structure instruction so each child receives appropriate support to ensure success. Additionally, social and emotional skills are a focus, giving children the opportunity to learn about sharing, turn-taking, and self-help skills.
Teachers focus on teaching the “whole child” and include plenty of physical activity along with opportunities to explore literacy, math, science, social studies, technology and the arts through a variety of self-directed activities.
Why studies?
The study approach allows for deep, first hand exploration of topics that interest children. Studies offer a myriad of ways to learn about the topic and allows children to gain a deeper understanding while also encouraging them to develop skills across all domains, as they participate in the investigative process.
The benefits of studies include:
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Encourages higher-level thinking
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Develops intellectual interests
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Forms positive approaches to learning
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Develops problem solving skills
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Encourages children to find answers to their questions in a creative way
-
Most importantly, studies encourage family involvement.
Study Subjects Include
We're Better Together.
Infant Care
6 weeks - 12 months
No evidence exists to suggest this is developmentally appropriate at this age
Toddler Care
12 months - 24 months
No evidence exists to suggest this is developmentally appropriate at this age
Pre K
4 years - 5 years old
This component of care is practiced with Pre K aged children from 4 years - 5 years old
Family Partnerships
When we work together with parents, we can help your child acquire the skills, attitudes, and habits to do well in school and life! Through partnerships and communications, we can best help meet the needs of your family and child.
Wow! Experiences
Wow experiences create opportunities for families to take part in our studies. Whether you tag along on a site visit, help us coordinate a visit or come share your experiences, passions and knowledge on our study topic. Family involvement always extend the learning between home and school.
Celebrations!
Celebrations take place at the end of a classroom study. Teachers, children, and family members reflect on, share, and celebrate the wonderful learning that occurred throughout the investigation of the study topic.
No evidence exists to suggest this is developmentally appropriate at this age
Infant Care
6 weeks - 12 months
No evidence exists to suggest this is developmentally appropriate at this age
Toddlers
24 months - 36 months
No evidence exists to suggest this is developmentally appropriate at this age
Two's
24 months - 36 months
Preschool
3 years - 4 years old
This component of care is practiced with Preschool children from age 3 - 4 years old
Pre K
4 years - 5 years old
This component of care is practiced with Preschool children from age 4 - 5 years old
Conferences
Parent-Teacher conferences allow teachers to share academic progress and growth based classroom observations and assessments.
Infant Care
6 weeks - 12 months
This component of care is practiced with toddler aged children from 6 weeks -12 months old
Toddler Care
12 months - 24 months
This component of care is practiced with toddler aged children from12 - 24 months old
Two's
24 months - 36 months
This component of care is practiced with Two's children from age 24 - 36 months old
Preschool
3 years - 4 years old
This component of care is practiced with Preschool children from age 3 - 4 years old
Pre K
4 years - 5 years old
This component of care is practiced with Pre K children from ages 4 - 5 years old
Learning Games
LearningGames are a series of research validated early learning activities that help families engage in meaningful at-home learning that strengthens their relationships with their children and reinforce classroom teachings.
This component of care is practiced with Infant children from age 6 weeks - 12 months
Infant Care
6 weeks - 12 months
This component of care is practiced with Two's children from age 24 months - 36 months
Toddlers
24 months - 36 months
This component of care is practiced with Two's children from age 24 months - 36 months
Two's
24 months - 36 months
No evidence suggest this is developmentally appropriate at this age.
Preschool
3 - 4 years old
No evidence suggest this is developmentally appropriate at this age.
Pre K
4 - 5 years old
