Early Childhood Curricular Goals

Hope Child Development Center ascribes to the principles delineated in the Connecticut Preschool Curriculum Framework which states that:

• Early learning and development are multidimensional; developmental domains are highly interrelated.
• Young children are capable and competent.
• There are individual differences in rates of development among children.
• Children will exhibit a range of skills and competencies in any domain of development.
• Knowledge of child growth and development and consistent expectations are essential to maximizing educational experiences for children and to developing and implementing programs.
• Families are the primary caregivers and educators of their young children.
• Young children learn through active exploration of their environment through child-initiated and teacher-selected activities.

As such, Hope CDC will develop curriculum using the four domains of development and design activities that are guided by the goals within each domain:

DOMAIN 1

Personal and Social Development

Goals

Programs & Activities will provide children with opportunities to:

• demonstrate a sense of self as a learner;

• demonstrate a sense of responsibility to oneself and others;

• demonstrate effective functioning, individually and as a member of a group.

DOMAIN 2

Physical Development

Goals

Programs & Activities will provide children with opportunities to:

• demonstrate control, balance, strength and coordination in gross motor tasks;

• demonstrate coordination and strength in fine motor tasks;

• participate in healthy physical activity; and

• practice appropriate eating habits, hygiene and self-help skills.

The Creative Curriculum, a nationally recognized educational curriculum development guide, will form the foundation of a dynamic program and a philosophy for the development of appropriate curriculum.  Teachers will use it as a framework in conjunction with a proprietary planning guide for the creation of detailed lesson plans that emphasize active learning, language development and positive decision making.  Children will be encouraged to explore their world through songs, dance, stories and dramatic play, all while emphasizing how to care for others in the following interest areas:

Blocks                                      Literacy                                     Math/Manipulatives

Group Time                               Dramatic Play                            Computers

Art                                            Science & Sensory                   Outdoors

Cooking                                    Music/Movement          

School-age Curricular Goals

Hope Child Development Center in its school-age programming seeks to advance the vision and principles outlined in the Connecticut Core of Learning.  Activities and programs will be designed to reinforce the skills, knowledge and character of what an effective young citizen needs to know and be able to do within the three major heading that follow, with subheadings that reflect significant groups of skills, knowledge and aspects of character:

Foundational Skills and Competencies

• Reading

• Writing

• Speaking, Listening and Viewing

• Quantifying

• Problem Solving, Reasoning and Creative Thinking

• Learning Resources and Information Technology

• Working Independently and Collaboratively

Understandings and Applications:

Discipline-Based and Interdisciplinary Skills

• Language Arts

• Mathematics

• Science

• Social Studies

• World Languages

• The Arts

• Health and Safety Education

• Physical Education

• Technology Education

Aspects of Character

• Responsibility and Integrity

• Effort and Persistence

• Intellectual Curiosity

• Respect

• Citizenship and Sense of Community

DOMAIN 3

Cognitive Development

Goals

Programs & Activities will provide children with opportunities to:

• demonstrate the ability to think, reason, question and remember;

• engage in problem solving;

• use language to communicate, convey and interpret meaning; and

• establish social contacts as they begin to understand the physical and social world.

DOMAIN 4

Creative Expression/Aesthetic Development

Goals

Programs & Activities will provide children with opportunities to:

• use different art forms as a vehicle for creative expression and representation; and

• develop an appreciation of the arts.