Curricula
All children in Noah’s Ark Preschool are engaged in our chosen curricula, Beyond Centers and Circle Time, by Dr. Pam Phelps. Beyond Centers and Circle Time is a proven curricula that melds child development theories into children’s work; which is their play. This purposeful play allows each child to develop in their own rhythm while being encouraged and supported by the teacher. Teachers are then responsible for knowing where the children are developmentally and supporting them in moving forward to increased developmental stages. The play based curriculum we use at Noah’s Ark has elements inspired by Montessori and Waldorf methods of teaching. Similar elements include being child centered, emphasis on independence, respect for self and others and respect for the natural flow of a child’s journey of development.
More About Our Curriculum, Beyond Centers and Circle Time
Beyond Centers & Circle Time focuses on creating intentional, developmentally appropriate experiences for children ages one through five. This curriculum supports early learning and developmental standards found all over the world. Beyond Centers & Circle Time: Scaffolding and Assessing the Play of Young Children emphasizes the following:
- In creating an environment where developmentally appropriate experiences enhance a child’s development we talk about scaffolding. Scaffolding defined: support given to the learning process with the specific purpose of helping the children to continue to grow and reach a higher level of learning.
- In the use of Beyond Centers and Circle Time the environment, materials used, the amount and variety of materials and the teacher’s understanding of the appropriate development of young children all come together to allow children to become great learners. Scaffolding the environment begins with the play materials and space in which they are placed. Play materials are chosen that are multi purpose, open ended and inspire creativity. These materials are then organized in a play environment that allows multiple choices for the children. The organization of the environment teaches the children how to make a choice of play space, complete the activity, clean up and make another choice of play space. In knowing where the children are in their developmental stages the teacher will choose materials for the day that will allow children to be challenged in their play and to a line with their developmental needs.
- Teachers use their understanding of how a child will move from sensori motor play (play that involves the development of cognitive skills and their reacting to different stimuli such as noises, movement, and emotions) to construction play (play that supports the child in taking play to real life work) and dramatic play ( to play and work with others while practicing real world experiences) as the child begins to move toward realistic, cooperative and symbolic play.
- Post Play experiences are scaffolded by the teacher after the center time experience is complete. The children are brought back into a circle time to review, share and ask questions about their play. This time also allows the teacher to reinforce new vocabulary, recall and ask questions about the child’s play.
Programs planned for pre-school children must provide developmentally appropriate experiences and be led by knowledgeable adults who understand how well-planned quality early experiences contribute to a child’s life success. Beyond Centers and Circle Time is a curriculum that provides adults working in early education and care settings with knowledge that will enable them to arrange rich play experiences, assess children’s play behaviors, and scaffold each child’s development from the sensorimotor behaviors we typically see in infants and young toddlers to the ability to create realistic representations and engage in cooperative symbolic (dramatic) play scenarios.
The use of BCCT engages children in rich forms of play that encourage curious and excited learners to the best very they can be!
The information above is taken and adapted from: The Beyond Centers and Circle Time Curriculum Series Website: www.bcctseries.com
We have the following programs: