Ever gone to a school and listened to an educator use early childhood education terms that you are unfamiliar with? As the field changes and advances, new terms are popping up that you might not know. Getting familiar with these terms before heading off to school will help you gain a better understanding of what your child is learning each day.
- S.T.E.A.M.
- S.T.E.A.M. is an educational approach that stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. Previously known as S.T.E.M., an initiative to add “Art” started over the last few years to incorporate creativity and innovation into the learning process.
Each Crème de la Crème school has a S.T.E.A.M. Lab where students are encouraged to explore all 5 disciplines. In this classroom, a student favorite is our Coding & Robotics program that we offer for students who are 3 and older.
- S.T.E.A.M. is an educational approach that stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. Previously known as S.T.E.M., an initiative to add “Art” started over the last few years to incorporate creativity and innovation into the learning process.
- Child-centered
- Child-center learning encourages children to take responsibility for their own learning by making choices about what they want to explore instead of being directed or prompted by a teacher.
Throughout the day, we balance structured learning with child-centered learning opportunities so our students are guided through different lessons, but also are given the opportunity to make their own choices.
- Child-center learning encourages children to take responsibility for their own learning by making choices about what they want to explore instead of being directed or prompted by a teacher.
- Developmentally appropriate
- Developmentally appropriate is an approach to learning that acknowledges a child’s age as well as the individual needs of the child to determine the best program for them. Teachers will observe your child to see certain developmental patterns that are typical at that age and will work with your child in a way that is best for their current stage of development.
At Crème de la Crème, we will see students that might be strong with language development, but might need some help working on their physical development. The teachers will provide additional support that your child needs to get them where they need to be!
- Developmentally appropriate is an approach to learning that acknowledges a child’s age as well as the individual needs of the child to determine the best program for them. Teachers will observe your child to see certain developmental patterns that are typical at that age and will work with your child in a way that is best for their current stage of development.
- Whole child
- A whole child approach to learning is centered around the idea that it is necessary to move beyond narrowly defined academic achievements to focusing on how we can create overall success for a child. The goal is to have a child that is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged.
One of Crème de la Crème’s Core Values is to Educate the Whole Child. Our facility, curriculum, and values place focus on the whole child by nurturing cognitive, social/emotional, physical, and language development.
- A whole child approach to learning is centered around the idea that it is necessary to move beyond narrowly defined academic achievements to focusing on how we can create overall success for a child. The goal is to have a child that is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged.
- Centers
- Centers, or learning centers, are areas within the classroom where students can learn about a specific subject through playing and engaging in specific activities related to that one subject. Play encourages child-initiated exploration, questioning, and discovery! Students can explore centers in small groups or individually.
At Crème de la Crème, we integrate centers into most of our classrooms. Seen mostly in a homeroom classroom, centers provide students an opportunity to explore different areas such as dramatic play, sensory play, blocks, reading, music, and much more.
- Centers, or learning centers, are areas within the classroom where students can learn about a specific subject through playing and engaging in specific activities related to that one subject. Play encourages child-initiated exploration, questioning, and discovery! Students can explore centers in small groups or individually.
- Social-Emotional Development
- Social-emotional development is a child’s ability to understand other’s feelings, control their own feelings and behaviors, and get along with their friends.
Crème de la Crème’s Character Education curriculum promotes social and emotional development by helping our students understand, identify, and process their feelings in appropriate ways.
- Social-emotional development is a child’s ability to understand other’s feelings, control their own feelings and behaviors, and get along with their friends.
- Student-Teacher ratio
- While the term “student-teacher ratio” might be self-explanatory, the importance behind it may not. Student-teacher ratios are a guideline by the state to ensure that a child is receiving enough one-on-one attention from an adult that is able to take care of a child’s individual needs.
In an effort to reduce down the student-to-teacher ratio, Crème de la Crème schools utilize multiple teachers in a classroom. A homeroom teacher is supported by an enrichment teacher when a class visits one of our many enrichment rooms. During that time, the program is co-taught and the teachers work together to implement the curriculum. The goal of this is to keep our student-teacher ratio lower at different times throughout the day.
- While the term “student-teacher ratio” might be self-explanatory, the importance behind it may not. Student-teacher ratios are a guideline by the state to ensure that a child is receiving enough one-on-one attention from an adult that is able to take care of a child’s individual needs.
Don’t be overwhelmed by these early childhood education buzzwords; instead set up a tour today to learn from our team members how Crème de la Crème implements them into your child’s learning. Learn more at 800-374-5715!