|
|
The Toddler Learning Environment serves children, ages 2 to 3.
There are nine children and two teachers in each classroom. Toddlers
attend Kingsley for a half-day, either in a morning or an afternoon
session.
Life in the Toddler classroom is a dynamic blend of energy and
calm. One moment a child can be quietly looking at a book; the next
moment she can be leading a marching band. Teachers in the Toddler
classroom have a unique appreciation for this stage of development.
They support the children’s unfolding sense of self and their
understanding of the world in all aspects of their lives, and they
welcome their growing sense of independence and curiosity.
Beginning in the Toddler Learning Environment, children take responsibility
for their personal care and for the care of the classroom. They
delight in their independence as they investigate a rich array of
materials and resources within their reach, taking things apart
and putting them together, preparing their morning snack, caring
for their classroom pets and exploring the world outside their doors.
Singing, playing games, listening to stories, dancing and cooking,
our youngest students continue to establish their unique identities.
Toddlers become gifted conversationalists in the Kingsley Toddler
room, ready to discuss any and everything at any moment for a captive
audience. As the school year progresses, Toddlers begin to work
with teachers in the arts and sciences. Science, art, music, drama,
and Spanish teachers are welcomed into the classroom as the children
begin to look at the world through different eyes. Under the guidance
of their experienced teachers, our young learners begin to construct
the foundation on which they will build their future studies.
Parents and families play an integral part in solidifying this
foundation. Teachers and parents are partners in helping each child
become acquainted with life at Kingsley and in helping each child
to see Kingsley as his or her own “living room.” Throughout
the year, parents and teachers meet regularly to discuss each child’s
growth and development. Families also are actively involved in all
aspects of the Kingsley community, including KMPTA,
Kingsley’s parent-teacher association, various adult education
series, and other events that support and further the school’s
mission.
The Toddler Curriculum maximizes the development of young children
in a nurturing, inviting and orderly setting, referred to as the
“prepared environment.” Activities lead the child to
build sensory motor skills, socialization skills, self-esteem, inner
security and habits of concentration. The goal of the curriculum
is to foster independence and focus. In the Kingsley Toddler Room
the developmental stages of Toddler life are supported through these
curriculum areas:
- Practical Life: activities that promote the growth toward
independent self-care, including cooking, cleaning and the care
of the physical environment
- Sensorial Activities: experiences for the discrimination
of the senses, including taste, smell, hand to mind and movement
of the physical body in space
- Language Expression: opportunities for communication, including
telling and listening to stories, singing, creating music and art,
using sign language and engaging specialized language materials
that promote language learning
- Freedom of Movement: occasions for gross motor activities
including dancing, movement, finger plays and yoga, as well as moving
and interacting with the learning environment
- Cultivating Independence: opportunities for children to
make choices, work collaboratively and independently, explore their
classroom environment freely and express their curiosity.
|
