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Child Care Curriculum

Each Classroom is designed to foster the daily development of little ones’ minds and bodies. Activities are structured around the main development areas covering Language and Literacy, Executive Function, Social and Emotional Development, Physical Development and Wellness, Cognitive Development, Conscious Discipline and Creative Expression. There is also emphasis on cultural enrichment involving family and community as well as special focus on Oneida Language. The Center is Transition-READY helping families and their little ones move from one classroom to the next.

 

Classrooms

Playful Pups (6 wks - 1 yr)

Daily your child will be discovering things using all five senses from toys to sounds and even through play time with other children. Babies in the infant room are on their own schedule. We accommodate whenever possible to meet a requested schedule. Caregivers start teaching little ones to feed themselves when developmentally ready.

Language and Literacy Development
•make early attempts at speaking
•learn to understand a variety of words by listening, observing and engaging
•use sounds and gestures to express needs, wants and interests
•listen to books read aloud

Executive Function
•work on early memory skills
•focus attention for short periods of time
•use different approaches to solve simple problems, such as making sounds and pointing
•control impulses some of the time

Social and Emotional Development
•form an attachment to familiar adults
•begin to interact with other children
•express some emotions through sounds, facial expressions and movements
•build a sense of self by recognizing self in a mirror

Physical Development and Wellness
•work on physical milestones like rolling over and crawling
•coordinate hand movements to begin reaching for and grasping objects
•start to cooperate with care routines like getting dressed and washing hands
•show an interest in eating and trying new foods

Cognitive Development
•begin to distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar things
•use the five senses to explore and observe
•begin to copy the simple actions of others
•perform actions to gain a response

Creative Expression
•begin to explore bright, contrasting colors
•explore a variety of textures like wet and sticky
•express feelings through movement
•listen to music and experiment with toy instruments

Toddling Turtles (1 yr - 2 yr)

Daily toddler’s will learn to count, dabble in basic writing, listening/playing music, singing songs, start building toward following simple instructions and all about the potty. We teach the “Loving Guidance Conscious Discipline” philosophy, which means we redirect behavior. The philosophy encourages teachers to use positive feedback for the children. The techniques foster self-discipline in young children.

Language and Literacy Development
•use one or two words to label objects and express needs and wants
•build an understanding of words through interactions including reading books
•imitate reading behaviors like turning pages and babbling while looking at pictures
•explore writing with scribbles on paper

Executive Function
•remember the location of objects like a specific toy
•follow simple rules some of the time.
•watch and imitate how others use objects or complete tasks
•control impulses some of the time

Social and Emotional Development
•show increased interest in interacting with familiar adults
•show increased interest in interacting with other children
•manage emotions independently or with the help of a familiar adult
•notice when other children are upset and try to help them feel better

Physical Development and Wellness
•learn to walk and start to run
•play games that develop throwing and kicking skills
•show an increasing ability to control their hands
•start to communicate at mealtime using simple words

Cognitive Development
•show interest in counting and start to identify one, two, or three objects
•learn words like up and down and differences in size and volume
•sort and classify objects like helping a teacher make piles of different colored toys
•explore cause and effect by discovering new ways to play with toys

Creative Expression
•create art using materials like crayons and clay
•move creatively with other kids to learn body awareness and build social skills
•enter the world of make believe with simple props like toy phones and puppets
•interact with music through games and simple songs

Little Bears (2 yr - 3 yr)

Daily preschoolers will learn simple math and science along with social opportunities where kids can learn movement or imaginative play with props and dress-up clothes encouraging group play that teaches cooperation and taking turns. The Oneida Language is also being introduced to preschoolers via tapes and/or CD’s as well as the teachers speaking the Oneida language. Preschoolers will also practice more potty training.

Language and Literacy Development
•use a growing number of words to express needs and ideas
•learn the difference between similar-sounding words with rhyming games
•ask and answer simple questions about stories in books
•start to understand that drawing and writing are ways to communicate

Executive Function
•complete simple two-step tasks like finding and stacking red blocks when asked to build a red tower
•start to follow rules independently like going to the sink to wash hands
•stay focused for several minutes while attending to an activity
•think creatively about new ways to play with a toy

Social and Emotional Development
•interact with new people and feel comfortable playing near them
•share with other children and take turns
•build an appreciation for diversity by seeing and talking about how people are the same and how they are different
•complete activities with confidence and look for new challenges like putting on shoes and trying to tie them

Physical Development and Wellness
•improve running skills and start to jump and hop
•understand and follow basic health and safety routines
•show increased control of hands and fingers
•begin to help make food like washing fruit and mixing and pouring ingredients

Cognitive Development
•start to count, know numbers and basic shapes
•explore simple addition and subtraction using songs
•build science knowledge including the difference between day and night and different types of weather
•understand basic social studies like people’s roles within the community

Creative Expression
•experiment with different art materials to create two- and three-dimensional artwork
•use creative movement to demonstrate feelings
•explore dress-up clothing and props during imaginary play
•begin to use music to express feelings

Rainbow (2 yr - 3 yr)

Daily preschoolers will learn simple math and science along with social opportunities where kids can learn movement or imaginative play with props and dress-up clothes encouraging group play that teaches cooperation and taking turns. Self-help activities are also being introduced to the preschoolers, i.e. blowing their own nose, dressing themselves, etc. The Oneida Language is also being introduced to preschoolers via tapes and/or CD’s as well as the teachers speaking the Oneida language. Preschoolers will also practice more potty training.

Language and Literacy Development
•use a growing number of words to express needs and ideas
•learn the difference between similar-sounding words with rhyming games
•ask and answer simple questions about stories in books
•start to understand that drawing and writing are ways to communicate

Executive Function
•complete simple two-step tasks like finding and stacking red blocks when asked to build a red tower
•start to follow rules independently like going to the sink to wash hands
•Stay focused for several minutes while attending to an activity
•think creatively about new ways to play with a toy

Social and Emotional Development
•interact with new people and feel comfortable playing near them
•share with other children and take turns
•build an appreciation for diversity by seeing and talking about how people are the same and how they are different
•complete activities with confidence and look for new challenges like putting on shoes and trying to tie them

Physical Development and Wellness
•improve running skills and start to jump and hop
•understand and follow basic health and safety routines
•show increased control of hands and fingers
•begin to help make food like washing fruit and mixing and pouring ingredients

Cognitive Development
•start to count, know numbers and basic shapes
•explore simple addition and subtraction using songs
•build science knowledge including the difference between day and night and different types of weather
•understand basic social studies like people’s roles within the community

Creative Expression
•experiment with different art materials to create two- and three-dimensional artwork
•use creative movement to demonstrate feelings
•explore dress-up clothing and props during imaginary play
•begin to use music to express feelings

Buffalo (3 yr - 4 yr)

Daily Preschoolers continue to learn how to follow directions and explore science experiments through creating artwork, play characters, movement games and applying simple math. Technology is also being introduced to Preschoolers using computers with learning games. Preschoolers will also practice even more potty training.

Language and Literacy Development
•engage in longer conversations with adults and other children using a greater variety of words
•begin to identify the first sound in a word
•identify and name five to ten letters and begin to know sounds for some
•recognize his or her own name and begin to write it using both letters and letter-like shapes

Building Brain Power
•take on simple activities independently like setting the table with cups and plates and continue until the task is done
•pay attention to a person or activity for five to ten minutes
•examine new objects or situations with deeper curiosity
•control impulses with fewer adult reminders

Social and Emotional Development
•build relationships with familiar adults, talking about thoughts and needs with them
•seek out other children during play time and begin to build relationships with them
•play with other children showing the ability to resolve disagreements with little help from adults
•express a variety of emotions by incorporating emotions into pretend play

Physical Development and Wellness
•begin to gallop while improving jumping and hopping skills
•trace letters and simple shapes while also showing signs of a right- or left-hand preference
•gain independence with self-care skills such as undressing to use the toilet and remembering to wash hands
•identify healthy and unhealthy foods

Cognitive Development
•connect number words and numerals to the quantities they represent
•engage in pretend play alone or with others by taking on roles and using props
•participate in scientific experiments led by adults
•Understand history by discussing changes to the community

Creative Expression
•create detailed artwork that includes people, animals, and things
•play movement games that involve following directions as well as creating unique moves
•play a character role in simple dramatic scenarios from books
•repeat more complex melodies and rhythm patterns

Soaring Eagles (3 yr - 5 yr) / Jo Ge Oh (4 yr - 5 yr)

Daily Prekindergartner’s will spend even more time learning simple math, creating simple patterns, singing songs, doing art, making music and exploring cultures. Prekindergartners will also practice even more potty training.

Language and Literacy Development
•describe familiar people, places, things, and events with detail
•retell a familiar story with the beginning, middle, and end in order
•write his or her name as well as many other letters
•use writing as a way to describe experiences or feelings, making drawings and letters

Executive Function
•remember information and thoughts from past experiences
•help develop a plan for completing a multi-step project like building a community with blocks
•complete challenging activities that require greater focus and persistence
•recognize the feelings of others and respond appropriately like comforting a friend who is upset

Social and Emotional Development
•seek out interactions with a variety of adults, with both new and familiar people
•routinely share, take turns, and interact with other children in a respectful and helpful manner
•recognize and accept similarities and differences among people and showing an appreciation for diversity
•demonstrate an ability to resolve conflicts using words

Physical Development and Wellness
•coordinate different body movements to catch and throw a ball and move through obstacle courses
•participate in physical activity for at least two (2) hours daily
•use scissors to cut simple shapes and writing utensils to trace letters and numbers with greater accuracy
•discuss how exercise makes the body feel

Cognitive Development
•create simple patterns and arrange objects according to size
•perform simple addition and subtraction
•use knowledge and personal experiences to predict outcomes of scientific experiments
•explore a variety of cultures by identifying ways people are alike and different

Creative Expression
•craft detailed works of art using various materials like paint and modeling clay
•move to a tempo, beat, or style of music
•follow multi-step directions as stated in a song, like hopping or clapping
•participate in a variety of musical experiences

General Schedule for Infants

Infant room schedules are not always posted, and can be variable, the schedule reflects what the babies are doing throughout the day, not what the teachers are doing.

This usually includes:
Community Time which is when all infants come together briefly as a group for Talking Together, Books, or Songs and Fingerplays.
Time Outdoors which allows for fun as well as growth and development.
Discovery Baskets which contains materials to explore at infant’s own pace and with little, if any, adult guidance. A variety of different shapes, textures, weights, smells, and sounds are included within the discovery basket.
Meals and Snacks

General Schedule for Toddler, Preschooler and Prekindergartner

Morning and Afternoon Group Time
Small-Group Activities
Morning and afternoon child-directed learning in learning centers
Outdoor play and activities
Snack and meals
Rest time

Cognition and General Knowledge

“Knowledge: Remembering or retrieving previously learned material”

Know Define Record Relate  Recognize  Repeat
Identify Recall Name Memorize List Acquire

“Comprehension: The ability to grasp or construct meaning from material”

Restate Identify illustrate Recognize Review Represent
Locate Discuss Interpret Explain infer Differentiate
Report Describe Draw Express Conclude  

“Application: The ability to use learned or implement material in new and concrete situations”

Apply  Organize Practice Translate Interpret Exhibit
Relate  Employ Calculate Use Demonstrate Dramatize
Develop Restructure Show Operate illustrate  

“Analysis: The ability to break down or distinguish the parts of material into its components so that its organizational structure may be better understood”

Analyze Differentiate Experiment Examine Survey Dissect
Compare Contrast Scrutinize Contrast Classify Discriminate
Inquire Detect Inspect Categorize Deduce Separate
Probe Investigate Discover      

“Synthesis: The ability to put parts together to form a coherent or unique new whole.”

Compose  Plan Propose  Prepare Generalize Originate
Produce Invent Develop Predict  Document Derive
Design Formulate  Arrange Modify Combine Write
Assemble Collect Construct Tell  Relate Propose
Create Set up Organize      

“Evaluation: The ability to judge, check and even critique the value of material for a given purpose.”

Judge Argue Validate Conclude Select Criticize
Assess Decide Consider Measure Estimate Infer
Compare Choose Appraise Deduce Rate Value
Evaluate          
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