Nursery and Preschool - Little Acorns
(ages 3-5 years)

"From little acorns mighty oaks grow."

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Curriculum

For children from 3 years old onwards, the International School of Krakow uses the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) Early Years Program.

This program provides the framework for helping young children learn-academically, socially, emotionally and physically. A core of basic principles is at the heart of every activity in the Early Years program.

The principles can be summarized as

• The overriding purpose of early years education is to help children develop the skills and attitudes they will need both at this level and throughout a lifetime of learning.
• Children need an holistic educational experience that doesn't create artificial boundaries between different aspects of their development.
• Play is an essential part of children's learning and general development.

The Learning Strands

At the very heart of the IPC Early Years program is a clarity about what children aged 3 to 4 should learn. This learning is described in 4 strands:

1. Independence and interdependence: children's personal goals and their relationship with other children
2. Communicating: developing skills in speaking and listening, pre-reading and writing, early numeracy work and the expressive arts
3. Exploring: developing inquiry skills
4. Healthy living

What are the children learning?

In the foundation stage (ages 3 to 4) children learn foundation skills in six areas: personal, social and emotional, mathematics, communication, language and literacy, creative skills, knowledge and understanding of the world, and physical development. Within these areas, stepping stones measure the children's development so it is easy for the teachers to see how the children's knowledge and skills are growing.

We believe that children are learning every minute of the day. They learn from the way we organize the classroom, from the daily schedule, from activities, and from play.

The Classroom/Working in Centers

Our classroom is set up for learning in different centers. A center is an area of the classroom where a variety of hands-on materials and meaningful activities are available for children to choose. The centers provide opportunities for children to be actively involved in learning and making choices. Children have many opportunities to make choices, come up with ideas, experiment, and take responsibility for their work. Here's what you'll see when you visit:

• Materials are on low shelves, in containers, and on hooks so children can get them and put them away independently.
• Shelves are neat and uncluttered so materials are easy to see, remove, and replace.
• Picture (and word labels) are on containers and shelves so children know where materials belong and learn to use print.
• Distinct interest centers--blocks, dramatic play, toys and games, art, discovery, library, sand and water, music and movement, cooking, computers, reading/writing, listening and different play spaces outdoors--help children know what choices are available and make decisions.
• A variety of learning materials are in each center so that no matter where children choose to play, they learn.

Similar materials are grouped together to teach children to sort and classify--skills that are important to understanding and solving math problems.

The Daily Schedule

We want your child to feel secure and independent, to move from one activity to another as easily and confidently as possible. And we want to provide a variety of learning experiences for a well-rounded education. So we plan a daily schedule with these goals in mind. We follow this same schedule day after day, making small adjustments to accommodate special activities. It helps children feel secure because they know what comes next. This schedule works well for us. After a few months, children are amazingly independent. They tell us what they are supposed to do next!

Classroom Activities

When you visit your child's classroom, you see a room full of children playing. You may wonder what we are doing to help children learn. As children play, we watch how they use materials. We observe, listen and intervene if necessary. We talk with them to find out what they are thinking and trying to do. We help children become aware of their actions, offer suggestions, and think about what materials to offer next. Then we challenge them to think further. This is how we encourage the development of skills children will need in elementary school and how we are able to meet the individual needs of each child.

Program of Studies for academic year 2010-2011