Philosophy of Education Mission Statement We strive to provide a nurturing environment for children 3 to 6 years old, with emphasis on German Language Acquisition and Cultural Immersion through authentic experiences and a thoughtfully planned learning environment offer ample language opportunities. We offer families a loving and safe classroom environment for their child with a smaller group sizes to allow their child to develop confidence and social-emotional skills. Philosophy Statement Our philosophy is rooted in Pestalozzi's approach of educating the whole child through developmentally appropriate learning invitations, classroom settings, and manipulatives. Head, Heart, and Hands emphasize cognitive development, character, and practical life skill, educating the whole child to create happiness, peace, and harmony and to improve society (Pestalozzi's Life and His Key Ideas, 2021). Our teachers are responsive and nurturing and encourage each child to find their voice and confidence in who they are. We value cultural differences and respect diversity in our families. We trust our students and teach them to trust their abilities and skills. We value True Play – which defines as “Deep uninterrupted engagement in the activity of one’s own choice” (True Play Foundation, 2019). This type of play consists of observable experiences of risks, joy, and deep engagement according to True Play Foundation (2019). Young children acquire language skills through play, purpose, and lots of comprehensive input of the target language, which is introduced through fun songs, movements, art, stories, tangible objects, and experiences. We introduce new vocabulary through comprehensible input, through our senses, and we are utilizing TPR (total physical response) a term introduced by James Asher (Walton, 2020). During play we will focus on language and this will strengthen the childrens understanding of the target language. The children will explore German or French Culture and Traditions by taking part in classroom celebration, by enjoying cultural dishes and beverages, and cultural awareness. Caregivers and family members are a big part of our classroom community and are always welcome to visit. Our goal is to inspire young children to be “Weltkinder” - Children of the World – as they are learning about other cultures and as they are being introduced to a new language. We want to facilitate and offer opportunities to utilize their target language in our classroom and in our community. |
Our environment is welcoming to all, regardless of race, gender religion, socio-economic class, and abilities. Our classroom invites you to visit any time and accompany your child.
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