H1N1 Flu Information

As an idea, curriculum stems from the Latin word for race course, referring to the course of deeds and experiences through which children grow and mature in becoming adults.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS

BUILDING BLOCKS FOR LIFE:  Academy's "IDEAL"  Curriculum
IDEAL- Integrated Developmental Experiences for Active Learning

Academy Child Development Center, Inc. was founded in 1981 on an integrated, theme-based curriculum which is developmentally designed to enhance physical, emotional, cognitive, and social growth. Students are encouraged to explore, experiment, and experience developmentally appropriate activities approved by MSDE and NAEYC (Cold Spring Center).
Academy is using Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) approved curriculum. Nursery school through Kindergarten teachers (ages 3-5) will be using Core Knowledge Foundation Curriculum. Children under 3 years of age will receive instruction based on the Creative Curriculum for Infants and Toddlers.
In place of the conventional multiple choice assessment tests Academy is utilizing a process of using information to plan for and report individual profiles. Each profile charts each child's development over the course of a year and beyond. This system is a comprehensive means for monitoring children's social, emotional, cognitive and physical progress through teachers' observations and child work documentation within the context of the daily learning environment.
The 7 content areas of the nursery through kindergarten classroom learning will be integrated utilizing Academy's theme-based approach. The content areas are Personal and Social development, Language and Literacy, Mathematical Thinking, Scientific Thinking, Social Studies, The Arts (includes music, drama, dance, visual arts), Physical Development (fine and gross motor) and Health. Language and literacy experiences will be evident throughout the classroom. Phonological awareness, vocabulary and comprehension development through reading aloud from theme-related children's literature, writing, and creative learning spaces will be evident and experienced by students. Orton-Gillingham's systematic sequence of teaching sounds will also be incorporated. This multisensory approach emphasizes learning phonemes and the rules of our language so that children at an early age can begin to identify multi-syllabic words. Other content areas such as mathematical thinking and scientific inquiry will also use developmentally appropriate hands-on activities related to the daily theme and/or daily life. Math Your Way is an example of a teacher resource that will be utilized.
Teacher-guided and child-selected learning centers will be available for students to explore, reinforce, practice, and experience new skills. Also, being theme-related these interactive learning centers provide opportunities for individualized learning styles, interest levels, and social-emotional development skills of children.
Infant/Toddler/Two curriculum will concentrate on all developmental aspects of the young child and 7 keys areas of the Creative Curriculum that is critical during this period of brain development—theories of child development, individualization, family involvement, health-safe-stimulating environment, child selected activities, adult interactions, and specialized training for staff.
"Play" is probably the most important means of learning. There will be times during the day when children will have the opportunity to self-select activities within the learning environment (inside and outdoors). Getting along with others, decision making and problem solving skills are all necessary for becoming a successful student, adult, employee, employer, and life-long learner.