ECDC School Year Program
The ECDC program seeks to enhance the growth and development of the whole child through a developmentally appropriate curriculum. The curriculum equally fosters cognitive, social, emotional, physical and creative growth through experience-based, hands-on learning activities and play. A central goal is the promotion of each child’s self confidence and love of learning. Learning experiences with peers and teachers encourage the development of the 4R’s: respect, responsibility, resourcefulness and responsiveness. ECDC provides a positive and nurturing environment within which young children thrive. We view ourselves as an extension of each child’s family. As such, we work to develop a genuine partnership with parents. ECDC teachers and staff recognize and celebrate the diversity of our children and families. We are committed to establishing an anti-bias curriculum that supports our multicultural community. ECDC also uses Conscious Discipline, a comprehensive classroom management and social emotional program that creates learning environments where children know, “Yes, I am safe,” and “Yes, I am loved.” From this foundation of safety and caring, children will begin learning how to solve conflicts, manage their emotions and take responsibility for their actions. Learn more about Conscious Discipline here.
The ECDC program embraces the following early childhood principles:
Children learn and grow as whole persons. Children learn best when their physical and emotional needs are met and they feel safe and secure. The child’s self-image strongly affects his or her eagerness to learn and ability to do so. The ECDC program fosters the child’s social, emotional, physical, creative and cognitive development.
The ECDC program embraces the following early childhood principles:
Children grow and develop through predictable stages, but at individual rates. All children can learn, and given appropriate settings, want to learn. Children are persistent, curious, creative and active learners. The ECDC program enhances each child’s love of learning.
The ECDC program embraces the following early childhood principles:
Children learn through interaction with peers, adults, learning materials and the environment. ECDC provides a developmentally appropriate, play based program. Through rich experiences, children explore and make discoveries about their world as teachers guide their discussions, reflections and activities.
The ECDC program embraces the following early childhood principles:
Children exhibit different learning styles. Learning activities at ECDC are varied and offer multisensory experiences and frequent opportunities to choose from a variety of materials appropriate to the children’s individual learning styles and interests.
The ECDC program embraces the following early childhood principles:
ECDC uses a positive child guidance model articulated by the Adlerian Philosophy of Positive Guidance and the methods of Conscious Discipline. ECDC fosters the development of respect, responsibility, resourcefulness, responsiveness, self-regulation and conflict resolution skills through curricular activities, children’s literature and interactions with caring teachers.
The ECDC program embraces the following early childhood principles:
ECDC teachers and staff recognize and celebrate the diversity of our children and families. We are committed to establishing an anti-bias curriculum that supports our multicultural community.
The ECDC program embraces the following early childhood principles:
ECDC provides a positive environment within which young children thrive. We view ourselves as an extension of each child’s family, building partnerships with families. Parent Teacher Conferences are scheduled two times per year, once during fall semester and once during spring semester.
Curriculum:
Children are engaged in developmentally appropriate integrated learning experiences as they explore their world. Children use a variety of materials including paint, blocks, dramatic play props, puzzles and manipulatives and books to investigate topics of interest/studies. Studies include families, food and nutrition, multicultural music, water, transportation, community helpers, animals, forests, gardens, authors and illustrators, and many more. Literacy learning is a vital part of each study as children participate in storytime, bookmaking, drawing and painting, songs, fingerplays, and group discussions about each study. Skills from all curricular areas – math, science, social studies, music, creative movement and fine arts – are integrated within each study.
Schedule Options:
A variety of 2, 3 or 5-day full day and half day schedules are available for preschool age children. The kindergarten program is a full day program. Kindergarten registration priority is given to children enrolling for a Full Time (Mon-Fri All Day) schedule. Occasionally Mon-Fri half day, morning schedules are available if the room is not fully enrolled after the initial registration process. The daily schedule is a balance of active and quiet activities, large group, small group and individual activities and includes both teacher facilitated and child initiated activities. Children attending with either full day or half day schedules receive the benefits of a well-rounded early childhood program.
Families enroll for the full school year program, late August through early June.
Teachers and the Learning Environment:
The role of ECDC teachers is multifaceted – they design learning activities, guide children’s explorations, nurture the growth of each child and support the development of the classroom community. They build dynamic relationships with families as they share responsibility for the care and education of young children. Each room’s teaching team consists of two co-lead teachers and also have an associate or assistant teacher. Lead/co-lead teachers have a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field. ECDC strives to employ associate and assistant teachers with an Early Childhood Education degree or an Early Childhood Education certificate/CDA, and encourages and assists them with continuing their education. All members of the faculty are certified in pediatric CPR and First Aid. As dedicated and active professionals in the Early Childhood Education community, teachers participate in conferences and workshops.
ECDC serves as a lab school for students enrolled in education, psychology, and speech language pathology programs at the University of Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s College, IU South Bend, IVY Tech, and Bethel University. Students assist in the classrooms as student teachers, interns and volunteers as they study how the ECDC program reflects best practices in the field.
The state of the art learning environments of each ECDC site are composed of learning areas, including a place for quiet activities, dramatic play, science, construction, art and writing, and a rich and diverse classroom library. The areas are filled with the educational tools children need to learn, explore, create and discover.