NCCNS Curriculum
Our curriculum is based on the researchers and theorists in the field of early childhood education such as Piaget, Vygotsky, and Erikson, stressing the emotional and social development of the child. Our philosophy encompasses ideas and teaching methods derived from the Project Approach and Reggio Emilia.
Intentional Teaching
Here at New Canaan Community Nursery School, we pride ourselves on being “intentional teachers”. Intentional teachers observe the children to assess their educational needs and set appropriate individual and group goals for each child. Learning goals (Connecticut Performance Standards) for your child include all aspects of growth and are grouped into four domains: Personal and Social Development, Physical Development, Cognitive Development and Language Development. As teachers, we select several performance standards to work on each week. This process of planning and observing ensures that not only are your child’s developmental needs being met, but they are continuously challenged to their fullest potential. Documentation boards located in each classroom illustrate the phases of intentional teaching: Planning and Implementing, Observing and Assessing, and how repeating the cycle influences the progression of our curriculum.
The Project Approach
A project is an in-depth investigation of a topic worth learning
more about. The study is undertaken by a small group of children
within a class, by a whole class, or occasionally by an individual
child. The key feature of a project is that it is a research effort
focused on finding answers to the questions about a topic posed
by the children, the teacher, or both. Rather than simply seeking
the right answers, the goal of a project is to learn more about
a topic.
A project on a topic of real interest to children involves
them in a wide variety of tasks: drawing, measuring, writing,
reading, listening, discussing and problem solving. From engaging
in a project, children learn a rich new vocabulary as their
knowledge of a familiar topic deepens and expands.
As teachers, our focus will be to observe and document the
children’s discussions and interactions during their
play. We will expand on their interests by gathering as a group
and webbing our ideas about topics they are interested in.
Our goal is to build on their passions and prior knowledge
so we can create authentic curriculum strategies, engaging
activities and exciting experiences that challenge their thinking
and learning!
Click here to view the curriculum and assessment process.