Early Childhood

PK Curriculum

The Creative Curriculum is research based and encompasses the ideas and work of early childhood educators and psychologists such as Montessori, Piaget, Vygotsky. 

Our objectives for development and learning come from the Creative Curriculum; they are research based and include predictors of school success.  The Objectives cover socio-emotional, cognitive, mathematics, literacy, language, physical, Science, Social studies and the arts.  There are 38 objectives that ensure that children are supported in building their knowledge, skills and behaviors. Our program beliefs in the child as it is inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach.

Every child will find a place to stand out

At ISP we focus our efforts in developing each child’s potential, therefore following  the Reggio philosophy we incorporate into our program an Atelierista.

The Atelierista is an artist who knows the potential in many media materials. The Atelierista is a special teacher that welcomes children's ideas and ongoing projects. At the Atelier, children try to figure out and explore many different ways to do things through art expression.

The Atelierista, recognizes that children are born with thousands of ideas and have hundreds of languages of expression. These languages might include, painting, singing, building, taking apart, dancing or drawing, the possibilities are endless. In the Atelier, it is our goal to provide as many of these languages as possible as we recognize that each child has its own  special talents.

Multiage groups also create a family where children learn from each other

In our multiage classrooms older children gain leadership and the younger ones acquire role models that help them develop their skills. 

1. Children are able to spend several years with the same teacher. This allows the teacher to develop a deeper understanding of a child’s strengths and needs, and is therefore in a better position to support the child’s learning.

2. Children learn at their own pace; they have two years to develop skills, and are able to see themselves as progressive, successful learners.

3. Children develop a sense of family with their classmates. They become a "family of learners" who support and care for each other.

4. Children are more likely to cooperate than compete. The spirit of cooperation and caring makes it possible for children to help each other as individuals, not see each other as competitors.

5. Older children have the opportunity to serve as mentors and to take leadership roles. Older children model more sophisticated approaches to problem solving, and younger children are able to accomplish tasks they could not do without the assistance of older children. This dynamic increases the older child’s level of independence and competence.

6. Children are invited to take charge of their learning, by making choices at centers and with project work. This sense of "ownership" and self-direction is the foundation for lifelong learning.

7. Children have almost an extra month of teaching time, because the teacher does not have to spend the early weeks in the school year getting to know each child. Less review of prior instruction is needed before proceeding with new content.