Montessori, Reggio Emilia or Play Based?
Montessori, Reggio Emilia or Play-Based?
Stepping Stone School: Where Education Meets Innovation
At Stepping Stone School, our commitment goes beyond just providing quality early care and education. We are dedicated to nurturing the development of the whole child, strengthening families, enhancing lives, and maintaining the highest standards for Early Care and Education. We pride ourselves on our unique innovative curriculum, Platinum Learning for Life™ and Calendar of Curriculum Themes™, which is the culmination of over 40 years of teaching experience and interaction with children. Our program is not just based on practical experience; it also incorporates the latest research and best practices from world-renowned early childhood education experts, such as Piaget, Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and Vygotsky.
A Personalized Approach
At Stepping Stone School, we believe that every child is unique, and their learning experiences should reflect that. Unlike canned curriculum programs used by our competitors, national chains, and franchises, our approach takes into consideration the individual developmental needs of each child on a daily basis. Our teachers are encouraged to use their boundless imagination and creativity to create weekly learning plans tailored to the specific children in their classrooms.
Innovative Blend of Educational Approaches
Our innovative blend of educational approaches offers a balanced and progressive curriculum that adapts to the evolving needs of our students. We draw from various well-researched learning approaches, including:
- Montessori: Our curriculum incorporates self-direction, empowering children to make responsible choices and consider various options.
- Reggio Emilia: We follow a child-led approach, where each child’s interests are observed and used as a foundation for individual learning plans.
- Piaget: Our constructivist approach ignites children’s curiosity and love for learning by emphasizing the active interaction between the child and the environment.
- Vygotsky: We implement the sociocultural theory of learning to promote social interaction between children and teachers, supporting new learning.
- Play-Based and Collaborative Learning: We encourage collaborative learning through group activities to facilitate cognitive growth.
Creating the Ideal Learning Environment
We understand that the environment plays a crucial role in education. Our classrooms are thoughtfully designed to provide nurturing and stimulating spaces for students to thrive. Each age group has its own unique learning space, featuring calming colors, sensory play items, and reading areas that promote exploration and creativity.
The Natural World as Our Classroom
We firmly believe that there is a lot to learn from the world around us. Outdoor education is integral to our curriculum, and we often take our activities outside. Our outdoor classrooms provide opportunities for small group activities, meetings, and play, allowing students to connect with nature.
Committed Educators
Our educators are the backbone of our program, and we take great care in selecting and training them. Each new professional undergoes a comprehensive in-house orientation and training designed by our team of early education and care experts. Furthermore, our educators continually enhance their skills through ongoing professional education opportunities, ensuring that they provide the best learning experiences for our students.
A Balanced Approach to Learning
At Stepping Stone School, we believe in creating safe environments that encourage children to explore, ask questions, get messy, and express themselves. Our Platinum Learning for Life™ curriculum is a hands-on approach that fuels creativity and curiosity, allowing children the freedom to choose how they learn. We combine teacher-initiated and child-initiated learning opportunities, connecting the environment, social interactions, and materials to the child’s interests and experiences. This balanced approach ignites the curiosity and love of learning in our students, setting them on the path to success.
Stepping Stone School is more than just an early care and education provider, we are dedicated to the holistic development of children and the support of their families. Our unique blend of educational approaches, commitment to creating the ideal learning environment and our passionate educators make us a leader in early childhood education. With our focus on personalized learning and innovative curriculum, we’re nurturing the next generation of lifelong learners.