IN Cranberry Fall 2018 | Page 28

Education Special Section

The Garden Montessori School values and encourages the development of the child’ s sense of independence, self discipline and confidence in a safe, supportive, culturally and academically diverse environment as guided by the Montessori philosophy.

Opened in 1999, it is located in the heart of Cranberry Township, behind the municipal center. We are dual licensed by the PA. Dept. of Ed. and DHS, and include acceptance of children from 2.7 years through Kindergarten and includes Extended Care.

WHERE LEARNING

Comes To Life

Extended Hours 7:30 am- 6 pm 3 Years- Kindergarten

NOW ENROLLING FOR 2018-2019 204 Commerce Park Dr. Cranberry Twp., PA 16066 724.778.0111 www. gardenmontessori. com

The progressive curriculum is presented individually to each child as they master the presented skills. Because they can choose work at their own pace, children have many opportunities for success. In addition to the four main Montessori curriculum areas, Daily Living, Sensorial, Math and Language, children will be exposed to physical geography, botany, cultural awareness, cooking, arts and crafts, music, science and Spanish. The children are continually engaged in Peace education actively practicing respect, kindness, and empathy.

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curriculum- versus non-curriculum-based learning to best suit the learning style of young students.

Preschools and educational daycares, a newly coined term, are implementing Quality Rating Improvement Systems( QRIS) as a standard for success in early education. The National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance, funded by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, developed QRIS as a systemic approach to assess, improve, and communicate the level of quality in early and school-aged care and education programs. In Pennsylvania, the Keystone STARS( Standards, Training / Professional Development, Assistance, Resources, and Support) program focuses on the importance of employing quality staff, professional development, early learning programs, partnerships with family and the community, and leadership and management of facilities. Within these structured guidelines, the state aims to ensure that quality care is provided to preschool-aged students at all facilities. But some educational daycares are working to“ up the ante” on the level of education students receive.

According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children, there are a variety of ways to implement effective classroom practices involving technology and interactive media. As preschoolers are immersed in the use of technology at home— with their parents on their phones, siblings on their tablets, and watching others use the computer— they are curious about the technologies around them. From a young age, they are encouraged to communicate using a variety of expressions; whether it is through coloring, painting, creative movement, singing or talking, children look to the world of possibilities to be creative.

Digital technology is another outlet for learning and creativity, and with its inherent use throughout homes in the U. S., children are learning to explore touchscreens and other forms of interactive media. Educational daycares are utilizing digital technologies to explore e-books, watch educational videos, and explore places and things that children may not see within their own environment( videos about visiting a factory, or pictures of people and places that are foreign to them). Programs that allow students to freely explore these types of digital media are designed to facilitate active and creative use and are encouraged to be done with other children and adults as a form of social engagement.

Use of technologies is only one of the variety of options that figure into the aspects of choosing a classroom that is right for a young learner. Parents are playing a larger role in shaping their early learners with the choice of play-based learning programs versus academic learning programs. Play-based or child-centered programs focus on the current interests of the child. Classrooms are set up in different sections, such as a kitchen, home, science area, reading nook, or water area, for kids to engage in social interactions with others and learn valuable skills based from play. Academic or

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