Our Approach
Meet our staff and read about our philosophy.
Through free and intentional PLAY opportunities, children LEARN skills in all developmental areas that allow them to GROW into independent learners.
The Learning Path is dedicated to teaching the whole child through play based and curriculum supported opportunities that submerge students in skills that create strong educational roots.
Our Philosophy
PHILOSOPHY OF PLAY:
The Learning Path grants children the opportunity to learn through the comfort of play, submerging them in skills that produce strong educational roots. Social interactions give children ongoing opportunities to think critically and problem solve. Our teachers are dedicated to offering intentional play activities that develop advanced expressive and conversational language skills, positive peer relationships, kindness and self-esteem.
PHILOSOPHY OF LEARNING:
The Learning Path invests in high quality teachers who support teaching the whole child. Our schedule allows for an ongoing balance of individual and teacher led activities that allow children to explore independent, center-based and whole group learning. In each of our classrooms teachers foster a growth mindset for their students. Allowing children the freedom to fail and the encouragement to persevere yield independent learners who are curious and eager to learn.
PHILOSOPHY OF GROWTH:
The Learning Path is a safe and loving environment. Our small classrooms and low teacher to student ratios allow for a high volume of individual attention. The developmentally appropriate approaches that occur in each class allow for well rounded growth and create excitement about learning. Individual attention, diversity, quality teachers and transitional practices equip our children with the skills they need for future learning. The early childhood years are rich with development and when fostered under the right philosophy can bloom into confidence, kindness and knowledge.
Meet Our Staff
The Learning Path is built on a foundation of professional, highly educated, loving and energetic teachers. In order to excel in Early Childhood Education a teacher must have a wealth of knowledge, patience and experience. Our dynamic staff amasses over 100 years of experience, a multitude of college and graduate degrees, and a unfounded dedication to the children they teach and the families they partner with.
Our teachers are professionals who are vested in the success of early childhood development. Each teacher develops lesson plans based on our comprehensive curriculum, multi sensory approach, a deep understanding of early childhood development and an incredible ability to differentiate and personalize a wonderful experience for each student.
Team Lion
Team Monkey
Team Koala
Team Bear Cub
How We Learn, Play, & Grow
CURRICULUM
Our unique and comprehensive curriculum, developed by and for the Learning Path.
With Early Childhood standards on the rise, The Learning Path has created more intentional ways to implement an exciting and enriching curriculum for our students. We have merged The Creative Curriculum with our existing comprehensive curriculum in order to balance and support Early Childhood growth and development. The Creative Curriculum was built on having the latest research and teaching strategies to support active and curious learners. It also offers many opportunities for our teachers to incorporate their own creativity and expertise giving them the flexibility to follow the children’s interests while also fostering growth in all the areas of development.
Our instruction promotes learning during every part of the child’s day through the use of various materials and experiences. Our instruction is inclusive for various types of learning abilities and lends itself well to differentiated teaching. Within each of our monthly Studies and Mini Studies, students are inspired to learn through exciting, hands-on experiences that are relevant to each topic in the Study. These topics tap into children’s natural curiosity and questioning; the approach to learning through that is both fun and intentional. From transforming our classrooms into different countries during our World Tour unit, to learning about the use of Simple Machines, we make each experience meaningful and engaging for our little ones.
Our educational philosophy is based on promoting cognitive learning through an emphasis on social and emotional growth and development. Children are provided opportunities to become independent learners, develop problem-solving skills and think critically on their own. Throughout each component of our specialized and research-based curriculum, we watch children play, learn and grow into eager and excited learners.
POSITIVE GUIDANCE
Our teachers are passionate about positive guidance and creative discipline. They take pride in seeking out and celebrating the unique characteristics and learning styles of each child. They are trained to recognize how each child responds to varying techniques and apply that creatively to each situation. When children learn through a positive approach their self-esteem and confidence grows.
To discipline is to teach; and the focus of that teaching is to guide children to make the right decisions rather than reacting to undesired behaviors. Through this positive guidance approach children obtain the skills to interact with one another, to problem solve and think critically and to be good friends.
KINDERGARTEN READINESS
The Learning Path has a rich curriculum that prepares our students to become independent in the four main areas of development as well as preparing them for a successful transition into Kindergarten. Our theme-based curriculum incorporates pre-math, pre-reading and science skills within a play-based classroom. We use the Get Set for School curricula including Handwriting Without Tears in conjunction with our school curriculum to foster learning for all children. Through these curricula, and our small class size, each student is experiencing a hands on multisensory approach to learning.
Our students are exposed to Technology as a part of our learning philosophy. We utilize varying forms of technology including a Smart Board, Smart Table and iPads. Technology in the classroom is used as a compliment to our play based approach. Equally as beneficial is our living Children’s Garden in which students are exposed to the natural sciences throughout each season as an extension to our classroom.
We introduce center-based learning, in addition to whole group instruction and independent learning as used in Kindergarten. Through this busy, developmentally rich day, we are committed to placing a heavy emphasis on social and emotional development and self-esteem all while having fun and making life long friends.
