Children's House (33 months - 6 years)

Children's House

A Love for Learning, 33 months - 6 years

"I need to see a world outside for myself"

The Children's House classroom is a purposefully structured environment that supports this sensorial learner whose definitive goal remains that of self-construction.

The room provides opportunities for the child to work with materials that captivate their attention and have the indirect purpose of supporting their growth toward independence. The child experiences an enriching and nurturing hands-on learning experience, helping them grow in intellectual, emotional, physical and social independence.

The child chooses activities from specific work areas in the classroom. Through these activities, children make discoveries in language, math, geography, music and other subject areas. Activities are centered around five focus areas: Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Mathematics and Cultural Subjects.

Practical Life

Practical Life is an area which offers purposeful activities that teach a child how to care for his or her self and the environment in which they live. Within these activities the child is offered the opportunity to choose work based on interest, aiding them in extending and deepening concentration and developing coordinated movements, task orientation, initiative, persistence and confidence in their abilities. These are learning characteristics that lay the foundation for later academic work.

Mixed Age Groups

Because the curriculum is individualized, your child can work at his or her own pace while participating in a mixed age classroom community. Your younger child learns by observing the behavior and activities of the older children. Your older child gains self-confidence, leadership skills and responsibility by setting an example for her younger friends.

Language

The Language area is rich in both spoken and written language experiences. Individual activities allow the child to explore and discover the English language through concrete materials such as sandpaper letters and moveable alphabets. The child uncovers the wonder of sounds and symbols as they progress to reading, writing and the creation of stories and other forms of self expression.

“We know that our child is in the BEST hands every day when we drop him off and we are always so excited to hear about the experiences he has had throughout the day when I pick him up. The peace of mind we have sending him to SCMS is worth its weight in gold.”

- Rachel Milan, Parent

Mathematics

Mathematics activities at the Children's House level introduce materials designed to isolate individual math concepts. The child explores numbers and their relationships, sequence, mathematical operations and memorization of math facts. The child develops a thorough understanding of the decimal system through the use of manipulative materials. Work with concrete materials in the math area prepares them for higher-level abstract thinking at the next level.

Cultural Subjects

Cultural subjects such as art, music, geography, science and nature are integrated into the curriculum throughout the classroom. The exploration of our culture and of the natural world provides many opportunities for enriching the young mind.

Ready to Move Up

The Children's House program supports the child as he or she develops a sense of mastery and accomplishment that leads to the next level of development.