EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (ECE)

– Nursery to Kindergarten

The Early Childhood Program at El Genesis immerses children in an atmosphere of wonder and growth.It focuses on the development of the whole-child by providing opportunities for children to learn and practice newly acquired skills.?Our program challenges students just beyond their level of present mastery and provides opportunities for them to take risks and try new things in a nurturing community where they feel safe, happy and valued.

The academic component of the early childhood program is based upon 38 objectives for development and learning that are distributed into four overarching areas:?social-emotional development, physical development, cognitive development and language development?The following information provides a greater level of insight into each domain.

Four Areas of Development for Early ChildhoodSocial/Emotional

DevelopmentSocial/emotional development during the early years is about socialization- the process by which children learn the values and behaviors accepted by society. It is also about becoming a competent and confident person.Developing social-emotional competence is essential to a child’s well-being, and success in school and life.

Physical Development

Physical development includes children’s gross (large muscle) and fine (small muscle) motor skills. Physical development is sometimes taken for granted in the early childhood classroom because it is often assumed that it happens automatically. This is not true, physical development is just as important to learning as every other area of development. With more advanced physical development, children master increasingly complex tasks and gain personal responsibility for their own physical needs such as dressing themselves.The more children can do the more they are willing to try new and challenging tasks.Research shows that physical education in the early grades supports children’s academic achievement, general healthy self-esteem, stress management and social development.

Cognitive Development

Cognitive development refers to the mind and how it works. It involves how children think, how they see their world, and how they use what they learn.

Language Development

Language development includes understanding and communicating through words, spoken and written. Children are born with the capacity to communicate with others – both verbally and non-verbally.By the time they reach schooling age, their ability to communicate thoughts and feelings through spoken language takes on new importance.Language becomes the principal tool for establishing and maintaining relationships with adults and other children.

The Learning Environment

The early childhood learning environment is a very important aspect of our program, as it is structured and designed in a unique way that meets students’ developmental needs.?The learning environment is designed to make all students feel safe and comfortable while fostering a sense of responsibility, confidence and independence.Our classrooms and other learning spaces are organized to support interest areas that offer multiple opportunities for children to explore, discover and grow.

Subjects taught in Early Childhood Education:

● English Language Arts

● Mathematics

● Science

● Social Studies

● Mandarin

● Performing Arts (Music)

● Information Communication Technology (ICT)

● Physical Education