Locations:
PHILOSOPHY
At Seagull Schools we have created a rich, safe and stimulating environment to enhance children's growth. The unique world each child brings is complemented by creative and developmentally appropriate learning materials and by energetic, warm and imaginative teachers. We provide resources, opportunities and materials to increase children's cognitive or thinking skills, assist in developing their physical coordination, exercise their imagination and fantasy, build their social skills, support healthy self-concepts, and allow them to participate in the decision making process, all in an atmosphere of trust and caring for each other.
Children learn the basic concepts of numbers, sizes and shapes as well as reading and writing skills using words and stories from their own experiences. They do simple science experiments, which answer basic questions of what, why and how. They are exposed to music through songs, dances and musical instruments. Development of self-expression and body are also encouraged through creative movement activities. A healthy self-concept is encouraged through acceptance and positive communications. Outdoor play, both structured and free, helps develop physical coordination.
INSTRUCTION
Instruction is individualized and depends on a child's needs and interests. In keeping with our concern for an individualized and optimal learning environment, we maintain a maximum student/adult ratio of 5:1 for children 18 - 24 months, 7:1 for two year olds and 10:1 for three to five year olds.
For children who have attended Seagull Schools and will soon enter kindergarten, the following competencies are expected of each child:
Cognitive Competencies
The child:
- demonstrates a broad range of knowledge about the natural and man-made worlds
- demonstrates a broad range of knowledge about the social world
- engages in cooperative and elaborate dramatic play
- is able to place events and experiences in time
- demonstrates spatial awareness in play and language
- has beginning understanding of counting and quantity
- duplicates and extends simple patterns
- places a set of 3-5 unfamiliar objects in graduated order
- classifies by sorting into groups and by noticing a range of classes to which things belong
- knows physical features and functions of objects
Language and Literacy Competencies
The child:
- talks with others about past, present and future events with considerable detail
- retells a cohesive story including a variety of elements (e.g. characters, setting, main events, sequencing, endings, emotional states)
- has an age-appropriate vocabulary including a range of word types
- prints name and experiments with writing
- has an emerging awareness of links between letters and sounds
- identifies letters and common graphic symbols
- understands that print conveys meaning and serves a function
- knows book and basic reading conventions
Social Competencies
The child:
- initiates & sustains positive interactions with other children
- makes friends (demonstrates social support and loyalty, maintains relationships over time, refers to particular children as friends)
- is able to separate from parents with minimal difficulty
- makes independent decisions about activities
- is competent in self-help skills and requires minimal adult assistance
- handles conflicts constructively and independently
- is assertive when confrontations arise (e.g. stands up for themselves, does not avoid conflict)
- interacts cooperatively with adults and children
- participates in classroom routines and follows rules with minimal reminders
- develops a variety of strategies for solving difficult problems with materials
- develops a variety of strategies for solving problems with children and adults
- shows persistence in solving problems
- expresses a range of feelings in appropriate ways (e.g. cries when sad, smiles/laughs when happy, yells when angry)
- expresses thoughts, ideas, preferences and needs
- focuses on and sustains attention to self-initiated tasks
- pays attention to directions and explanations
- experiments freely with art and other open-ended materials
Physical Competencies
The child:
- demonstrates precision fine motor skills
- uses pencil sharpener, paper clips correctly
- folds paper with some direction and accuracy
- draws / writes with moderate control
- cuts precisely on a line (e.g. on a drawing, pictures out of a magazine)
- performs precise actions involving opposing hand movements (e.g. buttoning, lacing)
- pours liquids into a cup
- demonstrates coordination in large motor movements and pursues physical challenges
- climbs on climbing equipment
- walks up and down stairs alternating feet
- balances for a short time on one foot
- rides tricycle around obstacles
- hops on one foot
- learns familiar songs and is able to move to the beat of music
All concepts are taught through hands-on activities and each classroom utilizes learning centers that develop specific skills.