Our Learning Curriculums
The TDC Curriculum is based on the belief that children are continually learning, both in school and out. Classroom activities provide learning in all areas of a child’s development: physical, cognitive, language, social, emotional and creative. The activities give children many opportunities to practice physical skills, learn to solve problems, gain knowledge of their environment and practice interacting more effectively with others. They have the opportunity to choose their own activities as well as teacher-directed activities. We know that children learn in a variety of ways and at their own pace, so teachers design lesson plans to encompass all children at their individual level based on their individual needs. At TDC, we utilize the following curriculums to enhance children’s skills as they learn through play in a fun, nurturing environment.
Bright Baby: Experience for Infants
Baby's first year is an exciting time with lots of exploration and discovery. Research shows experiences that engaging infants in interactive experiences that involve sensory, motor, and social explorations build brain connections.
Bright Baby kits are used to enhance the infant classrooms at TDC. Activities are integrated across all domains of infant development- physical, emotional, social, and cognitive-and develop a wide variety of skills, including:
* Language acquisition
* Sense of self
* Sensory awareness
* Motor skills
* Visual Tracking
* Self-help skills and much more!
www.highreach.com
Second Step- Give Young Children a Boost Toward School Success
In 2010, TDC received a grant through Topeka Community Foundation to train TDC teachers and 20 community programs in the utilization of Second Steps. Second Steps is a research-based violence prevention program that feels like play but builds critical social and school-readiness skills that can help young children achieve more and get along with others. Children learn how to identify their feelings, learn teamwork and develop empathy for others.
http://www.cfchildren.org/programs/ssp/overview/
Handwriting without Tears
Handwriting Without Tears® is a proven success in making legible and fluent handwriting an easy and automatic skill for all students. Handwriting Without Tears uses fun, entertaining, and educationally sound instructional methods to teach handwriting to all students: pre-k through cursive. The result truly is handwriting without tears for all!
http://www.hwtears.com
Language and Literacy for Young Learners by Neuhas Education Center
The mission of Early Reading First is to ensure that all children enter kindergarten with the necessary language, cognitive, and early reading skills for continued success in school.This program is used in our Pre-School and Pre-K classrooms.
http://www2.ed.gov/programs/earlyreading/index.html
Healthy Hops
In 2010, TDC received a two year grant from the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund to begin our Healthy Kids and Families initative. It focuses on teaching our children, their families and their teachers about healthy nutritional and physical activity habits. Healthy Hops is a nutrition and physical activity program adapted from the orginal evidence-based comprehensive Healthy Start curriculum.
Children learn to make healthy eating choices and are encouraged to become physically active while learning about the body and its amazing systems.
http://www.healthy-start.com/preschool-teaching-aids/healthy-hops.html
Animal Trackers
Also part of the Healthy Kids and Families initiative is the Animal Trackers curriculum. Animal Trackers focuses on physical activity and motor skill development for children ages 3-5. Children balance, jump, roll and hop their way to motor skill development. The curriculum is designed to be action filled, fun and educational.
http://www.curriculumpress.edu.au/main/goproduct/12297
Bright Baby: Experience for Infants
Baby's first year is an exciting time with lots of exploration and discovery. Research shows experiences that engaging infants in interactive experiences that involve sensory, motor, and social explorations build brain connections.
Bright Baby kits are used to enhance the infant classrooms at TDC. Activities are integrated across all domains of infant development- physical, emotional, social, and cognitive-and develop a wide variety of skills, including:
* Language acquisition
* Sense of self
* Sensory awareness
* Motor skills
* Visual Tracking
* Self-help skills and much more!
www.highreach.com
Second Step- Give Young Children a Boost Toward School Success
In 2010, TDC received a grant through Topeka Community Foundation to train TDC teachers and 20 community programs in the utilization of Second Steps. Second Steps is a research-based violence prevention program that feels like play but builds critical social and school-readiness skills that can help young children achieve more and get along with others. Children learn how to identify their feelings, learn teamwork and develop empathy for others.
http://www.cfchildren.org/programs/ssp/overview/
Handwriting without Tears
Handwriting Without Tears® is a proven success in making legible and fluent handwriting an easy and automatic skill for all students. Handwriting Without Tears uses fun, entertaining, and educationally sound instructional methods to teach handwriting to all students: pre-k through cursive. The result truly is handwriting without tears for all!
http://www.hwtears.com
Language and Literacy for Young Learners by Neuhas Education Center
The mission of Early Reading First is to ensure that all children enter kindergarten with the necessary language, cognitive, and early reading skills for continued success in school.This program is used in our Pre-School and Pre-K classrooms.
http://www2.ed.gov/programs/earlyreading/index.html
Healthy Hops
In 2010, TDC received a two year grant from the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund to begin our Healthy Kids and Families initative. It focuses on teaching our children, their families and their teachers about healthy nutritional and physical activity habits. Healthy Hops is a nutrition and physical activity program adapted from the orginal evidence-based comprehensive Healthy Start curriculum.
Children learn to make healthy eating choices and are encouraged to become physically active while learning about the body and its amazing systems.
http://www.healthy-start.com/preschool-teaching-aids/healthy-hops.html
Animal Trackers
Also part of the Healthy Kids and Families initiative is the Animal Trackers curriculum. Animal Trackers focuses on physical activity and motor skill development for children ages 3-5. Children balance, jump, roll and hop their way to motor skill development. The curriculum is designed to be action filled, fun and educational.
http://www.curriculumpress.edu.au/main/goproduct/12297