Early Education Center

Overview/Our Mission

First Philadelphia Early Education Center is a new program at First Philadelphia Preparatory Charter School that provides care and development from birth through Kindergarten. We have recieved generous grants and donations that have now made it possible for us to dedicate a new space to early childcare,

Our mission is to prepare students for elementary school with a non-fixed curriculum with a focus on creative arts, learning fundamental skills

through play, and active-style

learning outdoors.

OVERVIEW

FACILITIES

Our early education facilities have a strong emphasis on safety, organization, and cleanliness above all else. Allowing children to move around freely, learn, and play without risk of danger to themselves or others is paramount, and this shows in the layouts of our facilities we have provided. We have dedicated 6 classrooms as well as a shared outdoor space to early learning. Classrooms each contain age-appropriate materials for their respective grade level separated into learning centers, or separate areas of the room that each focus on a different form of educational play.

LAYOUT

STAFF

We employ a staff of experienced, vetted, childcare professionals. Through our recent partnership with Pennsylvania's own Child Care Professionals Network (CCPN) we have hired over 16 trained staff members to oversee operations in our classrooms. With this partnership, we help to provide free trainings and certifications to always make sure that our staff is up to the task. This as well as our monthly assessments of staff through the Keystone STARS Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) helps to ensure that all of our instructional and assisting staff is meeting individual childrens' needs, is conducting themselves in a professional manner, and working to build and fortify strong relationships with students.

STAFF

DAILY

ACTIVITIES

Our early education center uses the Reggio Emilia Approach to childrens' learning. This means that we have no fixed curriculum, with the exception of our morning warmup, afternoon closing and a few touchstone/seasonal projects throughout the school year. Students are encouraged to explore their interests and learn through play during their learning center time. Our learning centers play a large role in our free-play time. These learning centers are age appropriate for their respective classroom, and allow for open-ended problem solving and exploration. In addition to indoor

activities, students have outdoor learning every day to help foster physical development and engagement with nature.

DAILY ACTIVITIES

CURRICULUM

Our early learning heavily emphasizes independent learning through play and integrated studies (combining of traditional school subjects) allowing children to gravitate towards things that interest them. We follow the Reggio Emilia Approach to early learning; an emergent curriculum rather than a fixed one - where students are free to learn at their own pace. This fosters critical thinking and exploration in our students. We believe that students, especially when given the tools early on, thrive in this Project Based Learning (PBL) environment, in which students are tasked with finding solutions to driving questions in the context of a real world challenge. This gives children the social and critical thinking skills to be incredibly successful as they progress to elementary school. We put an emphasis on fundamentals and building social skills for younger students, and expanding into more advanced problem solving and reading for Pre-K students. We also ensure that various cultural backgrounds are represented in our lessons at some point, ensuring that all students have the opportunity to

see themselves in learning and make connections

on a much deeper level.

CURRICULUM

ASSESSMENTS

ASSESSMENTS

(TEACHERS)

TEACHERS

All of our staff is professionally trained and certified in early childcare.

Monthly evaluations are conducted each month to ensure our staff is managing a safe, sanitary, and supportive learning environment. Our classes are assessed using the Classroom Assessment Scoring System, which is a program observation instrument that evaluates student-teacher interactions and how our staff is supporting every child's learning and individual needs. This also ensures that each classroom is well managed and organized , and that time is being used effeciently. We use this scoring system as a way to constantly improve and build upon the skills and knowledge of our professsional team.

ASSESSMENTS

ASSESSMENTS

(STUDENTS)

STUDENTS

Our students are assessed using a variety of methods - including a screening assessment for each student upon beginning the school year, formative assessments throughout the school year to constantly monitor and improve childrens' development, and two summative assessments (middle and end of year) in order to get a larger picture of each child's progress. Students are not assessed using formal grades, but rather a system of ongoing communication with parents and administration/teachers that tracks a child's progress. Student progress is tracked on our digital platform through our daily and weekly logs that are easily accessible by teachers

and parents alike.

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT

PARENTAL

INVOLVEMENT

First Philadelphia Learning Center offers a variety of resources as well as oppurtunities for parents to get involved in their childrens' early learning. Through a variety of volunteer programs, parents are free to assist with projects and field trips, speak to classes on relevant topics, and join us during reading time. It is imperative to us that parents feel involved and up to date on their child's educational progress, and we demonstrate that through our parental involvement policies. In addition to volunteering, parents can stay informed on their childrens day-to-day activities and progress through these resources:

- Monthly newletter sent home to parents that includes information about upcoming events

- Parent/Teacher blog and messenger updated daily, easily accessible via smartphone for

instant communication

- Printed daily log given to parents

every day informing them

on their child's activities

and learning

- Monthly Parent-Teacher

conferences

SUMMARY

SUMMARY

Our early learning center prides itself on helping students to prepare for the challenges of elementary school by allowing them to learn through exploration and experience with our project-based learning program. Our classrooms reflect healthy learning through safety, organization, and cleanliness while still allowing students the freedom to play and learn. Here students can foster independence and life skills with the guidance of our exemplary staff. Our teachers are vetted, certified professionals in early childcare who are assessed each month to ensure they are best serving our students. In addition to providing the best care, we make it a top priority to ensure that parents are informed daily on their child's progress, and given opportunities to get involved with lessons and field trips.

At First Philadelphia Early Education Center,

we help to build a better future

by bringing out the

very best in our students.

RESOURCES

RESOURCES

https://www.ccpnpa.org/

https://www.naeyc.org/resources/position-statements/dap/planning-curriculum

https://mybrightwheel.com/

https://s35729.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Guiding-Principles-FINAL-August-2017.pdf