MCELC Philosophy Statement

Our curriculum, based on The Creative Curriculum®, is child-directed, meaning it is based on the needs and interests of the children, providing developmentally appropriate practices for each age group and adapting to the needs of individual children.  We embrace the belief that children learn best through their experiences in active playtime, and when they have the opportunity to thoroughly explore, question, investigate, and manipulate objects and materials in their environment.  Our teachers utilize a curriculum framework that includes the developmental goals and recommended expectations for children’s growth and development based on the Kansas Early Learning Guidelines, and activities and learning experiences that promote these goals and expectations.  We make sure the teachers are provided the materials they need in order to fulfill their curriculum plans.  We recognize that children develop at various paces, therefore teachers individualize plans as needed in order to accommodate this.  Our teacher facilitated play-based learning provides children the opportunity to:  work and play with other children (social development); to express themselves creatively through art, music, dramatic play and language; to learn cognitive skills, including math and science concepts; and to develop physical skills.