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Early Childhood

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Early Childhood, which includes Prekindergarten, Kindergarten, and Primer, is an important step on each child’s path to becoming the best person they can be. 

We follow the Reggio Emilia model — a student-centered, experiential approach to learning that promotes deep thinking and problem-solving. Teachers are active collaborators and partners, providing developmentally appropriate support while encouraging all levels of exploration and inquiry. The result is a safe, nurturing environment in which students become engaged, creative, and purposeful in their learning. 

The environment is the third teacher

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Learning happens everywhere — both inside and outside the classroom. The right environment supports students and allows them to explore, discover, and traverse the world around them. 

Children have 100 languages

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Each child has 100 ways to learn, 100 ways of thinking, and 100 ways to express themselves. The Reggio Emilia approach celebrates and encourages every child's 100 languages. 

Students are teachers, too

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With a little guidance and the right environment, children learn to see beyond themselves to others — sharing their experiences as they discover their world together. 

EARLY CHILDHOOD FOCUSES ON FIVE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL COMPETENCIES:

self-awareness

responsible decision-making

relationship skills

social awareness

self-management

Curriculum

Specials

EC Music

The first years of a child's life are the most critical for musical development. Our approach to Early Childhood music education is all about exploration, play, and discovery.

Philosophy

Young children tend to enjoy the process of music more than the product. That's why Early Childhood students have music classes several times each week. This gives them lots of time to "do" music — making sounds, internalizing rhythms, performing, and creating.

Curriculum

Everything we teach is meant to inspire wonder and magic while instilling basic skills. We use a combination of First Steps in Music by John Feierabend and the Orff Schulwerk approach to make learning about music a joy.

Performances (Sharings)

Students in each grade level prepare for a Spring musical program to share with parents and the school community. These “sharings” are age-appropriate and designed to showcase what students have learned in class. 

Children naturally want to share the songs and rhymes they learn in school with their families at home. Parents can access song lists and videos of class sessions online, and are encouraged to ask their students to show off what they’ve learned.

At Good Shepherd our programs build upon one another, explore our Lower School curriculum.

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