What is WRNS’s Philosophy and Curriculum?
Winton Road Nursery School provides time and materials for the child to learn through experimentation, manipulation, and observation. Children’s understanding of their immediate world is enlarged through concrete experiences that give meaning to concepts of size, shape, distance, and time. Exploration of everyday phenomena stimulates children to ask questions, think for themselves, and try out new ideas.
Children are encouraged to express themselves creatively through song and dance, art media, and dramatic play. They develops skill using the body effectively in rhythmic response to music; in coordinating use of small muscles to cut, paste, and draw; and in role-playing. Acceptable means of expressing aggression may also be channeled through these outlets.
Climbing and balancing equipment are provided for the development and coordination of large muscles. Time is devoted to hopping, skipping, jumping, and exercising in general.
Emergent writing skills (i.e., drawing and scribbling, “pretend writing,” and copying familiar letters or words) are encouraged through art and creative expression. Early literacy skills are developed through exposure to oral language and phonological awareness activities such as rhyming, story time, and independent book-reading.
Cognition is developed through everyday play experiences (i.e., matching or sorting by color/shape/function, identifying opposites, understanding basic time concepts, sequencing stories, and fantasy play). Language skills are fostered through play with toys and materials as well as conversations with peers and adults, as children incorporate new words into their expanding vocabularies, learn new songs introduced at circle time, and use social phrases.
Foundations are laid for good social relationships as children learn that there are individual differences between people and that these differences are respected. Friendships with other children and adults are encouraged. Qualities of kindness and concern for all living things are developed.
Children are encouraged to develop methods to help themselves. In becoming responsible and capably independent, children learn to feel secure in separating from their parent(s).
The goal of the nursery school curriculum is to help children see themselves as worthwhile and separate people. To achieve this goal, the whole curriculum is greater than the sum of its parts.