The Cherish Academy: How Our School is Different When it comes to choosing the best Federal Way learning center for your little one, one of the first things you should do is decide what type of program you are interested in. In addition to early childhood education and Montessori, mentioned above, there are a variety of other preschool methodologies, including Waldorf and Reggio Emilia. The Cherish Academy offers a unique learning environment. At our Federal Way preschool, we offer a play-based, holistic approach to education. By setting up activities that inspire curiosity and draw out a child’s natural curiosity, we can help them to discover new things and learn in the process. As kids move from one activity to the next, they are active learners. They’re hands-on, exploring, and experimenting as they go. Kids can learn about numbers in the sandbox, about cause and effect as they pour water from one cup to another, or about shapes by arranging cookies on a plate. Their curiosity and desire to learn are sparked by challenging activities that call for critical thinking, problem solving, and creative expression. All of these activities help kids develop socially and emotionally as well as intellectually, building self-confidence, empathy, and resilience. A Holistic Preschool for Children of All Backgrounds At the Cherish Academy, we’re fully committed to creating a holistic learning experience for our students. This means that we focus on more than just academics. In fact, our approach to education focuses on the following three pillars: - Academic: We believe that learning begins with a little one’s curiosity. We encourage our students to explore and discover new things, and we foster an environment of critical thinking and problem solving. - Social: While we encourage an academic learning education, we also recognize the importance of social skills such as cooperation and empathy. Our students are encouraged to interact with one another and learn from one another. - Emotional: While academics and social skills are important, we also understand that a child’s emotional well-being is just as vital. We seek to foster a safe and secure environment where kids can express their emotions and be supported. CURRICULUM Emergent Curriculum An emergent-curriculum is an organic, adaptive learning process that is specific to the little one. Your kid's evolving needs and interests drive the process constantly in response. Our goal is to help your children build resiliency and a positive self-concept by providing them with the tools to navigate challenges and achieve success in their own way. We also want to help you to understand the developmental process of childhood and how to best help your little one navigate their world. Social-Emotional We model empathetic, respectful, and responsible behaviors towards others, and our children are exposed to these behaviors. We help our children to analyze how they feel, and we discuss the feelings of others. We talk about how people feel when they are sad or scared. We share examples of emotions and feelings, such as a kid who is angry because they can’t have a cookie. We tell stories about characters who feel different emotions. We ask questions about how our children feel. We ask them to describe how they feel when something happens. We ask them to describe how other people might feel, too. We give our children the opportunity to practice their social and emotional skills. We do things as a family where we have to work together, and we ask our children to help. Our staff encourages students to have a strong sense of an empowered self, feel comfortable making friends and are given leadership opportunities. Nature Re-Integration Through Montessori lesson plans, we help your child connect with nature by maintaining living plants and animals in the classroom, by teaching plant care through hands-on activities, and by learning about life-cycles. Children will learn the ins and outs of permaculture by taking part in a hands-on learning experience, where maintaining the natural environment is an intrinsic part of daily life. This program will raise awareness about nutritional content and keep children active by providing a physical challenge. Montessori Inspired Curriculum Your little one can find joy in learning, be inspired into their creative selves, and be empowered by the respect of the adults around them who offer them choices. Our Montessori-inspired classroom provides a fantastic combination of sensory-based, self-directed learning and project-based, teacher-led learning. Diversity (Holistic Representation) Cultural competence can be a wonderful inheritance to pass on to our children. Cherish children will benefit from a culturally diverse curriculum that includes balanced cultural representation in learning materials and classroom images throughout the course. Children become more aware of themselves and others through an increased interest in geographical landscapes, traditions, cultural clothing, food, holidays, and lifestyles. Teachers model a passion for learning about themselves and others to inspire self-awareness, empowerment, and confidence through diversity.