The Burlington Early Childhood Center is a place where “Learning Every Day” is not always academic. The environment that we as educators have worked hard to create at the BECC is one of nurturing, safety, and positive social interaction while embedding a beginner academic curriculum, and life skills. Going to school for the first time as a 3 year old can often be a daunting situation, especially if you have never had play groups and experiences outside the immediate family. Many of our students have other challenges to overcome. English as a second language in the home is one such obstacle. Others have disabilities ranging from mild to severe and are often scared and lack the communication skills we take for granted. Being placed in an environment that recognizes the above challenges while offering a safe, and comforting place with understanding and experienced adults, is crucial toward making this first experience of school a positive and healthy one for all the children at the BECC.
Our first priority is to make sure the transition between home and school is smooth and comfortable for all (including moms and dads). Next we teach the life skills that carry us beyond preschool, such as kindness, sharing, empathy, acknowledgement, respect, and the importance of friendship. These lessons are often entwined with the academic curriculum to prepare for the next level of learning. The integration of classrooms strongly reinforces tolerance, acceptance, parallel play, and learning of all students at the preschool.
Many times our students “teach” us important lessons in their simplest and purest form. One such time was when I felt overwhelmed by the day’s events as it was a busy and “mentally challenging” day. One little boy saw me sitting during playground time. He simply walked over, sat next to me, patted my back and smiled. He didn’t say anything but his actions spoke volumes. I learned that these are the moments that make a day more special and my job more rewarding. This is the type of learning that occurs every day at the Burlington Early Childhood Center.
Our first priority is to make sure the transition between home and school is smooth and comfortable for all (including moms and dads). Next we teach the life skills that carry us beyond preschool, such as kindness, sharing, empathy, acknowledgement, respect, and the importance of friendship. These lessons are often entwined with the academic curriculum to prepare for the next level of learning. The integration of classrooms strongly reinforces tolerance, acceptance, parallel play, and learning of all students at the preschool.
Many times our students “teach” us important lessons in their simplest and purest form. One such time was when I felt overwhelmed by the day’s events as it was a busy and “mentally challenging” day. One little boy saw me sitting during playground time. He simply walked over, sat next to me, patted my back and smiled. He didn’t say anything but his actions spoke volumes. I learned that these are the moments that make a day more special and my job more rewarding. This is the type of learning that occurs every day at the Burlington Early Childhood Center.
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