High Scope Approach to Caring for Toddler
In the High Scope Approach, our children construct their understanding of the world from their active involvement with people, materials and ideas. It suggests that all children are active learners. They acquire knowledge by actively experiencing the world around them – choosing, exploring, manipulating, practicing, transforming and experimenting. The range and depth of children’s understanding of the world is continually changing and expanding of their day-to-day interactions in our classrooms.
This approach reflects the belief that young children are capable of making choices and they are supported and encouraged in this process. The elements of active learning and choice are strategically interwoven encouraging children to become problem solvers.
The High Scope Approach at a glance
The toddler program expands on the early concepts of the Montessori approach. This is a system of education that is based on a child’s developmental need for freedom within limits, as well as a carefully prepared environment that guarantees exposure to materials and experiences. Through the materials, the environment, interaction with their educators and peers, these areas are evolving. Dr. Montessori believed that everything a young child is exposed to becomes a part of what he/she is becoming. Therefore, everything a child sees, listens to, feels and tastes enhances the education of their mind.
The Montessori Approach fosters through a prepared environment
In the High Scope Approach, our children construct their understanding of the world from their active involvement with people, materials and ideas. It suggests that all children are active learners. They acquire knowledge by actively experiencing the world around them – choosing, exploring, manipulating, practicing, transforming and experimenting. The range and depth of children’s understanding of the world is continually changing and expanding of their day-to-day interactions in our classrooms.
This approach reflects the belief that young children are capable of making choices and they are supported and encouraged in this process. The elements of active learning and choice are strategically interwoven encouraging children to become problem solvers.
The High Scope Approach at a glance
- Sense of self
- Social relations
- Creative representation
- Movement
- Music
- Communication and language
- Exploring objects
- Early quantity and number
- Space
- Time
The toddler program expands on the early concepts of the Montessori approach. This is a system of education that is based on a child’s developmental need for freedom within limits, as well as a carefully prepared environment that guarantees exposure to materials and experiences. Through the materials, the environment, interaction with their educators and peers, these areas are evolving. Dr. Montessori believed that everything a young child is exposed to becomes a part of what he/she is becoming. Therefore, everything a child sees, listens to, feels and tastes enhances the education of their mind.
The Montessori Approach fosters through a prepared environment
- Self-directed learning in a whole learning environment
- Classroom materials and social setting is supportive of the child
- Together, the educator and child form a relationship based on trust and respect that fosters self-confidence and a willingness to try new things
- Materials are multi-sensory, sequential and self-correcting, thus facilitate learning
- Educator functions as a designer of the environment, resource person, role model, demonstrator, record-keeper and observer of each child’s behavior and growth
- Developing a positive attitude toward learning
- Helping each child develop self-confidence and independence
- Assisting each child in building concentration
- Fostering an abiding curiosity
- Developing habits of initiative and persistence
- Fostering inner security and sense of order in the child
- Supports child’s individuality, and unique learning style
