Our Approach to Reggio Child Care
We Adhere to a Quality Curriculum
What sets Bartram Academy apart from other schools in the St. Johns area is that we follow a Reggio Emilia-inspired curriculum. The Reggio Emilia model for preschool is considered an exemplary model of early childhood education, acting as a play-based approach with a little more teaching and structure. This method is designed to work for newborns all the way up to six years old and is even the basis for Google’s on-site preschool for Silicon Valley employees. In 1991, it was named one of the best educational systems in the world. As one of the best preschools in Jacksonville, FL, we apply this method to all of our students, from babies to four-year-olds.
Our program is known as an emergent curriculum, which is one that builds on children’s interests. This means that besides the basics, we incorporate family and community events into our lessons. Through teacher research and adventurous project work, we study all manner of ideas and concepts throughout the year. We are continually evolving and like to remain a step above traditional schooling methods.
Learning and Free Expression Through Art
Because our preschool is based on a Reggio Emilia model of learning, we consider the arts to be an essential tool for social, linguistic, and cognitive development. Children can better understand experiences by representing them in art forms ranging from painting and drama to music and puppet play. Other schools use play as a way of babysitting, but we apply it as a foundation for learning.
Through Reggio child care, we encourage children to express themselves through art. This expression allows them to create what they want, as we want to encourage them to use their imaginations. It is always amazing to see what they come up with when there are no rules. Free expression and artistic enrichment do wonders for a child’s growth and happiness.
Everyone Works Together, Including You
A big part of Reggio child care is collaboration in the community. Children critique, compare, negotiate, and problem solve to attain not only a sense of self but a sense of belonging in a group. This helps them to make friends, learn how to get along with others, and resolve disputes. Every day your child spends with us, they will be more prepared for the social interactions of elementary school and beyond.
As one of the best preschools in Jacksonville, FL, students and teachers alike work in teams and each finished project is preserved, so you never run out of material for the family scrapbook. We help parents document these critical moments in their children’s lives and encourage them to participate in discussions on the following:
- Curriculum planning
- Evaluation
- Child development
- School policy
We are confident you will love the Reggio Emilia approach as much as we do. Contact Bartram Academy today, and we will be glad to tell you more about our school.
