Curriculum

Below is a link to the Ontario curriculum document for the Kindergarten Program:

https://files.ontario.ca/books/edu_the_kindergarten_program_english_aoda_web_july21.pdf

The Ontario Full Day Curriculum is play-based and open and accessible to all learners. It differs from traditional methods of teaching kindergarten in that learning is child centered and driven through methods of inquiry. Rather than the teacher choosing topics of interest or "themes", learning opportunities are created and facilitated based on the interests and needs of the children in the classroom. The curriculum works within four-frames: Belonging and Contributing, Self-Regulation and Well-Being, Demonstrating Literacy and Mathematics Behaviours, and Problem Solving and Innovation. The learning environment (classroom, outdoor learning space, etc.) is considered a child's "third teacher" and is constructed in collaboration with the learners to facilitate inquiry and learning.

The Ontario Certified Teacher and Designated Early Childhood Educator work together with the children and parent community to create unique learning opportunities, meet the needs of the students, as well as document and assess learning. Pedagogical Documentation is a method to capture and share learning in action. Through taking pictures and making notes about a child's play, the educators can collaboratively make sense of the learning that is happening, link learning to the curriculum, and create opportunities to extend grasp of concepts. Through close interactions with the children, educators will constantly acknowledge, question, and name learning alongside the child while providing further opportunities for exploration.

Play is central to the curriculum and is recognized internationally as a child's right http://ipaworld.org/childs-right-to-play/uncrc-article-31/un-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child-1/ . Learning through play is developmentally appropriate young children and allows them to practice and strengthen new skills. https://www.unicef.org/sites/default/files/2018-12/UNICEF-Lego-Foundation-Learning-through-Play.pdf . If you have any further questions about the program please ask us!