ACHR’s Child Development Program uses a team approach to education. ACHR believes that parents and guardians are their children’s most important teachers and role models. Therefore, our staff supports, encourages, and works to empower parents and guardians in many different ways to be able to be the best possible teachers and role models for their children. We also believe that young children learn best when they are allowed and encouraged to be children. That includes allowing them to be curious, focus on what they happen to be interested in at any given time, learn by doing, and make (and clean up) messes.
WHAT IS HIGHSCOPE AND WHY
ACHR has been using the HighScope Curriculum ® in Head Start classrooms since 1978. We have used it with Early Head Start children since we began that program in 1998. ACHR staff and parents chose HighScope because of its many positive qualities. It is research based, developmentally appropriate, and shows positive outcomes for children as they enter kindergarten and beyond. We have found it to be a challenging curriculum for our teachers to implement. Once learned and carried out as intended, it is a powerful asset to our children as they work toward meeting school readiness goals. ACHR has two High Scope Trainers of Teachers to assist teachers in learning about and using the curriculum. ACHR education managers are pleased that most children meet or exceed school readiness goals. Better still, many receiving kindergarten teachers speak well of our graduates.
The HighScope Curriculum ® is designed to provide children ages 0-5 years with a rich academic foundation. It encourages and supports independence, decision-making, cooperation, creativity, and problem solving. The curriculum includes learning objectives, effective adult interaction strategies, and assessment measures to help classroom staff provide a high-quality experience for all learners.
Young children learn by doing. The HighScope Curriculum is built around active learning. Children build understanding and skills from hands-on experiences using their five senses. With adult support, children who participate in HighScope programs develop school/life readiness skills. They learn how to think, instead of what to think.
HighScope goals for children include that children will:
- become independent, responsible, and confident problem solvers and decision makers — ready for school and life
- gain knowledge and skills in academic, social, emotional, and physical areas through active involvement with people, materials, events, and ideas.
- learn to plan many of their own activities, carry them out, and be able to talk with others about what they did and what they learned.
- develop strong mental control, thinking skills and self-regulation skills that will last through adulthood.