EARLY LEARNING PROGRAM
preview! In side : ABOUT US AGE JOURNEYS LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS
Serving children
16 mo.-5 years
Welcome! Dear Prospective Families,
Welcome to Lake Area Discovery Center. We are
We believe you, as parents, are the most
so glad you are considering us as a partner in
important teachers of your young child, and we
nurturing and caring for your child. As leaders of
value you as a partner in their education. Sharing
Early Childhood Education, we believe in the
questions and ideas is always welcome. Please
opportunity for each child to grow spiritually and
don’t hesitate to call, visit, or reach out when the
academically. We offer a child-focused
idea arises.
environment that sparks curiosity and imagination through play, inquiry and discovery. Through this hands-on approach, each child is encouraged to discover their unique, God-given gifts.
What makes us UNIQUE STRONG CURRICULUM STUDENT ASSESSMENT PLAN CHRISTIAN FAITH INTEGRATION PARENT EDUCATION AND SUPPORT
Highly Qualified, Caring Teaching Team!
FLEXIBLE, CUSTOMIZED SCHEDULES
2 INCANRATION LUTHERAN CHURCH DISCOVERY CENTER
Together for Children,
Janet Miller Founder and LADC Executive Director
Growing in God's Love Our MISSION We, as part of the early childhood community, seek to support parents and children through a creative environment that promotes and teaches Christian values, honors diversity and fosters fellowship within the greater community.
Our PHILOSOPHY LADC believes that children learn best when they are allowed to experience the world around them. Children learn through “hands-on” exploration in our faith-based environment designed to meet their individual needs and learning styles.
We believe that the parent is the first and most important teacher and we serve as a resource for them on their parenting journey.
Children at LADC are immersed into the weekly “spiritual emphasis” through a variety of daily activities. The curriculum includes daily prayer, Bible lessons, monthly Worship, and the modeling of Christian values by the teachers.
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Age Journeys
We offer : School-year and Summer programs. Part and full-time schedules, with full and half-day options available.
TODDLERS
Explorer’s Program 16 Months - 33 Months Old Toddlers learn through play and hands-on activities to develop
School-year and Summer programs Part and Full-time schedules, with full and half-day options available Licensed to diaper-change
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the cognitive, emotional, social, and physical skills that are important building-blocks for future learning success. Our toddler lead teachers have degrees in child development, education, or family studies.
Age Journeys Age Journeys
We offer :
PRESCHOOL
Preschool Discovery Classes 33 Month - 4 Years Old Young children are taking on new challenges every day. We plan engaging, hands-on lessons to guide learning and develop skills for future reading, math, friendships, and more! Discovery lead teachers have education degrees with a MN state teaching license, or have a degree in a related field and meet the DHS Licensing Lead teacher requirements.
School-year and Summer programs Part and Full-time schedules, with full and half-day options available Toilet Independent
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Age Journeys KINDERGARTEN-READINESS
Kinderstart Program 4 & 5 YEAR OLDS Four year olds are ready to be challenged with language, critical-thinking and new information. We support their learning through an engaging, hands-on environment that inspires their imagination and curiosity. Our Kinderstart lead teachers have education degrees in early-childhood or elementary education with Kindergarten certification and have a MN teaching license, or an MA in Education. • School-year and Summer programs • Part and Full-time schedules, with full and half-day options available • Toilet Independent
Preparing for
success!
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EXTENDED Adventure Program BEFORE AND AFTER-SCHOOL PLUS NON-SCHOOL DAYS The Extended Adventure Program (EAP) is a before-and-after-school program that provides a warm and relaxed environment where children play with friends and continue to learn while having fun. DAILY SNAPSHOT: •
Breakfast offered between 7:00-8:00 AM; After-school snack provided at 4:00 PM.
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Activities include additional large muscle time, creative activities and games.
Our classrooms, curriculum and teaching approach is designed to meet the needs of young children. "I Can" statements that capture:
SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING ACADEMIC GROWTH FEELING LOVED VALUED AS A CHILD OF GOD These are all important pieces to a child's self-esteem, friendship and future success in school.
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Teaching to the Whole Child
NINE Environments We use these nine learning areas in our classrooms to optimize children’s developmental learning objectives.
COGNITIVE
SPIRITUAL
STEM LEARNING
Preschool children are curious about the world and are able to acquire, organize and use information in increasingly complex ways.
Young children have a natural sense of awe, wonder and mystery. During these early years, we have the opportunity to unwrap a child’s spirituality and develop their connection to God.
Science-TechnologyEngineering-Math: Experiences in these areas help preschoolers develop many skills while engaging their natural curiosity.
LITERACY/LANGUAGE
SOCIAL STUDIES
SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL
Before a child learns to read and write, the path to literacy has already begun. Playing with books, scribbling on paper, tracing letters on an e-tablet are all steps of emergent literacy.
Social studies is the study of people and the ways they relate to others. The focus of social studies for infants and toddlers focus on self development within.
Children are best able to learn when they are comfortable in an environment where they feel loved and secure. The world is a complicated social puzzle!
ART/MUSIC
FINE MOTOR
Children who are engaged with and learn to appreciate music and the arts are able to demonstrate what they know. This allows them to expand their creative thinking.
Fine motor control involves the coordinated movement of small muscles in the hands and fingers. Strong fine motor skills are essential as we approach many self-help and life tasks.
LARGE MOTOR
Large motor skills involve movement of the large muscles in arms, legs, and core body. Activities include walking, running, skipping, jumping, throwing, climbing, biking, balancing, dancing and more.
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COGNITIVE
9 Environments
SPIRITUAL
SOCIAL STUDIES
STEM
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Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
LITERACY/ LANGUAGE v
ART & MUSIC
SOCIAL / EMOTIONAL
FINE MOTOR
LARGE MOTOR
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Special Events Circus, Outreach, Festival of Family & Friends, Christmas, Fieldtrips, Graduation
ANNUAL SPRING CIRCUS EVENT
COMMUNITY OUTREACH & SERVICE
SPRING GRADUATION
CHRISTMAS CONCERTS
FAMILY NIGHTS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS
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OFF-SITE AND IN-HOUSE FIELDTRIPS
GRANDPARENTS, PARENTS & FRIENDS JOIN IN "THE FESTIVAL OF FAMILY & FRIENDS"
How
ChiLdren Develop
Curriculum & Assessments
and Learn
The Family’s Role
Art Blocks STEM/Science Sensory Dramatic & Imaginative Play Manipulative Play Music & Movement Computers Outdoors Library Individualized Cooking The Teacher’s Role
STRONG CURRICULUM The The Creative Curriculum© model is the basis of the Discovery Learning EnviroNment Center lessons and classroom design, centered around nine environments and activity centers. The Discovery Center Program Curriculum Directors oversee the Lead Teachers at monthly curriculum planning meetings, ensuring that all activities and learning experiences relate back to one of the 39 learning objectives within the Creative Curriculum.
What Children Learn
Teacher Notes & Classroom Observations
STUDENT ASSESSMENT PLAN Incorporating learning assessments are continually tracked through teacher observation notes, the skills checklist,
Learning Assessments
work-sample portfolios and the Developmental Continuum student packet.
Work Sample Portfolios
CURRICULUM ENRICHMENTS •
Zoo-Phonics
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Handwriting Without Tears
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Spanish
TM
The Deveopmental Continuum TM
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Library
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Phy-Ed
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Nutrition (MDH LANA Program)
Parent/Teacher Conferences (2x per year)
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PROGRAM GOALS • •
• •
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To provide a safe and stimulating environment that nurtures the natural wonder in each child. To create a setting that fosters the child's physical, social, emotional, cultural, spiritual and intellectual development. To honor and respect the diversity within each child as well as in all of God's creation. To facilitate enjoyment of school and model a positive attitude toward learning which will allow children to face future experiences with skill and confidence. To acknowledge the parent(s) as the first and most important teacher and to support them on their parenting journey.
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Incarnation Lutheran Church 488 Hodgson Road Shoreview, MN 55126
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Educating North Metro Youth For more information visit: www.ladcfamilies.org or contact the LADC Main Office at mainoffice@ladcfamilies.org or call 651-762-7884 To schedule a site tour, contact mainoffice@ladcfamilies.org
NAEYC ACCREDITATION As an organization, LADC is proud to have earned NAEYC Accreditation since 2009. NAEYC is the mark of quality and excellence for early childhood education. LADC is also 4 Star Parent Aware rated; the highest quality rating possible in Minnesota.
Lake Area Discovery Center is a non-profit early childhood experience for children ages 6 weeks to five years old. LADC admits students of any race, religion, color, national and ethnic origins.