The 3 to 5 year old program at La Luz ECC has a ratio of eight children for each teacher. The group size for these children is sixteen children with two teachers for each group.

3 - 5 Year Old Program Introduction

We have three preschool groups, each with two teachers and a maximum of sixteen children. This low ratio gives us the opportunity to know each child well and plan our curriculum accordingly. The small class size helps children develop a sense of belonging and security. Family members are always welcome in the classroom. We hope that every day brings a mom, dad or grandparent to spend a few hours at La Luz ECC. This gives child and family a shared experience, helps the child view the school as a safe and wonderful place to be, and gives parents a wider perspective on their own child.

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Benefits of Mixed Age Group Classrooms

Lilian G. Katz, Stanford PhD, professor of Early Childhood Education, and author, writes that the intention of mixed-age grouping in early childhood settings is to increase the heterogeneity of the group so as to capitalize on the differences in the experience, knowledge, and abilities of the children. One of the benefits of mixed-age groups is that they provide a context in which older children's dispositions to nurture can be strengthened. Other benefits relate to ways of learning.  Whereas single-age groups create pressures on children and teachers to expect the same knowledge and skills from all children, in groups of children with a wide age span, the range of behavior and performance likely to be accepted is wider.  Results of experiments in which children worked same-age or mixed-age groups of three have shown that in the latter, older children spontaneously facilitated other children's behavior. In a single-age triad, however, the same children became domineering. Mixed-age groups also provide social and intellectual benefits. In mixed-age groups, younger children are capable of contributing to far more complex activities than they could working by themselves.  Both older and younger children benefit from discussions centering on tasks which one understands better than the other.

Critics of mixed age group settings claim that younger children might be overwhelmed or pestered by older children, or that older children might gloat over their superior skills. Dr. Katz addresses these concerns by pointing out that trained, knowledgeable staff encourage children to turn to each other for explanations and comfort. They also encourage older children to read and write down text for younger children which enhances the skills of both. At La Luz ECC, quality of staff is an utmost priority. With a compensation package and work environment designed to attract and retain the finest quality early childhood educators, we are confident that the children in attendance benefit greatly from mixed age groupings during their preschool years.

The original article from which this information is taken can be found at the following web address:

http://www.ed.gov/databases/ERIC_Digests/ed382411.html

Curriculum

Our curriculum features hands-on learning with a balance between open-ended activities (spontaneous block play) and self-correcting play (puzzles, for example). This choice allows the different interests and abilities of the children to be expressed fully.

We recognize and celebrate individual differences.

Central to our curriculum is the observation that children learn most thoroughly and joyfully through play. Traditional subjects such as math, language skills and social studies are integrated across the curriculum and introduced in the context of play. For example, setting up the dramatic play area as a supermarket gives children chances to count money, sort and classify objects (math); make signs to label shelves or advertise special sales (language); and experience foods from other cultures (social studies). The social learning as they play together is just as crucial to healthy development and underlies children’s ability for later academic learning. Our teachers are especially attuned to the emotional quality of classroom interactions and help children identify emotions (their own and others’) and learn problem-solving strategies.

For additional insight into the philosophy La Luz ECC follows, please see the following article titled "Another Look at What Young Children Should Be Learning" by Dr. Lilian Katz. The information contained in this writing is fundamental to our program philosophy.

http://ericeece.org/pubs/digests/1999/katzle99.html

 

Daily Schedule

The daily schedule includes time for choice both indoors and outside, with time for active as well as more quiet play. Children work in small groups, large groups and alone. The playground is seen as part of the classroom, not only because of the importance of physical exercise, but also because we “bring the inside out” by providing materials and interactions that encourage a wide variety of activities outside. We have easels, sidewalk chalk and an outdoor playhouse as well as tricycles, swings and climbers.

 

 

Above all, we listen to the children!