At I am Kids Academy, we believe in child-first education by fusing the Reggio Emilia Philosophy along with Personalized Learning to focus on the individualism of the child. Our curriculum tracks the developmental stages of the child as they explore subjects such as math, science, social studies and language arts.

The Reggio Emilia philosophy emphasizes the child as an individual and allows us to understand that no two children are alike, which in turn means no child learns the same way. Our teachers focus their lessons based on the interests of their children giving them an infinite amount of questions and an infinite amount of possibilities for learning.

We use Personalized Learning and the diversity of the students in their own classroom to tailor the instruction of the child to fit their individual needs while also fulfilling their curricular requirements. Instruction and assessments are done appropriately based on every situation in order to challenge and engage the children in ways which will be most meaningful to them. As early educators, it is important to design learning experiences that help students get in touch with who they want to be and what they are going to accomplish in the world.

The children are encouraged to work in groups in the purpose of building a community, but are recognized by their individual thoughts and ideas. Our young children engage in purposeful play time where the teacher acts as the facilitator, asking guiding questions and pushing the children to come up their own ideas and solutions.

 

 

Infants:

Children grow at an amazingly rapid rate during this stage of development. At this age, babies begin to coordinate their new perceptive abilities such as sight, sound, and touch. Their vision changes drastically and they become more interested in toys and brightly colored objects. They begin to form attachments with parents and other familiar adults. Motor development increases as children begin to sit up, crawl, and move around the room.
At iamka we provide nurturing classroom environments with calming color schemes to mimic the beauty of nature. We provide ample space for the children to move and explore in a safe area. Teachers are there to facilitate the child’s developing mind and body by encouraging play with educational toys and stimulating activities. Color, music, and Immersive learning experiences are used to peak the child’s curiosity and begin to form their individual sense of self.

 

12 to 24 Months (1 Year):

During this stage of their development children become more aware of self and begin to explore their independence. Relationships with both teachers and peers are developing and their desire to explore new objects and people is also increasing.  Toddlers speech begins to develop and many children will begin to form short phrases or sentences.
Our educators tailor the classroom at this age to recognize the curious and adventurous learning of the children. Group discovery and pretend play have a large role in the classroom. Child’s play is guided and encouraged by their teacher so the children learn to establish trust, respect & confidence. When children play together, they learn to celebrate differences, creating empathetic problem solvers.

 

24 – 36 months (2 years):

At 2 years old is when unique personalities are shaped and the need for independence begins. Children at this stage learn new ways of expressing emotions and testing their boundaries. They will experience huge social, emotional, and thinking changes during this time in their development.
Our personalized learning for twos refines and develops the individual strengths of each child by concentrating on the process through which children learn. Our teachers encourage a sense of imagination and wonder with discovery-based play providing a diverse & comprehensive foundation for creative growth which will shape them into adolescence and adulthood.

 

36 – 48 Months: (3 Years):

As children grow at this stage they begin to open up. Their curiosity is heightened and the need to ask an insatiable amount of questions is developed. Children at this age begin to understand cognitive activities and emergent literacy skills develop. They enjoy working with others and learn to express themselves in different ways.
Our teachers will guide both individual and classroom exploration and provide activities and opportunities that build upon your child’s many questions and connections. We use teacher/child interactions and the interaction with their peers to help shape the personality and the children’s own ways of thinking and moving leaving much room for problem solving, reasoning, testing the limits.

 

Pre-K (Ages 4 – 5):

Children at this age are energetic and imaginative. They thrive through creative exploration and the desire to gain new experiences. They are able to make connections with what they have learned and have the ability to think deeper. They understand the idea of counting and are able to form letters and sometimes words.
Children in this classroom are actively part of the decision making process. Activities are structured around the individualized interests and learning level of the child. Teachers encourage early literacy with the use of phonics and phonological awareness. Communication is important as children form lasting and meaningful relationships with peers.