Wesley Learning Center uses The State of Connecticut Preschool Framework, Connecticut State Department of Health Regulations, and The National Association for the Education of Young Children Standards as a basis for our curriculum.  Teachers use these standards to intentionally plan ways for children to construct knowledge in order to make sense of their experiences.  We focus on all four developmental domains:  Cognitive,(language and literacy, mathematical, and scientific thinking), physical, social and emotional and creative aesthetic expression.

A meaningful curriculum is integrated so that learning experience encompass many content areas.  It must be based on children’s interests and presented in a context that stimulates children to invest in their work.  Learning takes time.  Children need to interact with it, explore it, utilize it , question it, and evaluate it in their own way of learning. 

The following are the benchmarks that we use for every age group in our school:

• Shows self-direction with a range of materials
• Sustains attention to task or goal set out to accomplish
• Participates in teacher-led group activities
• Manages transitions, follows routines, and rules
• Uses words to express emotions or feelings
• Shows empathy and caring for others
• Interacts cooperatively with peers
• Works to resolve conflicts
• Recognizes similarities and appreciates differences
• Uses coordinated large muscle movements
• Uses coordinated small muscle movements
• Cares for self independently
• Engages in scientific inquiry
• Uses a variety of strategies to solve problems
• Sorts objects
• Recognizes and makes patterns
• Compares and orders objects and events
• Relates number to quantity
• Demonstrates spatial awareness
• Uses complex sentences and vocabulary to describe ideas and experiences
• Understands and participates in conversations
• Shows understanding of stories
• Displays knowledge of books and print
• Recognizes similar sounds in speech
• Identifies printed words
• Uses writing to convey meaning
• Builds and constructs to represent own ideas
• Draws and paints to represent own ideas
• Represents experiences and fantasies in pretend play
• Sings and responds to music

Our teachers will observe and assess each  child according to these standards and build their lesson plans around them.  They do so by providing the children with many opportunities to explore and learn at their own pace.   Much academic learning goes on every day in every age group.  The children have fun while achieving each milestone in their development.