Play-based

At Wild Roses, we learn through playing! Children make sense of the world around them through hands-on experimentation. They use their senses, observe, manipulate, and question things that are meaningful to them in order to learn. This philosophy is based in constructivism where children “construct” their learning with direct experiences where they form ideas, test them, and build on that knowledge! Wild Roses is a safe place for children to question, make choices, and wonder!

Child-led

The children at Wild Roses have the opportunity for free play majority of the day. They have the power of choice; to choose what to play with, how long to play with it, and how to play with it (in a respectful and constructive manner). This empowers them and encourages a lifelong love for learning. They develop dispositions of curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, and inquisitiveness!

I view children as capable and active learners in my classroom! I learn alongside them as a co-researcher, co-learner, and co-imaginer of possibilities*. I observe the childrens’ interests and together we explore them. I provide materials and set up provocations as a way to dive deeper into their interests.

Emergent Curriculum

In opposition to a traditional theme or concept-based curriculum, emergent curriculum is a way of programming that stems truly from the current interests of children. Emergent curriculum is an ever-developing process of playing, learning, observing, reflecting, and documenting what is happening in the classroom.

I provide materials and activities based on ideas of the children’s interests, developmental skills, and schemas! Documentation of children's learning is posted in the Wild Roses classroom and on social media as a way to connect with families and help children reflect on their own play and learning. From there, we continue experimenting, exploring, and seeking to answer questions!