The Pemberton Township Schools Early Childhood program follows the High/Scope educational approach to preschool learning. The High/Scope program is based on active participatory learning. Children and adults learn best through hands-on experiences with people, materials, events and ideas. That principle - validated by decades of research - is the basis of High/Scope's approach to teaching and learning.

The High/Scope educational approach is about helping students:

• Become independent, responsible and confident ~ ready for success in school.
• Learn to plan many of their own activities, carry them out and talk with other children and their teacher about what they have done.
• Learn through active involvement with people, materials, events and ideas.
• Gain knowledge and skills in important content areas, such as creative representation, language and literacy, initiative and social relations, movement, music and classification, number, space and time.

The High/Scope preschool curriculum is an open-framework instructional model that has been tested and researched for over 40 years. Young children’s cognitive, social, emotional and physical capacities develop quickly when they can use materials and their imaginations freely in an environment that promotes investigation, decision-making, cooperation, persistence and problem-solving. For more information, visit High/Scope's website.

New Jersey Department of Education Standards of Quality
The Department of Education's Preschool Teaching and Learning Expectations: Standards of Quality sets a standard for preschool learning outcomes and serves as a benchmark for determining how effectively the classroom curriculum is being implemented.

As with the NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards, the Preschool Teaching and Learning Expectations: Standards of Quality presents standards for all districts in the state, including Pemberton Township Schools.

For more information on the NJDOE Standards of Quality, visit the state's Division of Early Childhood Education webpage.

HighScope Daily Routine:

Following a consistent routine day after day gives children the sense of security they need to make choices and take risks, which opens the door to exciting learning opportunities.

Greeting time- Children and adults come together at the beginning of the day.  During greeting time, children build a sense of community.  They also have the opportunity to talk about any changes that may be occurring during their day.

Plan-do-review  (planning time, work time, recall time) — During this process, children plan and   make choices about what they will do, carry out their ideas, and then reflect on their activities and learning with adults and peers.   The 3 step sequence typically is 60+ minutes. 

Small-group time — During this time, a small group of children meet with an adult to explore  materials, try out new skills, and solve problems. Adults develop a small-group activity based on children’s interests and particular skills, materials, or content areas that suit children’s developmental learning needs. Though the adult plans the activity and sets it in motion, children make choices about how to use the materials and freely communicate their ideas.

Large-group time — Large-group time builds a sense of community. Adults and children come together for movement and music activities, interactive storytelling, and other shared experiences. Children have many opportunities to make choices and play the role of leader. 

Outside time — Children and adults spend at least 30 minutes outside every day, enjoying vigorous and often noisy play in the fresh air. 

Transition times — Transitions are the minutes between other blocks of the day, as well as arrival and departure times. Teachers plan meaningful learning experiences for these times, which keeps children engaged and minimizes disruption. 

Snack and Lunch times - Meals and snacks allow children to eat healthy foods in a supportive social setting, while developing self-help and communication skills.

Rest time- Each day, children have a 60 minute period of rest. While some children sleep, others have quiet time.  During this time, non-sleeping children are given quiet, individual activities.

COR Advantage

COR Advantage is built on 36 items that best prepare children for school success. COR Advantage measures these items across 8 major areas of growth and development, with two additional items specifically designed to support English language learning. And because COR Advantage focuses on development rather than age, it is appropriate for children with special needs.

HIGHSCOPE CURRICULUM

The HighScope Preschool Curriculum is based on the principles of active learning and support of a child's positive interactions with adults and peers. Longitudinal studies show that the HighScope Preschool Curriculum promotes children’s development and provides lasting benefits into adulthood.

Our Preschool Curriculum is a comprehensive model that addresses all areas of development through eight content areas and 58 key developmental indicators (KDIs) — the skills and behaviors at each stage of development that pave the way for school and adult success. Each KDI is connected to and reinforced by scaffolding strategies to support and gently extend children’s learning.

PRESCHOOL CONTENT AREAS

·         Approaches to Learning

·         Social and Emotional Development

·         Physical Development and Health

·         Language, Literacy and Communication

·         Mathematics

·         Creative Arts

·         Science and Technology

·         Social Studies

While learning in these content areas prepares children for later schooling, HighScope takes the learning process beyond traditional academic subjects by applying methods that promote independence, curiosity, decision making, cooperation, persistence, creativity, and problem solving in young children.