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Curriculum Overview
JoyKids International Preschool’s curriculum is based on both the Montessori and Thematic Integrated Approach to teaching and learning. We strive to grow the children in five key areas (cognitively, emotionally, socially, linguistically, and physically) with a strong focus on developing a solid early years foundation. Students who complete JoyKids’ curriculum are prepared to excel academically, emotionally and socially in primary school. We emphasise positive community values and provide a safe and caring framework for children to challenge themselves by trying new things.
Instilling our students with a lifelong passion for learning and the skills, knowledge and disposition to take on a complex world are the cornerstones of our teaching ethos. We nurture our students to collaborate, think creatively, reason critically, and form inclusive global perspectives.
Holistic Early Childhood Education
The JoyKids Early Childhood Programme is based on development of the whole child. The five key development streams are: cognitive, emotional, social, language and physical development.
Early childhood research indicates that play is essential in a child’s learning and development. Guided purposeful play aids in subject-themed learning, sparks creativity and encourages imagination. Our teachers scaffold and support a broad range of active learning opportunities. Children construct their own knowledge about themselves, others, and the world around them by practicing developmentally appropriate skills, making choices about their individual learning, and communicating their understanding through healthy relationships with peers and adults.
Cognitive Development
Through subject-themed guided play, children develop the ability to focus on one thing for an extended period of time. They become able to recall information and process it in the present. As children enter preschool they become able to focus on tasks with specific goals (ie, learning a series of new words). Children also strengthen the ability to conduct mental tasks and develop self-awareness.
Emotional Development
Forming solid emotional skills in foundation years influences the mental health and well-being of children in later in life. Children learn to share with and get along with other kids, transition easily from one activity to the next and identify their emotions. As children enter preschool they learn how to express themselves appropriately, show empathy, develop patience and model good behaviour to younger students.
Social Development
By engaging in play in small groups children learn how to cooperate, follow the simple rules of a game, learn how to take turns and share. Children develop self-esteem and enjoy new accomplishments. We support social development in a way that is suitable to each child’s temperament.
Language Skills
During early childhood, student’s ability to master sounds and language grows in an astonishing way. Nursery school children are generally able to understand more words than they can speak. By engaging children in different activities, we expose them to new vocabulary and encourage them to express themselves. By the time children enter preschool, they are consistently formulating sentences and able to follow basic grammatical rules.
Physical Development
In early years, children are still developing gross motor skills that consist of large movements and coordination. By the time a child enters preschool, they are working toward finer motor skills like using tools effectively (ie, writing with a pencil). Children in preschool are able to identify the importance of good health which includes exercise and a healthy diet. Children are also able to manage their own basic hygiene including washing their hands, dressing and going to the washroom with minimum help.
Learning Approach
Teaching and learning is aimed at making the most of children’s natural curiosity to learn and enquire. In early years, learning takes place principally through guided play. As work will gradually become more structured in Primary School, lessons in preschool are planned with a view to get the children ready for structured learning.
Whole-Child Approach
Teachers plan lessons with differentiated outcomes allowing for a range of achievements. This enables teachers to match each lesson as closely as possible to individual needs whilst providing scope for children to be stretched academically.
Rigorous
Students who complete their education at JoyKids will leave equipped with cognitive, emotional, social, linguistic and physical competencies and the readiness to confidently join primary school.
Learning is largely question-based with an emphasis on problem solving aiming to build up a student’s ability to reason and think independently.
In addition to a rigorous and challenging academic programme, JoyKids also runs lively sports, music, arts and drama programmes in which students are presented with many opportunities to develop their skills and interests outside of the classroom. For more information on enrichment programmes click here.