Learning
Early Learning Centre
The Early Learning Centre (ELC) is a real community of learners. Our facility is full of natural light and open spaces that allows for maximum use of both the indoor and outdoor learning environment all year round. Inside there are dedicated classrooms, shared areas, an area for physical education and performing arts, a kitchen and dining room, and areas for visual art, science and technology exploration and creativity. Outside there is an extensive play area equipped to engage young learners in a variety of activities to promote social, physical and intellectual development. There is also a wonderful garden where children participate in gardening throughout the year as well as a small forest to explore.
The ELC follows the PYP early years philosophy of infusing critical skills and core knowledge through play. The teachers and teaching assistants intentionally set up areas to invite younger learners into learning. We carefully monitor progress in these skill areas: communication, self-management, social, thinking, and research. You can learn more about our philosophy here. To find out more about how we infuse learning through play, please see our ELC Curriculum Guide, and consult Inquiry through Play.
To find out more about our daily programs and policies in the ELC, please see the ELC Handbook.
| Thinking Skills | Children are born to make sense of their world. In the ELC, we harness their natural curiosity to teach them to find patterns, cause and effect relationships, to think about their thinking (metacognition) and reflect on their learning. |
| Social Skills | In the ELC, we set the foundation for life-long social and collaboration skills. We teach students to respect others, acknowledge how their actions impact others, cooperate, make decisions as a group, and resolve conflict using our words. |
| Self-management Skills | A child’s capacity to learn from their peers and teacher is directly connected to their self-management skills. Students learn to organize their thoughts and materials. They also learn to identify emotions and how to put space between their feelings and actions. Becoming more mindful of themselves and others allows for the classroom to be harmonious and learning to flourish. |
| Communication Skills | The ability to communicate is critical to an ELC student’s well-being. They need to be able demonstrate, speak, and listen in order to feel safe and secure in their place. As students progress through the ELC, we then teach symbolic communication through reading, writing, and visually presenting information. |
| Research Skills | Born to inquire, ELC students are full of questions. Our programme is structured to teach students the basics of research: asking questions, finding out information, and sharing their information with their community. This is done very informally, and based around the students’ interests. |
