The Curriculum at Oakhurst Cooperative Preschool

Oakhurst Cooperative Preschool primary goal is to create a positive, secure environment that encourages children to become life-long enthusiastic learners and self-confident, caring adults.  With this goal in mind, we carefully selected the open and flexible framework of the Creative Curriculum and integrated key elements of other well-known curricula to create a unique learning experience for young children.  We focus on the total development of the child including development of cognitive, social, emotional, and physical skills and language and communication.

The most rapid growth and development of human beings occur during the first three years of life.  Throughout these formative years, young children are establishing patterns for emotional, social, physical, and cognitive development.  Development in one area affects and is influenced by development in all other areas.  Relationships between caregivers/teachers and children and their families form the basis of curriculum of the very young.  At OCP the emphasis is placed on nurturing these relationships, which are the basis for a child’s development of sense of self and security and a child’s ability to relate to others and to express feelings.  We pride ourselves on a low child to teacher ratio, which fosters this strong relationship among teacher, child, and family which is necessary for developing a healthy sense of self-worth in each child.

At Oakhurst Cooperative Preschool we believe that education should address the whole child, not only his/her intellect.  Children must be allowed to learn at their own pace and in ways that are best for them. Our program is sensitive to each child’s individual needs and abilities; the teacher discovers how each child experiences and interacts with the environment and therefore can guide his/her learning process in a mindful and developmentally appropriate way.  Children learn primarily through play with imitation and imagination/fantasy as an integral part.  A child’s creativity flourishes in an atmosphere of acceptance and trust.  Children should be encouraged to be active and creative explorers who are not afraid to try out their ideas and to think their own thoughts.  This helps them to become independent, self-confident, and inquisitive learners.  At OCP, we feel it is essential to create an inner enthusiasm for learning—children learn best from acts they plan and carry out themselves.