We believe that children learn best when they feel valued and respected, and when they are motivated and passionate about what they are doing. Listening carefully to children and observing their interactions with each other and their environment helps us to learn about what interests them. Based on observation and an understanding of child development, we guide children to investigate and express their ideas and theories about the world.
The basis of these investigations is the collaborative process, as children work together in small groups to make discoveries or achieve a common purpose. This process helps them develop critical skills such as problem-solving, perseverance, expressing oneself and listening to others. Teachers place a strong emphasis on the social learning that takes place in the classroom.
The basis of these investigations is the collaborative process, as children work together in small groups to make discoveries or achieve a common purpose. This process helps them develop critical skills such as problem-solving, perseverance, expressing oneself and listening to others. Teachers place a strong emphasis on the social learning that takes place in the classroom.
Services
Our Background
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The following year, the program moved to its present location on the first two floors of 130 East 16th Street. In 1999, the staff began to take a closer look at studying the innovative preschool programs in the cities of Reggio Emilia and Pistoia, Italy. Their philosophy emphasizes children's competency and ability to construct their own knowledge through in-depth investigation and research.
Parents
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Our school invites parents and caregivers to join the learning community alongside their children. Teachers visit new students before the first day of school in their home environment to understand home culture and values. Returning students visit the classroom with their parents to meet their new teachers and share their interests.
Environment
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We are inspired by Reggio Emilia's attention to the classroom environment - considered the third teacher by practitioners. Our teachers are therefore intentional in their selection of multisensory materials and spend time displaying them in beautiful ways. Our Materials Center, located on the fifth floor, houses found and natural materials gathered and donated by New York City residents and businesses.
Materials Center
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The Materials Center houses a large collection of natural objects and "found" materials. Gathered and donated by New York City residents and businesses, these materials are objects from our everyday lives that are often discarded but could be repurposed or transformed into something new, encouraging creativity, problem solving, and action.
Documentation
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Throughout the learning process at Beginnings, teachers document the children's experiences through photographs, note taking, video, and child-made artifacts. Artwork and all other student creations are compiled and shared with a focus on process, rather than product, in the hope that students will develop a life-long commitment to the work--and joy--of inquiry and discovery.
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