Individualized Learning through Scholastic Play

Our ‘Bright Minds Curriculum’ is a proprietary early education curriculum experience to gently challenge each child to their personal best, at their own stage of development. The whole child is developed socially, emotionally, intellectually, and physically.

Children learn through play, and Bright & Early takes play very seriously! Your child will be given countless opportunities to engage in fun activities that challenge their creative spirit and result in achieving their personal best. At Bright & Early your child’s day will be full of growth, exploration, discovery, and learning.

Bright & Early has created and developed an Individualized Learning System that provides an outstanding early education experience that exceeds all parent expectations. Our philosophy is “Awakening young minds when it matters most.” The time for learning is now.

Teachers take into consideration the individual interests of each child in their classroom and create a curriculum based on the highest educational industry standards, which are detailed below.

CT EARLY LEARNING DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS (ELDS)

The Bright Minds Curriculum incorporates and corresponds to the age-appropriate development expected of each program, which contain specific domains:

  • Cognition
  • Social and Emotional Development
  • Physical Development and Health
  • Language and Literacy
  • Creative Arts
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Social Studies

For more information on ELDS, please visit CT.gov/oec/elds

Developmentally Appropriate Practice

Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs is a resource that helps teachers make informed decisions about educating young children. It provides sketches of characteristics and widely held expectations for children’s development in four domains: gross motor development, fine motor development, language and communication development, and social and emotional development.

Learning Experience Plans

Depending on the age group, teachers create either a weekly or monthly Learning Experience Plan, focusing on an interesting theme that reflects the interests of the children in the classroom. Learning activities that challenge each child at his or her own level of growth and development are presented through play with gentle guidance. Learning Experience Plans outline upcoming activities such as circle time, songs, stories, art projects, science experiments, music & movement classes, outdoor games, dramatic play and much more! Teachers give careful thought to each child’s needs and take advantage of “teachable moments.”

Observations, Assessments, & Portfolios

Your child plays with purpose. We showcase their important efforts. Each day, teachers observe and document your child’s developmental progress in the ELDS domains. This information is summarized on Developmental Assessments which are presented to parents at conferences.

Throughout the school year, we gather language and artwork samples from your child’s work. When viewed chronologically, this portfolio will show the progress in written and creative expression that your child has made.

Parent Teacher Experience

One-on-one private parent/teacher conferences are held twice per year, in January and May. Bright & Early teachers share your child’s Developmental Assessment that details which milestones your child has successfully achieved. Teachers also identify which ones they will continue to gently challenge your child with, and they will also present your child’s portfolio of language and artwork samples.

You will also receive a Narrative Summary from your child’s teacher expressing specific goals for the upcoming months.

This is a wonderful opportunity to personally discuss your child’s growth and development with their teacher.