The other day I was playing with the children and started singing the lyrics to "It's gonna be the best day of your li-ife".... and it occurred to me that that song should be our "school song!”
Hands On Learning
Consider this unknown quote:
Tell me and I forget.
Teach me and I remember.
Involve me and I learn.
This is the mantra of a play based preschool! When given an opportunity to engage in hands-on activities, to manipulate objects, to consider a million different outcomes from the same materials a child's mind is opened immeasurably.
Now, consider this from a very well known scholar, Aristotle:
'Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.'
Blessed are the children at La Casa that we care about teaching to the WHOLE CHILD. Their mind, body, and tender heart!
Weekly Prayer.... Dear Jesus, I pray for the teachers who help me to learn so many things, but mostly about Your love. Watch over them that they will always help to guide me to You.. Amen.
At La Casa Preschool, We Learn Through Play
If you have an older elementary aged child, you may be aware of the recent AZMerit testing sections that have just been conducted. Regardless of your opinion of such metrics, the quantitative results on these tests are viewed as indicators of your child's proficiency in different cognitive areas.
At La Casa, we are proud to have established our preschool program as having the correct balance of academic challenges that align with the social and emotional readiness to accept and attempt them. The child that is emotionally ready, especially, is one that can meet a challenge with the ability to handle the success that comes from "getting it right" AND deal positively with the occasional, inevitable unsuccessful times as well. They need to be able to do both. They need to be able to handle "risking" the unsuccessful times without giving up, to try again and learn from them, and then experience the pride of accomplishment in the future. Building self-confidence is a maturation process; tearing it down can be instant and lasting.
Thank you for embracing our play based philosophy of teaching the children how to learn through play and meaningful activities that inspire thought, reasoning, problem solving, creativity, and self-worth.
Gosh, all those things they will need to score HUGE on any AZMerit test thrown at 'em!!! Destined for greatness all.
Weekly Prayer.... Dear Jesus, help us to remember that we are always open to learning. Especially help us to keep our hearts and minds open to learning more about You and your unconditional love for each of us. Amen.
