Bloom Childcare Learning Center

A Bloom Approach

At Bloom we follow an emergent curriculum style based on the interests of the children in our care. Teachers look for teachable events and moments throughout the day. Planning an emergent curriculum requires a lot of observation, documentation and creative brainstorming on the teacher’s part. Our curriculum, which we have named the Bloom Approach, allows our teachers to be open and receptive to the children in our care. The Bloom Approach combines the Reggio Emilia, Montessori and Creative Curriculums allowing us to educate the whole child and prepare our students for the rest of their lives. The Bloom Approach requires teachers to be flexible, creative and patient with the children, seeing them as capable and adept learners. The Bloom Approach teaches children to be problem solvers, allows them to be creative, actively learn and gives them opportunity to be decision makers of their own learning. Challenging our children without the feeling of overwhelm is key to our curriculum.

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What is Emergent Curriculum?

Emergent curriculum is a nontraditional philosophy of teaching and a way of planning a children's curriculum that focuses on being responsive to their interests. The goal is to create meaningful learning experiences for the children encouraging them to explore life through their own interests and passions. Emergent curriculum is child-initiated, collaborative and responsive to the children's needs. Emergent curriculum starts with the observation of the children for insight into their interests. Learning experiences are child led rather than teacher directed.

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What is the Role of the Educator?

Educators practicing the emergent curriculum style take on the role of co-learners instead of head teachers allowing the class to work and play collectively as a team opening their minds to the ideas of everyone in the class. Educators create a stimulating environment with the goal of furthering each child’s exploration and learning of a certain topic. Educators create hands on interest driven learning activities through visuals, art, webs, stories, circle time, small group experiences, songs and media. The educator's goal is to nurture positive social skills, encourage creative problem solving, support the developmental growth of each individual child and build a solid foundation from which the children can stand on during their life.

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How is Emergent Curriculum Beneficial to a Child’s Development?

Emergent curriculum validates a child’s curiosity in learning and allows them to follow their interests building on what they already know. Emergent curriculum focuses on each child’s strengths while improving their weaknesses. Emergent curriculum

highlights each child’s uniqueness and reassures them that having an individual personality is an asset. It helps create confident, self-assured children who are eager to learn about the world around them. By leading their learning children are more engaged in activities and absorb skills and knowledge that they will later apply in their development. A foundation of learning which includes a focus on social emotional development, relationship building and teaching independence allows academics to come more naturally to children once they gain the developmental skills required.