Learning through exploration and play
Young children are master learners. One of their main jobs is to figure out the world around them. At Firefly Community School young learners are given opportunities to explore and learn through play.
The teachers’ role is to provide meaningful and developmentally appropriate experiences that promote the children’s natural curiosity and creativity. We “set the stage”, so that children are constructing their own knowledge — whether they are building in the block area, experimenting with materials, pretending in the dramatic-play corner, assembling puzzles or shape patterns, writing their own self-initiated messages. The teachers guide and facilitate learning all throughout the day, as well as provide appropriate behavior expectations that ensure respectfulness, responsibility and kindness.
Outdoor Play & Learning
We probably don’t have to tell you - kids love to be outside. At Firefly, teachers make outside learning and play a priority. Fresh air, large-motor activity, and experiences in nature are important for children. Children acquire confidence and competence in their physical abilities as they run, jump, and climb. At Firefly children have opportunities for outdoor: planning, engineering, problem-solving, and cooperating with peers, all experiences that contribute to academic success.
Research shows that time in nature encourages children to be good stewards of the earth, but also helps reduce anxiety and stress. Children (as well as many adults) find wonder and delight as they observe plants growing in a garden, changes in trees and clouds, ants working, and butterflies pollinating. We are committed to nurturing that sense of wonder, love and delight that happens when we slow down, listen, and tune in to our surroundings!
Community is at the core of Firefly Community School
Our plan was not to build a school. Our plan was to build a community. A community of parents and teachers, students and friends. At Firefly we foster a sense of community for our families by hosting family friendly community events that are fun. Some of our favorite events include: movies outside in the garden, our annual art festival, the Firefly birthday party, and local meet-ups around town. We also work to foster a sense of community everyday in our classrooms. Children are taught useful skills of collaboration, patience, and tolerance. Our Firefly students work together everyday, helping each other clean-up, including their friends in play, and working to make safe choices for themselves and others.
building confidence through positive guidance
Little humans have big feelings. At Firefly we understand that the root of big feelings is not always immediately understood. However, big feelings and learning to work through them is the big job of childhood. At Firefly we use tools and trainings, developed by experts and backed by research, to guide students through managing feelings and understanding the consequences of their actions. Our favorite tools include the methods offered by Conscious Discipline and the structure of Reggio Emilia’s approach to building a community. No matter the situation all students are met where they are and encouraged to grow into helpful members of their community. Our explorative learning practices offer students the opportunity to try, and try again. We strive to build confidence in our students through encouragement and recognition of their accomplishments.
Social and Emotional Learning
At Firefly we believe the most valuable skill we can teach your child are those of social and emotional regulation. Early childhood is the time that our children build the foundation for how they will grow and manage their relationships with themselves and others. At Firefly our mixed age classrooms are managed using the practices of Conscious Discipline.
We focus on teaching children respect, responsibility, and kindness for themselves and others. We see how small interactions, that happen everyday, offer opportunities for students to better understand the feelings they experience and the interactions they have with others. We continue to be impressed with our student’s inate ability to love and care for their friends.
Yes, early childhood comes with big feelings. In the midst of those big feelings our staff stays focused on the positive intent in every child. We believe that doing so we are helping children to better understand themselves and the meaning of their connections with each other.