Woodside School & Community Resource Center

Woodside School Curriculum was developed with a commitment to a broad-based educational philosophy, and is guided by developmentally appropriate practices as described by the National Association of the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the MA Department of Education (MA DOE). Specifically:
Developmentally appropriate curriculum provides for all areas of a child’s development: cognitive, emotional, social, and physical, through an integrated approach.
It is based on teachers’ observations and recordings of each child’s special interests, and developmental progress.
It emphasizes learning as an interactive process. Teachers prepare an environment for children to learn through active exploration and interaction with other adults, other children, and materials.
Learning activities and materials are concrete, real, and relevant to the lives of young children.
Programs provide for a wide range of developmental interests and abilities that meet individual needs.
Teachers provide opportunities for children to choose among a variety of activities, materials, and equipment, and time to explore through active involvement. Teachers facilitate children’s engagement with materials and activities, and extend the child’s learning by asking questions or by making suggestions that stimulate children’s thinking. Children are given time to reflect on their actions to develop more complete understanding.
Multicultural and nondiscriminatory experiences, materials, and equipment are provided for all children.
Teachers provide a balance of rest and active movement throughout the program day.
Outdoor experiences are provided to expand the learning environment, and to maximize respect for, access to, and connection with the larger world.
Teachers meet regularly and in an ongoing fashion with parents/caregivers to strengthen relationships, to review and assess children’s development, and to include families in the process of learning.
The learning environment is organized by teachers to provide key experiences to support young children’s learning through process-focused activities involving: community building, social interaction and relationships; creative arts and expression; literacy and language arts; music and movement; dramatic arts, imaginative and role play; math and manipulatives; science exploration and discovery, sensory table, sand and water play; building, woodworking, and block play; nature and outdoor exploration, gardening; bikes, swings, monkey bars, and outdoor games.
Playgroups have additional involvement of parents/caregivers on a regular and ongoing basis to support children’s needs, to develop understanding, and to strengthen relationships. Curriculum is developmentally appropriate, offering opportunities for younger children to be introduced to key experiences, materials and equipment, the environment, and to small groups of peers.
Woodside curriculum maintains its viability through ongoing and regular assessment, and by drawing from current literature, research, and proven models such as Reggio Emilia and Highscope that focus on child development and family systems. The curriculum development is guided by the NAEYC and MA DOE Standards. Woodside is accredited by the NAEYC.