the campus kindergarten philosophy

 

What is special about Campus Kindy?

The strong community culture fostered at Campus Kindergarten is built upon five core values:

rights - trust - respect - compassion - responsibility

We acknowledge that all members of our community- including children, families and teachers have rights and all interactions should include respect. Trust underpins all positive relationships and is an integral part of the relationships that are fostered at Campus Kindergarten. The notion of compassion is an enabling word that helps us understand, show empathy and transform.  All of these values working together provide a rich environment for nurturing strong relationships and friendships, which are the cornerstone of quality early childhood education.

Campus kindergarten's staff and parents and community have been working on a Mission Statement that encapsulates not just the values above but more of the unique qualities and direction of the centre.  The draft version gives a good indication of what the centre stands for and its goals for the future.  The Mission Statement is a focal point for operations, teaching philosophy and future direction.  We welcome ongoing participation and ownership of the Mission Statement as it develops.

The teachers at Campus Kindergarten are professionally active and keep abreast of current research and thinking through professional reading, courses of study, seminars, networking and dialogue.  The Campus Kindergarten philosophy is influenced by a number of theorists including:

Malaguzzi: children as rich and competent; co-constructors of knowledge; one hundred languages to express oneself (painting, dance, words, drawing, etc)

Rinaldi: the pedagogy of listening

Gardner: multiple intelligences; children express themselves in many ways

Dahlberg and Moss: considers 'quality'; classroom culture

Vygotsky - social constructivism

Froebel - relationships

Piaget: ages and stages; a basis or a guide though is restrictive

Erikson: emotional stages of development

Montessori: life skills; learning in stages; building on prior knowledge

Steiner: supporting individuals; creativity; self-expression

The Campus Kindergarten teaching team is committed to a philosophy and approach that encompasses:

• A respectful image of each child who is competent and capable.

• The rights of children, parents and teachers.

• Education for meaning and understanding (holistic). 

• Value human dignity, participation and freedom.

• Learning the intrinsic values of each individual and each culture in order to make these values extrinsic, visible, conscious and sharable. NB: Values are relative and correlated with the culture to which they belong; they determine the culture and are determined by it.

• The child's role in constructing knowledge through exploration and relationship.

• The role of the teacher as co-researcher and co-constructor in the learning process.

• The documentation of learning experiences, revealing potentials that often go unrecognised. The concept of making learning visible (a process of telling important stories).

• The importance of the school environment as a source of well being and an educational force.

• The use of a wide range of media and materials to foster self-expression, learning and communication (the "Hundred Languages").

• The value of differences (individuals, gender, race, culture, religion) the value of equality.

• The value of participation, or, participation as a value.

• The value of collaboration among all participants in an educational system.

• The interrelationship and reciprocal influences of children, parents and teachers.

• The relationship between school and community.

• The enhancement of lives of children through educational-social systems.

• The value of play, of fun, of emotions, of feelings.