OUR CURRICULUM
Bethany Early Learning Ministry uses THE CREATIVE CURRICULUM® FOR PRESCHOOL.
This resource helps teachers focus on four key areas of children’s development in their preschool years:
Social and Emotional
- Your child will develop a sense of self.
- Learn to take responsibility for themselves and others.
- Practice behaving in a positive way.
Physical
- Your child will practice both gross and fine motor skills.
Cognitive
- Learning and problem solving
- Thinking critically and logically
- Using symbols for communication
Language
- Your child will practice their listening and speaking skills everyday.
- Reading and Writing skills will be used every single day!
Each of these focus areas combines both teacher-directed and child-directed activities – usually linked to learning centers (dramatic play, art & music, science, etc.) geared to the students’ age, learning style and personal interests. Since young children learn best through play, both independent and cooperative activities help children explore and learn.
BELM teachers link this curriculum to: The Foundations: Indiana’s Early Learning Development Framework. These chart a Birth to Third Grade Continuum, which at BELM helps children achieve Kindergarten Readiness.
Our students’ progress toward these goals are measured, regularly, using ISTAR-KR, an assessment tool designed and reviewed by the Indiana Department of Education.
Three other very important elements of healthy child development are also integrated into experiences at BELM:
FAMILY
BELM recognizes that children’s FAMILY experiences are unique. Our teaching staff takes great effort to build relationships with parents/ guardians / extended care-givers. We communicate regularly using both paper and electronic tools to ensure family members are actively involved in their child’s experiences here.
CULTURE
BELM cherishes the various CULTURAL traditions and values which young children here bring with them. We do our best to include, appreciate and celebrate various heroes, holidays, practices (including dietary) valued by different peoples from across the globe.
FAITH
BELM fosters FAITH in God, through Christ, in the Holy Spirit. Our teachers lead a morning prayer, share biblical values, introduce children to the God of creation (who makes us); the God in Christ (who frees us); and, God the Holy Spirit (who leads and guides us to a home-place in God’s own loving heart). Children are invited to a 15 minute “chapel experience,” weekly.
Contact
AFFILIATIONS
We are a Registered Child Care Ministry with the Indiana Family & Social Services Administration. Bethany ELM is a Level 3 Paths to Quality child development center, and is an approved On My Way Pre-K provider by the Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL).
BELM participates in the Child and Adult Food Care Program (CACFP), sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service. (See their nondiscrimination policy under the Meals tab.)
We are guided by the Indiana Department of Education’s (IDOE) Foundations to the Indiana Academic Standards for early childhood educators. These help us put into place classroom practices that allow young children to learn essential skills and knowledge. We evaluate our efforts with IDOE’s ISTAR-KR assessment tool.
Bethany ELM is a member of the Indiana Association for the Education of Young Children (IAEYC) and the Evangelical Lutheran Education Association (ELEA).