WILLOWBRAE YOUNG SCHOLARS
What is Willowbrae Young Scholars?
Willowbrae Academy understands the importance of early learning and recognizes that children learn through the interactions that they have with the people and material around them. Willowbrae Young Scholars program focuses on providing enriched opportunities and experiences for children to develop their Literacy, Mathematics and Science skills both inside and outside the classroom.
Our Early Childhood Educators encourage children to explore and discover the world around them through self-directed and guided activities. Daily activities provide children with the opportunity to learn about Literacy, Mathematics and Science through hands-on interactive play.
Willowbrae Young Scholars focuses on five key branches of learning; self-expression, listening, exploration and discovery, identification and recognition, and problem solving within the academic fields.
Learning Branches
SELF-EXPRESSION
Expressive language is the use of gestures, words, sentences and writing to convey messages to others. Willowbrae Early Childhood Educators provide children with the opportunity to express their wants and needs, thoughts and ideas, and discuss their point of view. Children also learn to express their language in writing. Through our words and actions we model behaviour that our children will emulate. Willowbrae Young Scholars program promotes and encourages children to engage in successful interactions with others.
LISTENING
Listening skills help children learn how to develop language skills. Willowbrae Early Childhood Educators provide children with an environment that enhances listening skills; infants listen and watch the way we communicate with them and others, and toddlers learn through interactions with us and other children. Preschoolers demonstrate more complex skills, they are encouraged to follow directions and carry on a conversation that involves listening and language skills. We realize one-on-one conversations with each child is fundamental to developing these skills.
EXPLORATION AND DISCOVERY
Exploring the inside and outside world is important for a child’s cognitive, emotional, social and physical development. Willowbrae Young Scholars encourages children to make sense of things, places and people in their world by interacting with others, playing, investigating, questioning, forming, testing and redefining ideas. Children use their senses, minds and bodies to discover and make sense of what they see, feel and experience in the world around them. Willowbrae Early Childhood Educators provide children with a safe environment to explore and discover the world around them and how it works.
IDENTIFICATION AND RECOGNITION
Visual perception refers to the brain’s ability to make sense of what we see. Visual discrimination is the ability to identify differences or similarities to distinguish between objects in the environment. Willowbrae Young Scholars program is designed to help children practice identifying and recognizing images. Children with well-developed visual discrimination skills are more likely to be successful in spelling, mathematics, and reading.
PROBLEM SOLVING
Problem solving skills refer to how a child perceives, thinks, and gains understanding of their world and includes remembering, problem-solving, and decision-making. One of the most important skills children need to master is their ability to become independent thinkers and problem solvers. Our program provides young learners with daily activities and opportunities to explore their environment: experiment, take risks and make mistakes. Brainstorming allows our children to practice communication, negotiation, and cooperation skills while building confidence.
Why is Willowbrae Young Scholars important?
Much of what you need to succeed in life is established before you reach school age. During that time, the human brain undergoes rapid development; it’s a period when a child develops cognitive skills; the foundation for Literacy, Mathematics and Science. Willowbrae Early Childhood Educators provide children with an enriched, safe environment full of opportunities on a daily basis.
The five key branches of learning: self-expression, listening, exploration and discovery, identification and recognition, and problem solving help promote cognitive development in young learners.
Willowbrae Academy Young Scholars program meets the academic needs of the individual child ensuring that all children reach their full potential.
