New Students interested in attending
Nixa Early Childhood for the
2019-2020 school year
(Current students enrolled the Early Childhood Program do not need to fill out form)
Want to know more?
We are not your typical preschool, we are Early Childhood Education.
Learn more about who we are and how to attend by clicking here:
WHAT IS THE EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM?
Welcome to the Early Childhood Program!
A letter from our Principal, Dr. Lara Wilbur:
The vision of Nixa Early Childhood is to nurture creative, confident, life-long learners with 21st-century skills who explore their world through active discovery. All of our classroom teachers are certified teachers for the state of Missouri as you would find in an elementary school, and we participate in high-quality professional development to ensure we are implementing current best practices when it comes to early childhood education. With this, Nixa classroom teachers provide high quality, research-based instruction for all students.
All of our classroom assessment and instruction are aligned with the Missouri Early Learning Standards and Individualized Education Program Goals. We utilize a number of methods within the classroom in order to educate the whole child. One of these methods is inquiry-based teaching. This style is an active, student-centered educational method. The basis of the inquiry-based approach is to facilitate student-generated questions and ideas as the core part of the learning process. Students are then driven to be active learners because they are part of the planning process. Because this method is very child driven it is not uncommon to see less cookie cutter artwork/ worksheets, and more child planned and created items. Lessons and activities are planned with purpose, based on observations and data the classroom teacher has collected. This method is also very hands-on and play-based. During play based learning students are doing so much! During play, children engage in conversations, talk things over, and exchange opinions and ideas during routines and activities. They are encouraged to make predictions, form connections, seek answers, and solve problems. Adults ask open-ended questions to support children’s efforts, stimulate new ideas, and encourage divergent thinking.
In order to meet the educational needs of all students, the classroom teachers differentiate their instruction by monitoring and adjusting instructional practices based on a child's learning style and ability.
At Nixa Early Childhood our focus is to educate the whole child. To get our bodies ready to learn we utilize motor lab. (see the video below for an example) At the preschool level, the social-emotional skills of a child are just as important if not more important than the pre-academic skills. We want to send students on to kindergarten ready to learn. In order to be ready to learn students need to know how to regulate their emotions, interact with peers, solve problems among peers, and communicate their wants and needs. We use Conscious Discipline to help us teach these skills. We truly believe the social-emotional skills we are teaching our students will be skills they carry on with them for life. We also know there is a high expectation in kindergarten which is why we have developed a grade card which aligns with the Missouri Early Learning Standards.
Parents, you are your child's first teacher. Which is why at Nixa Early Childhood we believe in forming partnerships with families to help your little eagle soar.
Nixa Early Childhood also offers services through our Parents as Teachers program. If you are expecting or have a child under the age of 5, this is an exciting program for your family. Parents as Teachers is a free and fun program, designed to give parents an understanding of how young children grow and learn during the most important first years of life, where more is learned than any other time. Along with the developmental information you receive, there are also activity ideas and developmental screenings.
Winter Weather Information:
What to do if we have a late start?
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