Early Education Center - Grove City College

Purpose

To provide developmentally appropriate and nurturing experiences that facilitate academic and social learning, in a play-based environment.
To serve as a model for early childhood pre-service educators to actively observe and participate in a classroom environment: thus, connecting theory to practice.
To serve the college and community by reflecting Christian and educational values that are consistent with the mission of the college.
To build PreK- 4th grade competencies in pre-service educators enrolled
at GCC as articulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Vision

To be an exemplary early childhood program among Christian liberal arts institutions by promoting research-based and best developmental practices for the whole child and pre-service educators.

Mission

To enhance the process of learning for children, families, and preservice educators within the framework and context of a developmentally appropriate environment.

Classroom Guidance

Positive Guidance is the framework used for classroom management. This promotes an environment that nurtures both self-esteem and the growth of the whole child. By encouraging mutual respect and responsibility, teacher control is minimized. Each child constructs his/her own choices based on individual family values through daily classroom experiences. The emphasis is on
discovering solutions together in order to create a peaceful and caring community in a Christian context.

Positive guidance focuses on self-regulation and learning from experiences. Children who grow and learn in an atmosphere of positive guidance:

Learn self-control
Demonstrate the ability to work with others
Respond to limits and consequences responsibly and with flexibility
Learn to propose alternative behaviors
Understand that each individual is capable and can contribute in a meaningful way

Objectives

To encourage a love of learning within each child.
To encourage positive Christian values.
To encourage respect, responsibility, peace, and love.
To encourage questions which utilize discovery and exploration to seek answers.
To encourage communication for real-life purposes: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
To encourage communication that leads to solving problems with non-violent methods.
To encourage each person to contribute to a safe and caring classroom environment through positive peer and adult interactions.
To encourage participation in a variety of learning activities that allow for development of the whole child: socially, emotionally, cognitively, physically, and spiritually.
To encourage each child to learn as an independent and collaborative thinker.


	Philosophy