Journey School of Peoria

Journey School of Peoria, LLC

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Our Approach

Nature Based Learning

Teaching Children To Learn With An
Uncompromising Spirit Of Joy And Adventure!

We Believe…

Our approach to education begins at birth and continues every day through love and connection.

Children’s brains develop most rapidly between birth and age six, thus these are the most important years of growth, development, and learning. This period builds the foundation for life-long learning and achievement. Our educational philosophy is based on a wide range of the best, research-backed early education practices designed to ensure school readiness and provide a strong educational foundation. We believe learning is fun and that children learn best through hands-on play and active participation. 

Warm Environment

These beliefs guide us in creating our warm, supportive and engaging learning environments.

It is essential to us that your child feels safe, secure, and loved.

Our school emphasizes partnerships with our families and honor the role of parents as their children’s first and best teacher. The cultural diversity of our community enriches our program.

Personalized

Our school recognizes and respects the uniqueness and potential of each child and tailors our program to the needs and interests of each individual at his or her own developmental level.
 
Our approach is hands-on and multisensory. We see children as competent individuals who are naturally curious and continuous learners.

Learn by Exploration

Our teachers provide the opportunity for discovery and learning; encourage active exploration and investigation; promote questioning, and guide and facilitate growth and development.

Our school believes children have multiple ways of demonstrating their intelligence.

Best for Children

Our philosophy is based on our belief that children are competent individuals who can construct their own meaning of their experiences. Our school does these things not because we are required to do so by any accrediting and licensing agency, but because we believe this is what is best for children.

A Journey Full of Exploration and Discovery

Our program draws from several models of child development including the Reggio Emilia model to create an inclusive, child-led, emergent program steeped in the belief that children are strong, capable, creative thinkers who can explore their ideas in myriad ways.

In this approach children have some control over the direction of their learning and have many ways and opportunities to express themselves. 

We recognize that children have a natural curiosity and a predisposition to enjoy the unexpected. Children engage in active exploration and investigation to make sense of their world. We strive to fuel children’s investigative impulses and encourage discovery, promote questioning and challenging of ideas, and formulate connections of experience.

Education Based On Interrelationships

Communication between children, parents, and teachers/staff is emphasized. 

Everyone works together in a spirit of cooperation and collaboration and with a common purpose. 

The teacher’s role is not to provide all the correct answers. Rather, the teacher provides the occasion for discovery and learning. Parents are also a key component and are viewed as important partners and collaborators. 

Observation and Documentation

Teachers create portfolios for each child filled with pictures and observations to document that child’s development and learning.

Documentation reflects interactions between teachers and children and among children. Documenting children’s daily experiences and on-going projects allows teachers to gain valuable insight into the thoughts and learning of children.

It can inform future activities, materials, and topics for investigation.

Our school completes documentation on the following schedule:

  • Daily on the school’s secret Facebook Page. 
  • Weekly in the children’s portfolios.
  • Annually with reviews with parents during Portfolio Nights

The 100 Languages of Children

Children are encouraged to explore their environment, express themselves and demonstrate their understanding using many different representations. They are encouraged to develop their individual strengths and each child’s unique contribution to their community is appreciated.

Strengths are celebrated and valued while opportunities are created to provide exposure to, and enhancement of, other talents and skills.

Children will be given the opportunity to express themselves through music, painting, drama, song, movement, and play.

An Enriching Environment

In the Reggio Emilia Approach, the environment is often called the “third teacher.”
 
It is safe, nurturing, engaging, stimulating, and creates a feeling of belonging. Supportive learning environments are designed with children in mind; allowing babies, toddlers, & preschoolers to explore, learn and develop.
 
Classrooms are welcoming, comfortable places that promote bonds between staff and young children.
 
There is ample physical space. The layout encourages interaction, communication, and relationships. The arrangement of structures, objects and activities encourages problem-solving and new discoveries.
 
There are doors to the outside in each classroom. Entries and hallways, as well as classroom walls, capture the attention of both children and adults through photographs and displays of children’s work (often accompanied by transcriptions of their discussions).
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