Jeanna Stuart, Manager
Phone: 521-4473 Ext. 103
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Centro de la Familia de Utah implements the Creative Curriculum for traditional preschool classrooms and Infants and Toddlers, and the Montessori Method for selected preschools classrooms.

Creative Curriculum

The philosophy of the curriculum is based on the premise that children learn best by doing and exploring the world around them by using their senses. It focuses on routines and experiences for infants and toddlers and helping preschoolers become enthusiastic learners. The interest areas, or learning centers in the classroom are designed to support children's development. These areas include, blocks, dramatic play, manipulatives, sensory table, library, music and movement, science and outdoors.

Montessori

The goal of the Montessori philosophy is for children to become independent learners, develop self-discipline, love of the natural world, respect for self and others, and an internal sense of purpose and motivation. Children acquire these skills through a carefully prepared environment and hands-on concrete learning materials, investigation and research, collaboration, and freedom to choose their own work. The areas in the classroom include:

• Practical Life (exercises of daily living),
• Sensorial (offers materials in developing and refining senses),
• Language (materials offer opportunity to learn specific sounds and letter shapes),
• Mathematics (exploration of size, shape, dimension and basic quantity and symbols),
• Cultural (exploration of continents, people and customs, promotes appreciation and respect for other cultures).

Centro currently has three preschool Montessori classrooms in the Migrant Program, one in Providence and two in Box Elder, and two classrooms in the Regional Program in Mt. Pleasant. By Fall 2008, Centro added five more classrooms to its programs, including the Genola Center and Centerfield Center. The Montessori Method is helping Centro achieve gains to close the achievement gap.

Teacher Qualifications

All Head Start® class rooms have a qualified teacher with a degree in early childhood education, or a related field with experience in teaching preschool or infant/toddler children, the teacher must have a CDA credential or a State awarded certificate for preschool teachers that meets or exceeds the requirements of a CDA.