Programs & Curriculum
Infant Care
The children in our infant program benefit from an experienced, caring and nurturing staff, individual schedules, and a small group size. According to developmentally appropriate practices, we respect and follow each child’s individual daily schedule for eating, sleeping, diaper changes, active playing, and exploring, singing, and social activities.
Toddlers
The toddler programs provide an active, hands-on learning experience for children ages 12-24 months. Children are introduced to various activities that will promote their mental, physical, and emotional development.
Preschool
Our bright classrooms and large playgrounds create an atmosphere for learning where preschoolers engage in age-appropriate activities related to a weekly theme and curriculum developed by our Kentucky certified teacher. The classroom offers learning centers for math, science, dramatic play, creative art and a library that are filled each week with theme related materials to engage children at each stage of their development.
In addition to the learning environment in the classroom, Puzzle’s Academy also provides opportunities for the children to see the world around us by scheduling visitors from community helpers throughout the year, as well as tasking field trips to local farms, museums, theatrical performances and the zoo.
Pre-Kindergarten
Our bright classrooms and large playgrounds create an atmosphere for learning where preschoolers engage in age-appropriate activities related to a weekly theme and curriculum developed by our Kentucky certified teacher. The classroom offers learning centers for math, science, dramatic play, creative art and a library that are filled each week with theme related materials to engage children at each stage of their development.
In addition to the learning environment in the classroom, Puzzle’s Academy also provides opportunities for the children to see the world around us by scheduling visitors from community helpers throughout the year, as well as tasking field trips to local farms, museums, theatrical performances and the zoo.
Play Based Learning Model
The Toddler Sensory Play-land (13 - 24 months) is specifically designed for younger students. This play area is constructed of soft equipment to maintain the safety of children who are still developing adequate gross motor skills. Not only will students continue to develop strength, stability, and balance in the Toddler Sensory Play-land but also will learn through the engagement of the senses, body, and mind.
The Imagination Zone and Pretend City (3 - 12 years) is housed indoors and includes multiple inflatable play structures. The inflatables incorporate kid friendly themes to engage students in fun and imaginative activities. While students are preoccupied with having fun and interacting with peers in this play area, they are practicing skills to improve gross motor development.
The Creation Station (2 - 12) comprises of an enormous light-bright. In this play area, students will exercise creative thinking, problem solving, visual-spatial thinking, and practice fine motor skills.
The Adventure Playground (3 - 12 years) indoor structure includes slides, tubes, and climbing components. Children will develop gross motor skills, physical strength, and flexibility as they play. In addition, they will practice social skills like waiting turns, pretend play, and cooperation with the other peers.
The Outdoor Activity Zone (3 - 7 years) includes climbing structures, a merry-go-round, see-saws, playhouses and other outdoor activities. Students are also provided with outdoor toys to enhance their play and creativity in this area. The Outdoor Activity Zone facilitates the opportunities for students to play in groups, imagination, peer interaction, problem-solving, practice physical fitness, and develop independence. Since this area is located outdoors, students are able to get a breath of fresh air, discuss weather, and stimulate the brain
Classroom Design
Classroom designs are based on the specific developmental needs of the student age group. For infant classrooms, rooms are set up to support appropriate sleep and encourage attachment between child and classroom teacher. In addition, the environment is calming to increase feelings of security. Healthy brain development for infants require sleep, attachment, and security. As students grow, their daily needs change and increased opportunities for play and movement are incorporated in the actual classroom setup. Classroom designs allow for students to move fluidly in the room to support exploration. Toddler and preschool classrooms incorporate play centers to develop imagination, problem solving, and social skills. Additionally, these classrooms include space for structured learning activities to prepare students for kindergarten readiness.
Teacher Role within Puzzle's Learning System
The teachers at Puzzle’s Academy create lessons that are designed to support the achievement of developmental milestones that are specific to each student. The lessons are based on the Explorative Learning System which utilizes both child directed exploration and teacher structured learning formats to facilitate growth in social emotional functioning, cognitive and physical development, communication, and independent skills.
Teacher-directed explorative instruction utilizes multi-modal learning strategies (i.e. visual, aural, and kinesthetic) to teach skills. Using multi-modal strategies not only allows for increased student attainment of skills but provokes the curiosity in children to maintain student attention. Puzzle’s Academy teachers create lesson plans to address the growth of student cognition, social-emotional, motor skills and communication. Activity and instruction is tailored to meet the needs of th students in the class. However, all children are exposed to social-emotional learning activities and school readiness skills (colors, shapes, alphabet, and numbers). Children will not learn just through passively sitting and completing activities but rather through movement, song, role-play, art, reading, and other formats.
Child-directed explorative learning is built within the daily schedule. The child is able to freely explore their environment and play space through both creative and imaginative play.