For 30 years, The Goddard School has been a trusted name among families. Its classrooms are safe, nurturing environments for children six weeks to six years, offering age-appropriate opportunities to explore and discover. Trained teachers lead each child to reach developmental milestones, preparing the children for social and academic success.
At The Goddard School located in Bellingham, MA, the on-site owner, Amy Peterson, works to make sure every family enjoys a warm, positive experience. “We strive to provide the highest quality program for each child,” Amy says. “Our play-based F.L.EX.® Learning Program ensures that we meet high standards specific to early learning, development and care.”
The F.L.EX.® Learning Program (Fun Learning Experience) is grounded in research on how children learn best: children experience the deepest, most genuine learning when they are having fun. It’s designed to help build each child’s emotional, academic, social, creative and physical skills – including 21st century skills such as communication, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking - to provide a well-rounded experience and help each child become school-ready, career-ready and life-ready. The infant, toddler, preschool and pre-kindergarten classrooms integrate this play-based learning philosophy into their lesson plans.
A lifelong love of learning starts at the very beginning of life. In the infant classroom, caring and supportive teachers spend lots of time cuddling and talking to the babies to instill trust, providing a healthy early learning environment for movement, exploration and communication. Teachers also foster social-emotional development as babies develop physical skills such as moving and manipulating toys.
As children begin to walk and talk regularly, their curiosity drives them to explore. The toddler classroom supports children’s developing independence by helping them hone valuable skills, such as the abilities to collaborate and communicate.
Perseverance is the ability to overcome obstacles to achieve a goal, which is essential to children’s success in school and in life. In the preschool classroom, children develop this crucial trait by engaging in learning activities and sticking with them until they solve the problem or complete the project.
Children continue their journey of exploration and discovery in the pre-kindergarten classroom. Teachers help them apply their developing literacy and math skills through purposeful, planned learning experiences. Lesson plans allow children to learn from their teachers and from interactions with other children.
The Goddard School’s Educational Advisory Board (EAB) evolves and shapes Goddard’s play-based learning program, putting research into action and empowering children to become prepared for success in school, career and life. The EAB is a knowledgeable group of educators, researchers and experts in child development, early learning, technology integration, brain development, parent engagement and health and nutrition.
For more information or to schedule a tour, please visit www.GoddardSchool.com/BellinghamMA or call 508-966-4844. Stay connected on Facebook here. The Goddard School of Bellingham is located at 6 S. Maple Street, Bellingham, MA.
