Frequently Asked Questions
What is your curriculum based on? Does it focus on something in particular?
Our curriculum is based on the development of the whole child and their emerging capacities. We aim to provide experiences and opportunities that develop skills and increase knowledge. Yet, more than knowledge and skills, our curriculum focuses on forming a strong self-awareness, healthy expression, socio-emotional skills, attitudes and approaches to learning and to engaging their world.
To illustrate, strong literacy skills in the areas of listening, speaking, writing are formed even before they are taught to decode and encode. Everyday experience in numeracy, pattern and order is provided to go beyond counting and memorizing.
Young children are developing their self-concept and an awareness of the world. Our curriculum will be an inquiry-based, and integrated one that includes real world sciences and social studies.
What are the school beliefs and educational philosophy?
We apply a child-centered approach to learning where we acknowledge every child’s skills and interests. We take time to provide an individualized approach, understanding where each child is at developmentally. We provide a purposeful education with the child’s academic and socio-emotional development in mind.
We believe that children play an active role in their learning. Children understand the world around them through play. Spark Discovery Center provides them with a safe and encouraging environment where they can experience things for themselves and build skills such as independence, curiosity, and responsibility very early on. We also value listening and adapting to the specific needs of each child.
Do you accept children with special needs?
Spark Discovery Center is an advocate for inclusivity. We accommodate children whose developmental challenges can be reasonably addressed in our Center, with the current available resources and services.
As a parent, what will my involvement be like?
Children thrive in environments that are consistent and reliable. Parents and teachers work together to do just this in order to understand the child’s profile and adapt according to the child’s specific academic and socio-emotional needs. Families play an integral part in the education experience. We welcome parents and family members who wish to volunteer by sharing an interest with the children. We also encourage families to sign up for committees and attend events at the center.
What are your teachers like? What are their backgrounds?
Our teachers are lifelong learners who are excited to teach and learn with our students, who believe in collaboration, and recognize that they are part of a community. They are trained in the areas of Psychology, Early Childhood Education, Child and Family Life, and bring with them years of experience in teaching and working with children.
How are children assessed and how often?
We view children as individuals born with their inherent traits and personalities, belonging to their families who have their unique characteristics, experiences and culture, developing and responding emotionally, cognitively, socially, and physically, at they at their own pace, and with their own internal rhythm. A Child Profile is created to establish in essence their Personalized Learning Plan.
Teachers observe and monitor children in their daily activities across a substantial length of time while using and generally referring to established child development scales such as the Gesell Development Scale and the Brigance Inventory of Early Development. Anecdotal narratives are recorded. Individual Portfolios are built over time including evidence of learning through their activities, works and reflections.
Parent-Teacher conferences are scheduled mid-term and end of term.
How are children disciplined?
Spark promotes children’s self-awareness and independence while sustaining a compassionate and trusting environment. Discipline begins with our caring staff who set a good example, set clear and appropriate behavioral expectations, and use active feedback and, when needed, gentle redirection.
We recognize that children are not born knowing right from wrong and with a set of social and behavioral skills. Therefore, we make sure that the space is organized, parameters are identified, routines are set and step-by-step directions are clear so that children learn their boundaries and how to be confident and caring members of the Spark community.
Our foremost goal is to create a learning culture and space that is safe, dynamic and happy for each and every child and hence this is also the motivation we provide for children’s behavior. If they feel safe and happy then they will desire this for their peers. If they are safe and happy then learning and growth happens.
Our curriculum is based on the development of the whole child and their emerging capacities. We aim to provide experiences and opportunities that develop skills and increase knowledge. Yet, more than knowledge and skills, our curriculum focuses on forming a strong self-awareness, healthy expression, socio-emotional skills, attitudes and approaches to learning and to engaging their world.
To illustrate, strong literacy skills in the areas of listening, speaking, writing are formed even before they are taught to decode and encode. Everyday experience in numeracy, pattern and order is provided to go beyond counting and memorizing.
Young children are developing their self-concept and an awareness of the world. Our curriculum will be an inquiry-based, and integrated one that includes real world sciences and social studies.
What are the school beliefs and educational philosophy?
We apply a child-centered approach to learning where we acknowledge every child’s skills and interests. We take time to provide an individualized approach, understanding where each child is at developmentally. We provide a purposeful education with the child’s academic and socio-emotional development in mind.
We believe that children play an active role in their learning. Children understand the world around them through play. Spark Discovery Center provides them with a safe and encouraging environment where they can experience things for themselves and build skills such as independence, curiosity, and responsibility very early on. We also value listening and adapting to the specific needs of each child.
Do you accept children with special needs?
Spark Discovery Center is an advocate for inclusivity. We accommodate children whose developmental challenges can be reasonably addressed in our Center, with the current available resources and services.
As a parent, what will my involvement be like?
Children thrive in environments that are consistent and reliable. Parents and teachers work together to do just this in order to understand the child’s profile and adapt according to the child’s specific academic and socio-emotional needs. Families play an integral part in the education experience. We welcome parents and family members who wish to volunteer by sharing an interest with the children. We also encourage families to sign up for committees and attend events at the center.
What are your teachers like? What are their backgrounds?
Our teachers are lifelong learners who are excited to teach and learn with our students, who believe in collaboration, and recognize that they are part of a community. They are trained in the areas of Psychology, Early Childhood Education, Child and Family Life, and bring with them years of experience in teaching and working with children.
How are children assessed and how often?
We view children as individuals born with their inherent traits and personalities, belonging to their families who have their unique characteristics, experiences and culture, developing and responding emotionally, cognitively, socially, and physically, at they at their own pace, and with their own internal rhythm. A Child Profile is created to establish in essence their Personalized Learning Plan.
Teachers observe and monitor children in their daily activities across a substantial length of time while using and generally referring to established child development scales such as the Gesell Development Scale and the Brigance Inventory of Early Development. Anecdotal narratives are recorded. Individual Portfolios are built over time including evidence of learning through their activities, works and reflections.
Parent-Teacher conferences are scheduled mid-term and end of term.
How are children disciplined?
Spark promotes children’s self-awareness and independence while sustaining a compassionate and trusting environment. Discipline begins with our caring staff who set a good example, set clear and appropriate behavioral expectations, and use active feedback and, when needed, gentle redirection.
We recognize that children are not born knowing right from wrong and with a set of social and behavioral skills. Therefore, we make sure that the space is organized, parameters are identified, routines are set and step-by-step directions are clear so that children learn their boundaries and how to be confident and caring members of the Spark community.
Our foremost goal is to create a learning culture and space that is safe, dynamic and happy for each and every child and hence this is also the motivation we provide for children’s behavior. If they feel safe and happy then they will desire this for their peers. If they are safe and happy then learning and growth happens.
Programs |
About Us |
2nd Floor, Montivar Building,
34 Jupiter Street, Barangay Bel-Air, Makati City 1209, Metro Manila Philippines +632 815 7715 +63 977 823 1515 sparkdiscoverycenter@gmail.com © COPYRIGHT 2017. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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