DaySpring Academy Philosophy of Education

Nurturing a Well-Rounded Child

Our Philosophy of education at DaySpring is based partially on developmental psychologist Jean Piaget’s 4 stages of development. The four development stages described in Piaget's theory are:

1. Sensorimotor stage: from birth to age 2. Children experience the world through movement and senses (use five senses to explore the world). During the sensorimotor stage children are extremely egocentric, meaning they cannot perceive the world from others' viewpoints.
2. Preoperational stage: from ages 2 to 7 (magical thinking predominates. Acquisition of motor skills). Egocentrism begins strongly and then weakens. Children cannot conserve or use logical thinking.
3. Concrete operational stage: from ages 7 to 12 (children begin to think logically but are still very concrete in their thinking). Children can now conserve and think logically but only with practical aids. They are no longer egocentric.
4. Formal operational stage: from age 12 onwards (development of abstract reasoning). Children develop abstract thought and can easily conserve and think logically in their mind.

Our students are in the Sensorimotor and Preoperational stages.  The lessons and activities that we plan are based around these stages.  Teachers design the lessons understanding that the children learn best through movement and that they understand through their 5 senses.
Teachers also understand that in social situations, like playing in the classroom, students cannot understand the perspective of other students. They cannot feel empathy for others, but only their own perspective.

Based on the philosophy of Friedrich Fröbe, we value the importance of play and games in school.  Friedrich Fröbel's great insight was to recognize the importance of the activity of the child in learning. He introduced the concept of “free work” (Freiarbeit) into pedagogy and established the “game” as the typical form that life took in childhood, and also the game’s educational worth. Activities in the first kindergarten included singing, dancing, gardening and self-directed play with the Froebel Gifts. It is our belief that preschool children learn best when they are actively involved in learning.  Therefore, hands on learning is encouraged.  Teachers are urged to use concrete and practical methods to communicate concepts to preschool children.

1. Games accompany every lesson
2.  Real objects are used in lessons whenever possible.
3.  Field trips are taken often.
4. Art & Crafts are a regular active part of the curriculum.
5.  Projects (class and individual) are a large part of the teaching method.

 In all that we do in our curriculum and daily practices we believe that when you plan positive seeds, you reap positive results. Therefore, this is a positive environment where we encourage positive thinking and behaviors in both students and teachers.