Curriculum

Overview 

At New Generation Learning Center, our mission is to support well-rounded child development that nurtures academic, social, and emotional growth. We understand that every child learns differently and develops at their own pace, which is why our dedicated teachers create personalized lesson plans tailored to the needs of each classroom. We are committed to guiding and empowering every child to reach their fullest potential. For us, success goes beyond early reading skills or physical achievements. We emphasize emotional intelligence, empathy, teamwork, independence, and a love for learning. Our approach ensures children gain knowledge while also building strong critical thinking and problem solving abilities. Aligned with the New York Standards and Guidelines for Early Childhood Education, our curriculum consistently exceeds expectations across all areas of development.

Socioemotional Development 

At our daycare, social and emotional development is a core focus of everything we do. We recognize that families choose daycare not only for care, but also to give children meaningful opportunities to build friendships and grow socially. Through guided conversations and an emphasis on good manners, we actively encourage positive interactions. Each week, we focus on essential skills such as sharing, taking turns, using indoor voices, respecting personal space, expressing emotions with words, and asking adults for help when needed.

Alongside social growth, we help children learn important real-world information about their surroundings, including their parents’ names, home address, and phone numbers. Our goal is to nurture independence, self-help skills, and self-confidence in every child. These foundations are vital for kindergarten readiness and for building the skills children need to succeed in everyday life.

 

Languages

From their very first day, children are surrounded by rich language experiences, naturally eager to imitate the sounds and words they hear. At our center, we guide young learners from their first words and songs to achieving important early reading milestones by the time they complete PreK. Daily story time and independent reading moments help spark curiosity and foster a lifelong love of books.

We use a variety of engaging learning strategies to introduce letters and early literacy skills, thoughtfully designed to support different learning styles. Visual, tactile, and auditory activities such as letter scavenger hunts, forming letters with playdough, tracing, and gradually moving into writing and spelling help children build confidence step by step. Our goal is to support each child’s journey from recognizing a few letters to reading their own name and enjoying simple, age-appropriate books.

To further enhance language development, we also introduce Russian, giving children early exposure to multilingual learning and a deeper appreciation of diverse cultures.

 

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math).

This area combines early science education with an emphasis on creativity and innovative thinking. Starting as early as age two, children are introduced to foundational scientific concepts through hands-on exploration. They discover counting, measurement, color mixing, and simple chemical reactions, such as acids and bases, in ways that spark curiosity and excitement. Our approach encourages children to ask questions, make predictions, and form their own hypotheses, nurturing critical thinking from an early age.

We present a variety of engaging challenges designed to strengthen creative problem-solving skills. Children move from observing experiments to actively participating, conducting investigations, predicting outcomes, and documenting their discoveries. The curriculum also supports early math development, guiding children from counting fingers and steps to understanding basic addition, subtraction, and simple word problems.

 

Arts and Crafts 

Artistic expression is a key part of children’s growth, offering a meaningful way for them to communicate and explore their creativity. At our center, art is woven into the curriculum for all age groups, highlighting its importance in fostering imagination and self-expression.

While we provide guidance and inspiration for projects, our focus is on the creative process rather than the finished product. Children learn essential skills such as cutting with scissors, coloring within lines, using glue, and exploring painting techniques. Most importantly, we encourage them to enjoy creating without the pressure of perfection, supporting their artistic journey while giving them the freedom to express themselves authentically.

 

Music and Theater 

Participation in music and theater is just as important as learning letters and numbers. At our center, we emphasize musical expression through structured music classes held twice a week. During these sessions, children explore rhythm, tones, and melodies, learn to play instruments together in a group “band,” sing, clap, and engage in a variety of interactive musical activities.

As they grow, children have opportunities to showcase their talents during special events, gaining valuable performance experience. These activities foster teamwork, instill responsibility through collaboration, build self-confidence, and help children overcome or prevent stage fright. By nurturing creativity and self-expression, music and theater play a vital role in holistic development, preparing children for a well-rounded and confident future.

 

Sports 

Physical activity is essential for early childhood development, supporting both healthy bodies and active minds that learn and perform better. At our center, we ensure children participate in at least 2 hours of vigorous physical activity each day. Whenever weather permits, we take them outdoors to promote healthy exercise habits and a love for movement.

Daily routines incorporate engaging activities such as dance during circle time, keeping children active and minimizing long periods of sitting. Our curriculum also offers extracurricular opportunities, including soccer, dance, gymnastics, and yoga, all designed to encourage fitness, coordination, and a lifelong appreciation for a healthy, active lifestyle.

 

Gardening 

Our center is dedicated to sustainability, creating a learning environment where children discover the importance of caring for the planet. Through our year-round garden program, children explore fundamental concepts in zoology and botany. They observe the life cycles of butterflies, ladybugs, frogs, and even chickens, nurturing them from larvae or eggs and gaining hands-on experience with nature. Composting is also emphasized, with children learning about the crucial role worms play in healthy soil.

In the fall, children collect leaves and identify local trees, while gardening activities include making bird feeders and studying songbirds and other backyard birds. During winter, gardening continues indoors as we prepare for the summer season. Our curriculum also features aquaponics projects, where children use fish tanks to explore sustainable food production and gain a deeper understanding of eco-friendly practices.