Curriculum

Innovative, Hands-On Experiences to Spark Curiosity and Maximize Potential

All preschools and childcare centers are not created equal. At Carpe Diem Preschools, we offer a unique interdisciplinary approach that is rooted in the science of brain development and maximizes learning potential during the critical early years. Our curriculum is designed to engage each child’s natural curiosity, and is based on best practices in ‘experiential learning.

What is an interdisciplinary approach?

It is the process of learning by doing and reflecting. It is learning through experiences.

How can experiential learning benefit my child?

Research has shown that we retain about 75% of what we do, compared to 5% of what we hear or 10% of what we read. You can tell a child how to ride a bike, however, most will need to get on a bike to experience it before truly understanding how to ride it for themselves. So why don’t we apply this knowledge to how we teach children in schools? In more traditional preschools or daycare centers, teachers often stand before the class explaining new concepts or skills, then students perform tasks such as worksheets to practice. This approach asks children to learn or memorize information based on what they are hearing and reading. Alternatively, experiential learning offers:

A more hands-on approach that allows the child to have first-hand experiences with the materials.
Children are then encouraged to reflect on what they are experiencing, asking “why?” and “how” as they discover answers for themselves.
Rather than relying solely on worksheets or workbooks, children learn through engaging projects featuring hands-on exploration.
Comprehension and retention improve as children learn in a way that is more interesting and engaging to them.
A learning style which has been studied thoroughly for decades and proven to be beneficial, especially for young children.

At Carpe Diem Preschools, our experienced educators combine experiential learning with an interdisciplinary approach to maximize each child’s true learning potential.

In many preschools, daycare programs, and childcare centers, teaching is often focused on literacy alone. At Carpe Diem Preschools, our unique curriculum allows children to work on larger, more exciting projects and goals while learning key concepts across multiple domains of learning. For example, during the ‘Growing Our Garden’ unit, preschoolers will learn letters and numbers in a way that excites them and introduces rich learning experiences in other areas:

MATH: Measuring growth, creating a mural from shapes

SCIENCE: Growing plants, raising worms, and learning where food comes from

LITERACY: Reading informational texts and classic stories about gardens, keeping a science journal, and creating invitations to a garden party

SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL: Working together and collaborating to grow a real garden

What is experiential learning?

Here are some key highlights of our innovative curriculum:

An interdisciplinary approach based on early education research

Many preschool classrooms focus on just one or two areas, rather than providing children the opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary learning. Using research-based and classroom-tested foundations in literacy, science, social-emotional, and mathematics learning, our educators weave together all four domains to ensure that each subject is addressed meaningfully with each child.

Rigorous explorations of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)

Math and science are often scarce in preschools. Unlike other preschool and daycare programs that focus on literacy and social-emotional development, our interdisciplinary approach begins with engaging math and science topics, and integrates language, literacy, and social-emotional skills as natural components of each lesson. This STEM-based approach is proven to be highly effective, tapping into a child’s natural desire to touch, smell, and explore – helping them discover joy in learning and greater success across all subject areas.

Daily Spanish and music education taught by experienced, dedicated experts

We value enrichment opportunities as powerful tools in helping children develop into well-rounded individuals. Unlike many schools, we have dedicated experts teaching Spanish and music education to our students daily beginning in preschool. For infants and toddlers, we utilize Joseph Garcia’s sign language curriculum with amazing success. These ongoing enrichment opportunities are included in each child’s tuition to enhance communication and cognitive skills, and expand abilities in other academic areas.

Project-based, experiential learning

Children learn number concepts best by manipulating and counting real objects, rather than simply completing worksheets. Our students are more engaged because we present concepts in a way that is interesting to them, allowing them to learn by doing rather than learning solely by hearing and reading. They learn while working toward larger, exciting goals, such as playing a coral-reef scavenger hunt or converting their classroom into a museum. High-interest learning centers and hands-on exploration support and extend children’s growing understandings in social-emotional skills, science, literacy, and mathematics.

Challenging and trusting each child’s capabilities

It is amazing what children can achieve when exposed to new things in interactive, interesting ways. Rooted in best practices, our curriculum is designed to trust and challenge children’s capabilities. Our low student-teacher ratios allow our educators time to get to know each student, developing trusting relationships that help them motivate and inspire each one to his or her ultimate learning potential.

Balancing work and play, gross motor and cognitive development

Studies show that the brain relies heavily on body movement, hands-on exploration and gross motor skills to fuel cognitive development. Exploration through purposeful, project-based play and movement gets the brain going! This is why learning is often most effective for children when presented in a way that is hands-on and interesting to them. We believe that learning can and should be joyful, involving both structure AND exploration, teacher guidance AND child discovery, laughter AND accelerated academics. Children have the stamina to engage with challenging concepts when they are able to ‘play’ with ideas and manipulate learning materials with their hands. When content is linked to children’s interests, they cannot wait to come learn, discover, and grow. With indoor activity rooms, children have continued opportunities for exercise and movement regardless of the weather.

Building character, leadership and problem-solving skills

Indoor/outdoor learning

Rooted in research about the benefits of learning outside for young children, our program includes outdoor gardening and exploration. Why does going outside matter? Studies show that children are highly engaged when doing things outside with their hands. Unfortunately, many children today have a lack of outdoor time with a shift to screen time. At Carpe Diem Preschools, we get students moving while also learning about the beauty and wonder of nature.

Measuring and communicating progress

Carpe Diem teachers take a hands-on approach to implementing a curriculum appropriate to your child’s development. Our teachers maintain ongoing assessments of their progress, and consistently observe and document what students do and how they do it. Everything is done with realistic, attainable objectives, so teachers can plan meaningful activities and inform parents about their children’s progress along the way. Parents can access specific monthly and weekly curriculum information for each class online through our Parents’ Resource Center.

Teaching self-control, cooperation and accountability

Curriculum can only be successful when taught by experienced educators who are passionate about helping their students learn and grow. At Carpe Diem Preschools, our teachers use an interactive process of teaching. We believe that learning begins with three core principles:

Children learn best when their physical needs are met, and they feel psychologically safe and secure.
Children construct their own knowledge through repeated social interaction with adults and other children, or through physical experiences with objects.
Children learn best through experimentation and purposeful play, which motivates their interests and curiosity.

The United States falls below other developed countries in literacy, math and science proficiency. At Carpe Diem Preschools, we are working to close the educational gap, providing curriculum that connects with children’s eagerness and readiness to learn, and maximizes this window of opportunity during the early years to spark a love for learning that will last a lifetime! Learn more about what makes Carpe Diem Preschools unique.

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Curriculum

Innovative, Hands-On Experiences to Spark Curiosity and Maximize Potential

What is an interdisciplinary approach?

How can experiential learning benefit my child?

What is experiential learning?

Here are some key highlights of our innovative curriculum:

Schedule a Tour

Frisco

Richardson

Cedar Park – Austin

Richardson

Frisco

Cedar Park – Austin

Richardson

Frisco

Cedar Park – Austin