Curriculum FAQ
What are the teacher/child ratios at Kids Express Learning Center?
Lead teacher to child ratio varies from 3 teachers to 8 children in the nursery, 1 to 8 in the three-year-old room to 1-6/7 in the kindergarten rooms. However, ratios are lower during the day when special lessons occur. Kids Express Learning Center is privileged to have a number of specialists on staff to offer a variety of experiences to the children. Ratios vary throughout the day.
Are staff members trained in First Aid and CPR?
All Kids Express Learning Center's staff members receive professional on-site training in both First Aid and CPR.
What are the qualifications of Kids Express Learning Center's teachers?
Master and Lead teachers at Kids Express Learning Center hold at least a four year degree in Education or a closely related field such as Child and Family Studies.
What method of discipline do the teachers use?
First, teachers create a rich environment for children so that many choices are available. When children have challenging, enjoyable learning materials to engage them, discipline is less of an issue. However, when teachers observe that children are losing self-control they step in to offer assistance. A teacher may redirect a child or suggest another choice be made. Children are encouraged to use their words to express feelings. Modeling of appropriate problem solving skills is part of every good teacher's strategy. And, finally, at Kids Express Learning Center the animals in the nature center serve a purpose in the area of children’s behavior. Caring for and observing animals has a calming effect on children. Compassionate acts seem to serve as a means of reducing aggression.
Does Kids Express Learning Center provide lunch? Snacks?
Kids Express Learning Center does provide mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks for children. Two food groups are offered at each snack. A snack menu is posted inside each classroom. Children must bring a noon lunch to school daily. A lunch must include something from each of the four food groups. It is a good idea to include a frozen ice pack in the lunchbox to keep food safe. A couple of times a month, parents are given the option to have their child participate in a classroom "party meal". Teachers order out and pick up meals from area restaurants for the children's pleasure!
How much involvement will my child have with the animals?
Kids Express Learning Center has a Science/Nature teacher who prepares goal-oriented lessons for children each week. In addition to the interactive lessons offered in the classrooms, children are taken outside to observe animals in the pastures each day. Children can observe animals of the woods and pastures through their classroom windows or on walks to the pastures or woods with their teachers. Children pet the animals and enjoy the antics and sounds of the animals. Our adorable goats beg for and receive dried leaves almost daily since they share a common fence line with the children's playground! Feeding animals is often done with Mr. Rich, our Science/Nature teacher, a classroom teacher or with the After School teachers. When Dr. Judy, our veterinarian comes to visit, the children are invited to observe procedures. Sheep and llama shearing events are attended by all classrooms in the spring of the year.