There are four multi-age classrooms at Desert Spring, each one offering a rich, engaging, and carefully designed learning environment. We are proud of our diverse staff who brings their own unique gifts and talents to the school. We recognize these differences as an asset to our program and honor each teacher’s individuality and autonomy in the classroom. It is an expectation that in their time at Desert Spring, children will experience and benefit from a variety of teaching styles and personalities. The consistency that we offer from year to year is rooted in our Guiding Principles which are then supported by schoolwide practices.
Guiding Principles
- Each child progresses at a unique rate, has an individual learning style and possesses diverse abilities.
- Young children learn through active exploration of their environment when there is a balance between self-discovery and adult initiated projects.
- Children’s learning is based on prior knowledge and experiences guided by nurturing adults.
- Optimal learning occurs in environments where the adults are respectful of the child, the family, the language, the culture, and the community.
- Children’s learning is best understood using ongoing observation, anecdotal record keeping, and collection of children’s work.
- Children develop a sense of empowerment by having many opportunities to make choices within their daily routines.
- Children learn best when their nutritional and health needs are met.
- Families are the primary caregivers and educators of young children.
- Families, educators & children are equal protagonists in children’s learning.
- Young children are competent and capable learners regardless of their backgrounds, experiences, and varying abilities.
