Learning
Rainbow is dedicated to helping children build the foundation for a lifelong love of learning. Children at Rainbow are prepared for kindergarten. When children are a part of a positive environment with trusting relationships, they have an unlimited capacity for learning. Our multi-faceted curriculum offers activities for large group and small group, individual attention, and activities that are both quiet and active. Teachers begin with the Creative Curriculum and build effective lesson plans using research based initiatives and best practices. Some curricula we use include The SEEDS of Early Literacy, literacy objectives from The Minnesota Reading Corps, social-emotional support from TACSEI, and Project Early Kindergarten.
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Infants
Children ages 6 weeks to 16 months are considered infants. Infants are cared for in a nurturing environment that focuses on the individual needs of each child. Teachers understand that infants are at the most vulnerable stage of their emotional and physical development. Each day begins by giving your teacher information about your child's morning. Throughout the day, the teacher completes this form which details your child's activities, moods, and milestones. Teachers are sensitive to infant's needs. Parents and teachers work together to develop an individual daily schedule, plan healthy nutrition, and share information about the infant's likes and dislikes. Infants participate in large group time including a story and a song, practice language skills, tummy-time, participate in a sensory activity, and develop large muscle skills. Among other things, infants enjoy listening and dancing to music, singing songs, playing with manipulative toys, swinging in infant chairs, and going for buggy rides.
Toddlers
Children ages 16 months to 33 months are considered toddlers. This is an exciting age for any child and for any parent. Children are learning how to talk, using new motor skills, and developing positive relationships with parents, teachers, and friends. Teaching in the toddler room is relationship based, focusing first on the social-emotional development of all children. Toddlers participate in daily activities such as morning meeting, active learning/choice time, sensory activities, and large muscle time. Some skills toddlers learn include sign language, counting, colors, shapes, and letters. Toddlers love to play. We offer children the freedom to choose from a variety of activities, equipment, and materials that relate to their interests. Learning new words is a huge part of growing up. Teachers facilitate communication through words, sign language, and body language (such as showing a friend a nice touch). In partnership with parents, teachers document children's activities, moods, and milestones to share with parents at the end of each day.
Preschoolers
Preschoolers are children ages 33 months to 5 years. For children in this age group, Rainbow offers a Pre-K program in conjunction with St. Paul Public Schools Project Early Kindergarten (PEK). PEK is a research based program that guides teachers in creating effective lesson plans and helping each child reach his or her fullest potential. Learn more about PEK on our Partnerships page, or by clicking here. Children are given the opportunity to talk, read, and write as much as possible in order learn the skills they will need for kindergarten and beyond. Preschoolers work on identifying emotions, communicating with friends and teachers, and build positive relationships. Lesson planning is focused around five key indicators of future success in school: letter naming, picture naming, alliteration, rhyming, and math. Each day, children participate in Early Childhood Workshop (ECW) which consists of the following main components: greeting, ease into the day, sign in, active learning/choice time, morning meeting, small group, and regroup to revisit.
