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At Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy, teachers use a curriculum that is supported by leading educational theories. The preschool learning center’s educational programs reflect the following four essential components: language development, physical development, cognitive development, and social and emotional development.
One of the programs used at the Valrico, FL, preschool is the Brain Waves® Curriculum, which is exclusive to Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy. Based on the work of some of the best early childhood education professionals in the industry, this curriculum is designed to strengthen the brain’s neural pathways and support language, social-emotional, cognitive, and physical development during these crucial years.
Brain Waves® establishes a rich learning environment that facilitates exploration through sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. These sensory experiences send information directly to the brain and nurture healthy brain growth and future learning.
Combined with the guidance and dedication of committed teachers, the Brain Waves® Curriculum provides stimulating learning experiences that encourage brain development and maximize mental capacity.
In addition to the theories of Jean Piaget, Lev Vygotsky, and Sara Smilansky, the Brain Waves® Curriculum is influenced by the works of Howard Gardner, a developmental psychologist best known for his theory of multiple intelligences.
Who Is Howard Gardner?
A graduate of Harvard, Howard Gardner had originally planned to pursue a legal career. However, when he was introduced to the works of Jean Piaget, a pioneering force in developmental psychology and education, Gardner was motivated to study psychology.
He says, “My mind was really opened when I went to Harvard College and had the opportunity to study under individuals—such as psychoanalyst Erik Erikson, sociologist David Riesman, and cognitive psychologist Jerome Bruner—who were creating knowledge about human beings. That helped set me on the course of investigating human nature, particularly how human beings think.”
The Theory of Multiple Intelligences
Howard Gardner’s theory originated from his time spent working with normal children, gifted children, and adults who had experienced brain damage. His attempts to integrate his research and observations into a cohesive theory led him to publish a book entitled Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences.
The conventional line of thought was that people were born with a single intelligence, which could be measured through methods such as IQ tests and which could not be changed. In his book, Gardner contested this notion. He proposed that all humans are born with eight different intelligence modalities, which are shaped by both environmental and biological influences.
Gardner identified the following intelligence profiles:
- Visual-spatial intelligence
- Linguistic-verbal intelligence
- Mathematical intelligence
- Kinesthetic intelligence
- Musical intelligence
- Interpersonal intelligence
- Intrapersonal intelligence
- Naturalistic intelligence
Since the publication of his book in 1983, Howard Gardner has indicated that several other proposed intelligences — including spiritual intelligence, existential intelligence, and moral intelligence — could be worthy of debate, although he has not seen fit to revise his original list.
Multiple Intelligences and Educational Applications
Gardner’s theory is having a transformative impact within the field of education. He has written, “We are not all the same, we do not all have the same kinds of minds, and education works most effectively for most individuals if…human differences are taken seriously.”
Dr. Mindy L. Kornhaber, Associate Professor of Education at Penn State, suggests that educators find Gardner’s theory very validating. Teachers understand that students learn and think in diverse ways. Kornhaber says that the theory of multiple intelligences “provides educators with a conceptual framework for organizing and reflecting on curriculum assessment and pedagogical practices. In turn, this reflection has led many educators to develop new approaches that might better meet the needs of the range of learners in their classrooms.”
Conclusion
Unlike many daycare centers or childcare providers, the Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy methodology focuses on a whole-child approach. Teachers celebrate the diversity of students, and programs are designed to nurture each child’s individual strengths and interests. Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy of Circa FishHawk works to strengthen and encourage emotional, intellectual, social, and physical well-being through the expertise of the team of childcare providers and a unique partnership with parents.
For more information about the educational programs at Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy of Circa FishHawk, visit the website at kidsrkids.com/circa-fishhawk. Contact the office by phone at (813) 654-7000.