The overall curriculum of Project Help is designed to meet the individual growth and development needs of each child. Teachers work cooperatively with parents to assess each child's level of development and interests as well as to identify individual goals.
The style is child-centered and caring. Play activities are provided in many areas including art, music, children's literature, language, concept development, large and small muscle activities, and dramatic play.
As each child uses various materials and interacts with other children the teacher observes and encourages learning. Guidance and help are provided as needed to extend the learning and enhance the enjoyment of each activity. University students also assist throughout each semester in the planning and execution of experiences for the children.
In addition to play activities, the individual goals of each child are addressed. These individual goals are taken from the IFSP and incorporated into the child's individualized instruction and group activities.
- Project Help, through all of our activities, strives to create and foster in each child:
- A feeling of belonging
- Love and respect
- Friendliness
- Empathy and consideration for others
- Self confidence
- Initiative and and positive self-image
- An ability to solve problems
- An ability to express feelings
- An ability to participate in large and small group activities
Project Help works towards all of these goal while providing each child an opportunity to develop skills in the physical, social, cognitive, language and emotional areas of growth.
Behavioral Policies and Procedures
In accordance with the prevailing philosophies of all related disciplines, including child development, early childhood and special education, as well as the laws of the State of Tennessee, Project Help uses no form of physical punishment,
One of the most important goals for every preschool program is to enable children to grow towards self-direction, i.e. the ability to be responsible for one's own behavior. The overriding belief is that children at Project Help will be able to interact, socialize, and participate meaningfully with other people in everyday environments.
The Project Help staff believes that a child's behavior has a communication or message. Indirect and direct guidance (prompting) techniques are used by the teachers. Directions are stated in positive ways. Cooperative and desirable behavior is praised. Undesirable behavior is interrupted and redirected toward constructive alternatives. Natural and / or logical consequences are offered by allowing children to make choices with the resulting positive or negative responses.