Blended Approach – Best Practice Instruction for Early Childhood using five guiding principles of Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs:

1. Creating a caring community of learners
2. Teaching to enhance development and learning
3. Planning curriculum to achieve important goals
4. Assessing children’s development and learning
5. Establishing reciprocal relationships with families

These principles are provided by The National Association for Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the world’s largest organization concerned with education, well-being, and development of children birth through age eight.

The Best Practice Model Preschool is based not on a single method or philosophy of instruction, but a selection of the best practices available by each technique.

For example:

• Handwriting Without Tears – letter building and identification
• Every Day Math – Number concepts
• Concious Discipline – Encouraging social and emotional growth
• Montessori – blended ages and intentional materials
• Direct Teaching – modeling new ideas and concepts

Practices are guided by Foundations to the Indiana Academic Standards for Young Children from Birth to Age 5 from The Indiana Department of Education, Family and Social Services Administration, Division of Family Resources and Bureau of Child Care.