TOOLS OF THE MIND OVERVIEW

CURRICULUM

The Tools of the Mind Curriculum is based on the Vygotskian philosophy of learning concentrating the development of children’s underlying cognitive skills and specific literacy in a developmentally appropriate way. The program focuses on small group instruction where children will be able to have individualized attention.

TYPICAL DAY

The Tools of the Mind activities build upon one another throughout the year. The focus at the beginning of the year is Self-Regulation and building the classroom community to enable the teacher to more efficiently teach important literacy, math, science and social studies skills later in the year. The structure of the day stays the same, but the content changes throughout the year so that the students can anticipate what will happen next.

LITERACY ACTIVITIES

Children have the opportunity to practice listening for a purpose, turn-taking, pre-writing skills and Self Regulation.

MATH AND SCIENCE ACTIVITIES

Children have the opportunity to practice counting, number recognition, observa-tion and recording of information, work-ing with a partner and Self–Regulation.

PLAY PLANNING AND PLAY

Children make a play plan before they go to their centers to further develop Self–Regulation; as the year progresses these plans provide an authentic opportunity for many literacy concepts. Play provides children the opportunity to practice language, social-emotional skills and taking another’s perspective.