KING OF PRUSSIA, PA — The Goddard School® has launched its groundbreaking inquiry-based education program, Wonder of Learning™, which aims to enhance early childhood education by tapping into children’s innate curiosity. This program builds on Goddard’s established F.L.EX.® (Fun Learning Experience) framework and nearly four decades of experience in child-centered learning.
Wonder of Learning features a curriculum developed by Goddard’s in-house education team and its Educational Advisory Board. This board includes a range of educators, researchers, physicians, and early childhood experts. The program not only offers a robust curriculum but also integrates assessments of academic and social-emotional progress, family communication via a proprietary app, and extensive training and support for teachers.
“Wonder of Learning continues The Goddard School’s tradition of educational excellence through a game-changing new approach to nurturing learning through experience,” said Dennis R. Maple, chairman and CEO of Goddard Systems, LLC. “Wonder of Learning is an integrated program that meaningfully impacts everyone in the Goddard ecosystem. As you would expect, it provides a world-class education for children and enhanced communication and reporting for families, but it also offers exceptional training for teachers and a point of difference for our franchisees. I’m thankful to the franchisees and faculty from across the country who tested and offered their feedback on this program so we could ensure it provides the best experience for the children and families we serve. Our collective mission at Goddard is to make the world a better place through early childhood education, and Wonder of Learning will play a central role in our continued efforts to do just that.”
At its core, Wonder of Learning employs an inquiry-based approach. This method embraces children’s natural curiosity and sense of wonder. By guiding children through inquiry topics, teachers help them explore their interests and investigate new concepts. This approach ensures that learning is not only relevant but also engaging and meaningful.
“Wonder of Learning, unlike what you find in most preschool settings, is not scripted,” said Dr. Lauren Loquasto, Chief Academic Officer at Goddard. “Rather, the exclusive program is intentionally designed with the flexibility for teachers to tailor the instruction to the questions and interests of the children in the class. This helps foster children’s imaginations and can take the lessons in many different directions, creating endless learning opportunities guided by children’s interests, experiences and curiosity.”
The curriculum focuses on building age-appropriate academic, social, and emotional skills through curiosity, collaboration, investigation, and discovery. It integrates STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) activities, including yoga, art, music, and outdoor play. These activities embed key concepts such as community, design thinking, communication, and critical thinking.
“Young children are fascinated by the world around them. Wonder of Learning builds on this natural curiosity by providing opportunities for inquiry, reflection and meaning-making under the guidance of skilled teachers and in collaboration with peers,” said Dr. Jennifer Jipson, professor of psychology and child development at California Polytechnic State University and a member of the Educational Advisory Board. “The approach is consistent with contemporary research and theory, and it’s exciting to see the focus on supporting cognitive and socioemotional development in ways that will lay a strong foundation for lifelong learning and well-being.”
In addition to the new curriculum, Goddard has published a children’s book, “Curious Blueberry the Carousel Horse,” written by award-winning author Steve Metzger and illustrated by Bruno Robert. The book encourages inquiry-based learning at home and includes tips for families to practice this method in their daily lives.
With the introduction of Wonder of Learning, The Goddard School aims to set a new standard in early childhood education, fostering a love of learning that begins with curiosity and exploration.
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