by on 31/10/2018 7303
Eduwis, Bandar Botanic, Klang is a community based early childhood education centre providing high quality programmes for 2 to 6 year olds in a welcoming, organized and caring environment that makes children feel right at home. As a vital part of the local community for a wonderful three years, it is peacefully located in a linked house within a guarded compound. Both indoor and outdoor environment are well equipped and resourced; they include conducive classrooms, outdoor playground, and music, home, puppet, science, mathematics, art, reading, computer, water play, sand play and nature corners. The centre is acknowledged for having the “best indoor cleanliness”. The service works towards cultivating happy, confident and successful children through practices of “on-going learning, on-going creating and on-going developing”.
Children are valued for who they are and what they bring to the centre. This is reflected in the respectful and flexible strategies taken into building positive children-teacher relationships.
The educational programmes connect with semi-child centred, hands-on, activity based, discovery, exploratory and constructivist learning approaches. They are also connected to the elements of significant philosophies and theories in early education: Maria Montessori (living skills), Erik Erikson (psychosocial development), Lev Vygotsky (language and social skills), Confucius (moral and spiritual values), Reggio Emilia (creative learning), Jean Piaget (mental development [cognitive and critical thinking]), Shinichi Suzuki (music learning and appreciation), and Friedrich Froebel (natural environment).
Learning experiences reflect a holistic curriculum that pays attention to children’s intellectual, cognitive, social, emotional and physical development. Teachers plan a balanced schedule of programming that consists of both structured “thematic integrated learning activities” and initiatives that encourages purposeful exploration. The learning process sees teachers use common themes to reinforce key curricular areas: English, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin, Early Mathematics, Early Science, Creative Arts (drawing/art and craft), Music (piano/music and movement), ICT, Moral, General Studies, indoor activities (drama/puppet show/dance) and outdoor activities (sand/water/physical/gardening). By using engaging themes that relate to children’s lives helps them feel excited about learning; when the same concepts keep popping up, children can build on prior knowledge and get a deeper understanding with each lesson; children get to demonstrate their understanding of the theme in multiple ways such as storytelling, role-play, games, reading, action songs, and through books, worksheets and real materials. This way children are guided to become more confident and involved learners.
An integrated, holistic approach to learning also focuses on the connections to the natural world. Teachers foster children’s capacity to respect the natural environment, and hence use plenty of recycled materials as instructional resources.
Augmenting the daily routines are an array of after-school and weekend enrichment classes, and annual activities. The full day programme will enhance children’s learning experiences with lesson revision sessions, music and movement, puppet shows, drama and English enrichment through the Cambridge English For Life programme. Saturdays occupy children with fun outdoor and cooking activities. Eduwis works tirelessly to allow the little ones to broaden their minds with annual activities including sports days, storytelling and puppet shows, singing and percussion performances, field trips, mathematics and science competitions, and concerts and graduation day performances; parenting workshops held during open days help families support and expand children’s learning at home with extra activity ideas.
Teaching practices assist children in developing self-help skills and cultivate independence in readiness for school. Teachers scaffold children’s learning and take the time to work through all areas of development – intellectual, social, emotional, communication, conflict management, motor skills and cognitive development.
Eduwis operates within a culture of trust and respect amongst each other as teachers. Teachers are supported to engage in professional development and continual reflection with monthly feedback-based training conducted by the headquarters.
