General Curriculum

Little Dumplings Early Learning Center is committed to providing a positive, nurturing environment for children from the ages of 6 weeks to 12 years that stimulates health, physical, emotional, social, communication, and cognitive development, appropriate to each child's age and abilities. In addition, we are committed to encouraging intellectual development through fun experiences and activities that will introduce basic concepts and encourage the exercise of language, listening and thinking skills. Our program is designed around multiple classrooms. Age divisions are merely a guideline. Placement in classroom is based on child's developmental readiness.

An annual curriculum is established based on the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards (WMELS). These standards were developed by the Wisconsin state departments of Public Instruction, Children and Families, and Health Services. At Little Dumplings Early Learning Center, we base our lesson plans, goals, assessments and portfolios off all 5 of these domains, to focus on the individual whole child. Each child will have monthly goals set and individual lesson plans to achieve these goals. Progress made will be tracked through an individual assessment and portfolio.

Along with the WMELS, we have 12 monthly themes, split into four sub categories each month. The themes, units and activities are selected to provide children with opportunities to explore and learn about themselves, their place in the community, and the natural world around the theme. Emphasis is placed on learning by doing and real life materials are incorporated into activities whenever possible. Colors, shapes, numbers and phonic awareness are also incorporated on a weekly basis.