Callier is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. The program is a state-licensed child development program in collaboration with The University of Texas at Dallas, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and the Dallas Independent School District (Dallas IS). Only families affiliated with UT Southwestern Medical Center or UT Dallas are eligible for enrollment. All Deaf Education students are enrolled through Dallas ISD.
Program Goals
- To provide for all aspects of a child’s developmental needs, including communication and language skills, physical abilities, emotional and social growth and cognitive development.
- To emphasize learning as a social process that stresses exploration and interaction with adults, other children and materials.
- To emphasize learning as an active process, using experiences that are concrete, real and relevant to the lives of young children.
- To foster an environment in which children have an opportunity to communicate, play and develop friendships with children whose interests, abilities, levels of hearing and/or methods of communication may be different than their own.
- To provide opportunities for caregiving relationships that are the foundation of trust and future learning.
Curriculum
All classrooms:
Conscious Discipline is a whole-school solution for social-emotional learning, discipline, self-regulation and classroom management. These strategies and structures transform school culture into a safe haven of cooperation, constructive problem-solving and academic success. All classrooms use strategies and techniques from Dr. Becky Bailey’s Conscious Discipline to teach self-regulation skills emphasizing cooperation rather than fear-based discipline. https://consciousdiscipline.com
Children’s ongoing development is documented using the web-based HighScope Child Observation Record (COR Advantage). The program uses an app that is shared with parents which includes videos, pictures and written observations to document their child’s ongoing development.
The Infant/Toddler Curriculum:
Callier CDP Infant and Toddler program integrates The Program for Infant and Toddler Care (PITC) https://www.pitc.org approach to ensure that teachers are trained on best practices and developmentally appropriate care. Also, environments allow for scaffold learning opportunities and are reflective of the children in care.
The Preschool Curriculum:
In addition to Conscious Discipline, the preschool curriculum is based on HighScope. https://highscope.org
The HighScope Preschool curriculum uses the principles of active learning and supports the child’s positive interactions with adults and peers. The content areas include:
- Approaches to Learning
- Social and Emotional Development
- Physical Development and Health
- Language, Literacy and Communication
- Mathematics
- Creative Arts
- Science and Technology
- Social Studies
While learning in these content areas prepares children for later schooling, HighScope takes the learning process beyond traditional academic subjects by applying methods that promote independence, curiosity, decision-making, cooperation, persistence, creativity, and problem-solving in young children.
Callier Kindergarten Overview
The Callier Kindergarten class continues the developmental philosophy and principles of active learning, which form the foundation of the Callier Child Development Program. Curriculum is based on Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for kindergarten in conjunction with HighScope Conscious Discipline. Educational objectives are addressed throughout the child’s daily experience. Daily routines are organized around targets in literacy, mathematics and other learning areas. Learning activities often include extended projects based on children’s experiences and interests.
A well-balanced schedule provides children with time for independent exploration and discovery, as well as many opportunities for learning through social interactions. During afternoon groups, students build concepts and practice skills in reading strategies and comprehension, writing, math and science.
The “Daily 5” literacy tasks develop children’s independence and confidence in reading and writing, and expand vocabulary. The Handwriting without Tears curriculum develops fine-motor abilities as well as literacy.
Enrichment activities such as Science Lab, Young Artists and visits to the Callier library target STEAM (Science/Technology/Engineering/Art & Design/Math).
Assessment of student progress is continuous, incorporating a portfolio collection of children’s writing and drawing, as well as anecdotal observations using the High/Scope Child Observation Record (COR). Kindergarten report cards are issued each six weeks. Formal reporting conferences are offered in the fall and spring; an additional COR report is sent home at the end of February.
The teacher is a state certified kindergarten teacher.
Schedule
Schedules for all age groups include opportunities for outdoor play and gross motor activities, daily care routines including mealtimes and naps, hands-on child-choice learning experiences, opportunities for interactive play with peers and group learning activities.
Daily schedules for infants and toddlers are individual, based on each child’s developing patterns. As children mature, they settle into more predictable group routines.
Sample Preschool Schedule:
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:30 a.m. | Arrival and quiet activities |
| 8:15 a.m | Breakfast |
| 9:15 a.m | Outside play |
| 9:45 a.m | Small group |
| 10 a.m. | Learning centers |
| 11 a.m. | Music and movement |
| 11:30 a.m | Lunch |
| Noon | Outside play |
| 1 p.m. | Nap |
| 3 p.m | Wake up for afternoon snack |
| 3:30 p.m | Afternoon activities until pick up |
| 6:30 p.m | Callier closes |
