• Philosophy and Program Information

The Child Development Center is named for:

Effie Bennett-Powe
Distinguished Service Professor in Early Childhood 1964-1998

Effie Bennett-Powe, throughout a 34-year commitment to the welfare and education of young children and families, has provided a role model of excellence reminding each of us to:

Celebrate diversity; cherish the joy of each young child;
rise to challenges which children bring to our world;
respect children, parents, students, and each other;
make a difference in the life of a young child.

Philosophy

The Effie Bennett-Powe Child Development Center preschool program is based on the belief that each child and each family deserve to be respected for their individuality. We believe that every child can learn and thrive if they are provided with the right environment and the time each needs. Operating from these fundamental principles, the Center provides a developmentally appropriate, anti-bias curriculum and considers each child in the context of his/her family. Goals for children are considered according to current child development and early education research. To ensure best practices, the curriculum is aligned with the National Association for the Education of Young Children's (NAEYC) position statement for curriculum, assessment, and evaluation. Constructivist and social learning theories are applied to a variety of learning experiences for children in a physical environment designed especially preschoolers. Children are involved in decision making about classroom activities and rules when appropriate. In this way, children learn that they have worthy ideas and that their individual actions can impact their world. This democratic concept is at the heart of an anti-bias approach to curriculum.

Program Description

The Effie Bennett-Powe Child Development Center provides a nurturing and safe environment for preschoolers and adults. It is located on SUNY Cobleskill's 750-acre college campus nestled among the rolling hills of Schoharie County , New York. The Center serves a dual academic function. It is a learning environment for young children between the ages of three to five years, as well as for college practicum students. A developmentally appropriate, anti-bias curriculum is utilized to educate the whole child, i.e. physically, intellectually, socially, and emotionally as outlined by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. The program is designed to provide a high quality preschool experience for young children and their families, and to serve as model for early childhood majors at the college.

There is one preschool group that operates five days per week, for two and one-half hours per day. There is a master teacher, two baccalaureate student interns, and a team of about four early childhood practicum students teaching in the program. The master teacher is responsible for planning and implementing the curriculum with the interns and practicum students, assessing children, and communicating, both formally and informally, with parents. Campus resources such as dairy and equestrian barns, greenhouses, art gallery exhibits, library, dining halls, and the ski lodge are utilized in planning engaging and authentic preschool curriculum.

The program offers a play-based curriculum in a classroom organized around learning centers from which children may choose, such as: library, block play, dramatic play, table toys, sand/water tables, woodworking, cooking, and expressive arts. Children also spend brief periods each day in structured group meetings to view, listen, and respond to literature, discussions, and demonstrations, etc. Weather permitting, children go outdoors each day for large motor play, and the outdoor environment is frequently incorporated into theme-based curriculum plans.

A strong emphasis is placed on children's development of pro-social skills and positive attitudes towards learning. Class meetings and play experiences are introduced that minimize competition, promote cooperation, and help children develop empathy for others. In keeping with current research on the critical link between early language development and literacy, we provide children with many opportunities to use language for a variety of purposes and to begin to recognize that printed words carry meaning.

We emphasize the importance of each child's family to his/her growth, development and learning. Parents and extended family, as well as community members, are encouraged to participate in the program as volunteers. Children benefit from a variety of adults who visit the classroom to read stories, assist with curriculum projects or field trips, and demonstrate the tools of their professions for children. We are fortunate to have college professors and students from a variety of fields (e.g., botany, animal science, and culinary arts) visit the children with exciting demonstrations of their work.