Best practices from Canada are now coming to Poland
Parents who are serious about their children’s future know that today’s early childhood education provides the first basic level, which is just as important as all of the subsequent levels. As Canadian educators, responsible for creating one of the best education systems in the world, emphasize, the time children spend in kindergarten should become the first level of education and a base for levels that follow, and is just as important as them.
Why is kindergarten a pivotal time to begin a child’s education?
The first 1,000 days from conception to age 2 are very important for brain development, and the type of care children receive affects their ability to respond to and manage both stimulation and their emotions. During the next 1,000 days, from about 2 to 5 years of age, which is just about preschool age (in Canada, school education begins by age 6), neuronal networks in the brain develop and allow for the development of social, emotional and mental skills that are necessary to make use of cultural tools.
It is at this age that children develop thinking skills such as planning, understanding someone else’s thoughts and motivations, processing information, asking questions, thinking creatively and evaluating information. Language is a key tool that helps children communicate, manage emotions, negotiate and build thinking skills.
A well-prepared early education and care environment includes many components that affect the quality of a child’s learning process. Time organization, space adaptation, qualified teachers and appropriate materials are key to providing optimal conditions for children’s learning and development. Through play, exploration and creativity, children develop skills necessary for lifelong learning.
Is there evidence that a child’s future success depends on preschool education?
Studies conducted by Canadian researchers indisputably prove that children who have received a full-day education in Canadian preschools do significantly better in subsequent stages of education. The research also confirmed that the skills needed for lifelong learning in the 21st century are based on the exploratory, investigative and creative abilities that children pick up right at the preschool age (Royal Bank of Canada Report). Canadian scholars at the Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) in Ontario have also conducted a systematic study of groups of four- and five-year-olds. This study found that children participating in a full-day preschool program score higher in reading, writing and number knowledge than those who participated in a half-day program.
They also tend to show higher self-regulation skills, which is the ability to respond to the stresses of everyday life and is an important factor in predicting a child’s future academic performance.
Moreover, children who attended full-day kindergarten were significantly more likely to meet academic requirements during routine exams in grade 3.
How does early childhood education look in Canadian schools?
The enriching environment of early childhood education is a combination of various elements. Firstly, conversations take place not only between educators and children, but between the children themselves as well. Children have the opportunity to talk and share their experiences and vocabulary, which aids their willingness to learn written language and numbers. Secondly, children are encouraged to persevere and solve problems through asking questions and experimenting. Teachers create space to develop thinking skills. Lastly, the social and emotional aspect is incorporated into daily activities and play.
Through physical activity, children learn how to take care of each other and develop empathy.
In Canadian preschools, learning is combined with play. There are many types of play, such as free play, exploratory play, cooperative play and educational games. Each type of play has different goals and learning outcomes. Early play-based education ensures that children remain active, competent, creative and inquisitive.
Good preschool education from Canada is now available at Maple Bear Canadian schools and preschools
Maple Bear Canadian schools and preschools, which already educate more than 59,000 students, are now sharing the most important discoveries of Canadian educators with the world and implementing Canadian educational methodologies focused primarily on developing 21st century skills.
In accordance with the Maple Bear world standard, classrooms are designed to allow teachers to conduct all kinds of learning activities, whether in groups, pairs or one-on-one. It is possible through a variety of stations called learning centers. The goal of such an arrangement is to make the most of every moment in the classroom, so that the students can constantly discover new things in a challenging, fun and engaging way and stay curious throughout the school day.
Teachers working in Maple Bear facilities in Poland go through the exact same hiring process as teachers in Canada. Their expertise is also developed through the same means. Maple Bear provides constant professional training for teachers. Trainers from Maple Bear’s academic department mentor teachers, introducing them to the latest teaching methods and learning strategies. Maple Bear in Canada is also working together with the Manitoba Provincial Department of Education and the University of Winnipeg, where Maple Bear teachers can further develop their skills.
The global reach of the Maple Bear network is an additional advantage. This allows a direct exchange of knowledge and helps teachers receive opportunities to gain international experience at other Maple Bear facilities around the world.
Maple Bear Krakow would like to invite you to informational meetings
Canadian preschool Maple Bear Krakow will be the third Maple Bear facility to open in Poland, after Katowice and Wroclaw. Preschool and kindergarten Maple Bear are being built at 25 Saska Street, in the heart of the modern and nature-filled campus “The Park Kraków” in the Podgórze district, offering a truly one-of-a-kind opportunity to develop and learn in accordance with the best standards of the Canadian education system.
Maple Bear enters Kraków’s education market with an offer for preschool and kindergarten students. Kindergarten recruitment for the children born between the years 2018 and 2022 for the 2024/2025 school year began on February 1, 2024.
Children who will begin their education at Maple Bear will be able to continue their education at one of the most modern campuses in the country, the construction of which will begin soon.