Foundational Stage
Academics at Ektava EM School: The Foundational Program
At Ekatva EM School, our academic journey begins with the WonderRoots Program, our inspiring pre-primary curriculum for foundational learning. Rooted deeply in curiosity, joy, and holistic child development, WonderRoots is designed to make learning a fun-filled adventure for young minds, integrating play-based activities with essential educational content.
At WonderRoots, we believe that learning is an adventure sparked by wonder and nurtured by exploration. Play is never merely downtime; it's a foundational process where children actively engage with the world, building critical thinking, enhancing language skills, and cultivating emotional intelligence. Our child-centered, emergent curriculum places children at the heart of their educational journey, with teachers acting as attentive observers and facilitators who shape learning experiences organically from children's own interests and explorations.
Core Learning Areas: Building Essential Foundations
Our thematic curriculum ensures that each experience develops the whole child across various domains: physically, socially, emotionally, cognitively, linguistically, aesthetically, and culturally.
1. Nurturing Literacy and Communication:
We prioritize the development of literacy and communication skills through a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach. Our curriculum integrates various programs and activities designed to foster language acquisition, phonemic awareness, and effective communication. We implement a systematic phonics approach that introduces children to letter sounds through engaging methods, enhancing early reading and writing skills. Our spoken English program focuses on natural language acquisition through immersive environments that encourage active listening and speaking. Recognizing the benefits of multilingualism, we introduce three languages—English, Telugu, and Hindi—starting in Kindergarten, which broadens linguistic abilities and fosters cultural appreciation. We emphasize the four key language skills: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing (LSRW), seamlessly integrating them into various subject areas and daily routines. Language development is embedded in our daily routines through interactive sessions that build confidence and articulation.
2. Building Blocks of Numeracy: Fostering Mathematical Thinking:
We are committed to building a strong foundation in numeracy for our early learners, fostering mathematical understanding through engaging, hands-on experiences. Children participate in activities that make abstract mathematical concepts tangible, such as counting objects to grasp quantity, identifying and differentiating shapes through puzzles and sorting, and creating patterns to lay the groundwork for algebraic thinking. Numeracy development is seamlessly woven into daily routines through counting songs, number rhymes, and engaging with numbers in stories and creative projects. This approach ensures that students develop essential numeracy skills in a supportive and stimulating environment, instilling a positive attitude towards learning and problem-solving.
3. Exploring the World Around Us: Nature and Environment (EVS Focus):
Our curriculum enriches children’s understanding of the world through direct interaction with their surroundings, focusing on objects, colors, shapes, nature, and environmental awareness. We utilize the natural environment to teach foundational concepts, encouraging children to observe and identify various shapes and colors in their world and during nature walks. Our “World Around Us” theme immerses children in the study of their immediate environment, with hands-on activities that explore local flora and fauna, fostering curiosity and respect for living things. These experiences are designed to cultivate environmental awareness and stewardship from a young age. Field trips are integral to extending learning beyond the classroom, providing real-world contexts and reflective experiences that enhance observational skills and connect classroom studies to the broader world.
At Ektava EM School, our WonderRoots Program ensures that every child’s imagination takes root and blossoms into joyful, lifelong learning, preparing them to flourish in an ever-changing world.
