Loop Learning Center has adopted the practice of continuity of care and relationships for its Birth to Three classrooms. Continuity of care is the practice of keeping children with the same teachers and family support worker for multiple years and not transitioning them to new groups and new caregivers each year. Our model of choice is looping, which is same-age cohorts with the whole group staying with the teachers as they move together to a new classroom. Research on brain development and how children learn clearly identifies the importance of learning in the context of relationships. The social and emotional development of young children and the nature of their relationships and attachments are critical to their development. It is through these relationships and interactions with families and other adults that infants and toddlers learn and develop.

Our infant program offers a nurturing, safe and loving environment. We maintain a 1:4 ratio in our infant program. Teachers use the Creative Curriculum and the Illinois Early Learning Guidelines to plan age appropriate individualized experiences for each child. Teachers intentionally plan in the areas of: Social-emotional, Physical, Cognitive and Language.

Our preschool program is geared towards ensuring that the children are ready to succeed and eager to learn when they leave the program to enter Kindergarten. Classrooms have been set up with interest areas that offer opportunities for teachers to teach content as children explore materials independently or in groups throughout the day. Teachers provide materials to initiate and guide learning in literacy, math, science, social studies, creativity and technology in each interest area.

Teaching strategies are tailored to children’s ages, developmental capacities, language and culture and abilities or disabilities. Children are exposed to rich vocabulary daily through stories and lots of experiences using appropriate language that will better enable them to learn how to read, write and understand written and oral language. Through strategic lesson planning teachers, plan opportunities for children to communicate, interact, explore and engage in activities that are active and quiet, social and individual, creative and planned, routine and flexible, and teacher-directed and child initiated according to the child’s own needs and desires which ultimately leads to the children meeting the school readiness goals.

Our school age program consists of afterschool care and a Summer program. Children in the afterschool program receive assistance with their homework and are provided educational and fun activities and experiences while in our care. During the Summer, students engage in many field trips and the option of taking swimming lessons. They also engage in activities and crafts that are age appropriate and educationally based in order to keep their skills.