Welcome to the Early Learning Community

Mission:

To provide the highest quality educational environment that will facilitate experiential learning. This will be accomplished by sustaining a learning community whose primary function is to nurture the developmental needs of a diverse group of young children. This community will support the educational needs of students of all ages, educators, and practicing health professionals in a manner that balances learning, research, and community outreach.

Philosophy:

The Early Learning Community is a learning environment organized around the principles of inclusion, active experiential learning and best pedagogical practice. We believe that children learn best in a place where they feel good about themselves, where they are allowed to explore their world, and where the learning materials match their interests and needs. Our learning environment is supported by teachers who recognize developmental norms, respect individual differences, and inspire a sense of wonder and a desire to learn. It is our goal to foster collaboration between students, teachers, and families as a means of supporting all aspects of children's development.

The Early Learning Community Values:

-providing the students, faculty and staff of Pacific University, as well as parents in the Forest Grove area with a model facility dedicated to the education, nurturance and care of their young children

-meeting the needs of learners of many ages, backgrounds and abilities, in an active learning environment based on constructivist pedagogical practice.

-facilitating the implementation of a curriculum that celebrates and nurtures community diversity by modeling multicultural, multilingual, and special education.

-developing innovative learning environments that provide learners with authentic experiences through the active exploration of manipulative materials.

- including art and aesthetically beautiful environments as important factors of an affectively invigorating environment

-documenting and presenting children's work as a fundamental tool to support their evolving understanding

-collaborating with the parents and families of students as essential partners in the learning community.

-fostering the development of literacy in its many forms including alphanumeric, scientific, technological, and expressive.

-modeling the manner in which innovative educational technologies can be an important component of an early childhood learning environment.

-serving as an exemplary early childhood teaching and learning environment that will be an essential element of the teacher preparation programs in the College of Education.

-providing all university programs with a valuable observation and research facility for the study of learning, child development, and educational practice.

-participating in developmentally appropriate research projects that respect children's need for high quality education and care

-providing an environment where Pacific University professionals can collaborate to model interdisciplinary multidimensional approaches to working with young children.

-serving as the catalyst for the establishment and sustenance of critical partnerships with the public schools and private educational providers in Forest Grove and surrounding communities.