Our Philosophy

Your child is in great hands.

The Why

Over 1 million neural connections are formed every second during the first few years of life, which means that young learners are retaining the most information they'll ever absorb at a given time. And, what are we doing with the brilliant beginnings of our children's lives?

It has been scientifically proven that the interaction between young learners and their caregivers is the most important component of the developmental process. After this segment of proliferation, neural connections slow down in order to improve efficiency. For instance, after a year of life, a child's brain has become accustomed to the language they've been introduced to and the plasticity allowing them to recognize sounds from other languages is already beginning to diminish. This is not to say that children cannot learn another language, but it is increasingly harder, which means that early childhood education matters– true early childhood education that begins from infancy. Our children are far more capable than what we're offering them. It's time to raise the bar and allow our children to flourish.

The Philosophy

Maven Education is a holistic and existentialist educational model founded on the premise that character-based learning provides children with an elevated emotional intelligence quotient, which acts as a vehicle, driving the way and the extent to which children are able to engage with content. This model meaningfully pairs with curiosity and organic learning to promote constructive, pragmatic thinking. Character-based learning teaches young learners to be:

Active Listeners
Ambitious
Attentive
Collaborative
Communicative
Compassionate
Discerning of Boundaries
Empathetic
Fair
Independent
Influential
Innovative
Inquisitive
Metacognitive
Patient
Pragmatic
Resilient/Tenacious
Self-Advocates
Self-Confident
Self-Controlled

Maven Education inspires exigentally structured curriculum that offers a tactful and deliberate lens for students to become modern global citizens who are engaged with the world around them. The character-based traits above are listed according to when they are introduced. Students continue to build upon traits, while they embrace new traits as they reach new milestones. It is also important to note that students may begin engaging with character traits beyond their current milestone if they are able.

Teaching Strategies

Leading With Love:

A Core Component of Maven Education

Coupled With All Teaching Strategies

High-quality, holistic education is why Maven Education was created. To truly offer this, a foundation of security and love must be laid that services young learners and their caregivers. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs states that our actions are motivated by certain requirements. It is often represented by a pyramid, which includes most basic needs at the bottom and narrows into more complex needs at the top. The physiological needs are fairly apparent and include the needs that are vital to our survival. Some examples of physiological needs include:

Food
Water
Breathing

Upon satisfying physiological needs, the needs for security and safety become salient. The second level of Maslow’s hierarchy explores the need for security and safety. We benefit from order, predictability, and reliability. Therefore, the need for safety and security largely contributes to behaviors. Basic security and safety needs include:

Health and wellness
Safety against accidents and injury

Love and belongingness is the third level of needs. Belongingness, refers to a human emotional need for interpersonal relationships, affiliations, and connectedness. While the first two levels are reinforced by childcare policies, the third level of Maslow's hierarchy of needs is the entry-level point that creates the space for children to engage with their teachers and learn from them. Educators that utilize Maven Education practice active listening, being present, and adapt to the needs of each student. These behaviors lead to increased student participation and engagement, deeper learning, and ensures that teachers keep a pulse on where students are at in their understanding– this also reduces comprehension gaps.

It is no secret that educators are fleeing the field due to exhaustion and unsustainable wages. The extent to which instructors must engage with and understand their students contributes to the maximum 4-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio, mindful educator development, and sustainable wage guideline requirements. Some examples of love and belongingness needs include:

Trust
Love
Acceptance

Maven Education acknowledges individuality when it comes to learning, and emphasizes differentiation to meet varying student needs. While lesson plans will include prescribed teaching strategies that work well with the content, alternative strategies will be selected for students who require another form of instruction. The following list includes strategies commonly found in classrooms that follow the principles of Maven Education:

Student-Centered- Teacher acts as a facilitator or guide as students assume a much more active role in the learning process.

Inquiry-Based Learning - Rather than function as a sole authority figure, in inquiry-based learning teachers offer support and guidance as students work on projects that depend on them taking on a more active and participatory role in their own learning.
Expeditionary Learning- Based on the idea that there is considerable educational value in getting students out of the classroom and into the real world
Play-Based Learning - Involves both child-initiated and teacher-supported learning. The teacher encourages children’s learning and inquiry through interactions that aim to stretch their thinking to higher levels.

Small-Group Instruction - Based on constant activities around workstations: groups working with the teacher and groups working independently on varied activities, such as using manipulatives or computer/online resources.

Project-Based Learning (PBL) - Includes projects in which students acquire knowledge, research, think critically, evaluate, analyze, make decisions, collaborate, and more.

Cooperative Learning - Involves a lot of group work and improves social skills through cooperative work, recreating real-world work situations in which collaboration and cooperation are required.

Teacher-Centered

Micro Direct Instruction: Micro-lessons where teachers convey knowledge to students through a demonstration. This methodology should not exceed 10 minutes and must be paired with student-centered methodologies.
- Story time
- Demonstrating a task
Kinesthetic Learning: Students perform hands-on physical activities rather than listening to lectures or watching demonstrations. Kinesthetic learning values movement and creativity over technological skills. Requiring students to do, make, or create something exercises different learning muscles.
- Play Dough
- Drawing