why us?
IE STEM is Unmatched
Innovation and Exploration STEM Early Learning Center is a dedicated STEM-focused preschool committed to laying a strong early foundation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Our curriculum aligns with PA Standards for Early Childhood Education and incorporates scientific and engineering practices. IE STEM Preschool is tailored for children aged 6 weeks to 6 years and up to 8 years for our STEM summer camp. Our curriculum is rooted in research and offers children developmentally appropriate activities both within and beyond the classroom. Our program is one-of-a-kind and focuses on building early STEM awareness and interest. STEM is geared towards upper grades and incorporated after students are already established in their educational experience. This is why we believe it’s important to expose and build early STEM foundations for young children. Children are also engaged in STEM challenges that allow them to work in groups and promote collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and creativity! Our STEM lab provides a space for children to immerse themselves in hands-on exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics materials. We prioritize individualized learning experiences that are interactive and engaging. Through our approach, children are encouraged to employ their five senses and apply the scientific method to better comprehend their surroundings.
Social & Emotional Development
At Innovation & Exploration STEM Early Learning Center, we provide a safe and nurturing environment where children can freely communicate their needs and emotions as well as conflict resolutions. We support a child’s self-identity and social competence by modeling respect for the child. We use positive guidance techniques that support each child’s development of self-control and a sense of competence. At IE, we also believe that positive social and emotional development plays an important role when teaching young children. These developments promote self-confidence, independence, self-control, and self-awareness. They also enhance the ability to understand, recognize, and manage emotions as they develop meaningful relationships with others.
Interactive Playground
Play is an important part of young children’s development. At IE, we have an interactive playground that is set up where children can explore and engage in their environment. The playground allows children to engage in meaningful play as they learn, share, socialize, and develop relationships with each other.
Parent Teacher Partnership
At IE, we value parents’ input to have a home-school partnership, which can lead to a positive outcome and lifelong rewards for parents and children. Having a positive home-school partnership also improves positive behaviors and academic achievements. At IE, we also welcome and encourage parents’ involvement.
Safety and Security
IE utilizes one of the most advanced security management software programs on the market today. This starts with security systems at the front door, where parents use a personal identification number (PIN) or fob to gain entry into the building. This records each child’s in or out of the school and identifies the approved individual picking up or dropping off. Children are only released to those individuals listed on records in the enrollment package and confirmed by an identification check.
PERIMETERS AND PLAYGROUND SAFETY: All perimeter and playground gates are locked and monitored by employees and cameras to ensure that children enjoy outdoor play safely.
Behavioral Support
At IE, serving healthy snacks to children is important. We want to encourage healthy eating habits. IE offers a healthy snack program where each child brings in and shares a healthy snack with his or her class. This program promotes sharing, which encourages empathy and teaches children about compromise. Parents are sometimes faced with unpredictable behaviors with their children inside and outside of the classroom. Some behaviors can be challenging and disruptive to the lives of families. At IE, we have a licensed behavior specialist to provide families with positive behavioral strategies based on the function of their child’s behavior. IE uses positive reinforcement to improve desired behavior as well as having positive behavioral management strategies that we follow. A healthy snack program is also a great opportunity to take your child to the supermarket and pick out a healthy snack to share and talk about the benefits to the body. We also have “Try it Friday,” where we introduce a fruit or vegetable to the children. We encourage children to try new foods.
Innovation & Exploration positive behavioral management practices:
- Define, teach, and set clear expectations
- Prevent negative behaviors, teach replacement/desired behaviors, and reinforce desired behaviors.
- Help children to understand choices and consequences
- Follow daily routines
- Teach empathy and social skills
- Help children to understand and recognize emotions
- Use positive reinforcement
Healthy Snack Program
At IE, serving healthy snacks to children is important. We want to encourage healthy eating habits. IE offers a healthy snack program where each child brings in and shares a healthy snack with his or her class. This program promotes sharing, which encourages empathy and teaches children about compromise. The IE healthy snack program is also a great opportunity to take your child to the supermarket and pick out a healthy snack to share and talk about the benefits to the body. We also have “Try it Friday,” where we introduce a fruit or vegetable to the children. We encourage children to try new foods.
At IE we have a pre-reading program for children that will be going to kindergarten. Reading is not about memorization of words so we focus on the early literacy foundation. Giving children the early literacy skills that they can build on when they get to kindergarten. The program focuses on letter-sound correspondence, sounding out of words, comprehension, and phonics/ phonemic awareness. In addition to the literacy program, we also offer an online access to Epic where children can read a large selection of books. This also promote independent reading and also help children to fall in love with reading.
Safety and Security
IE utilizes one of the most advanced security management software programs in the market today. This starts with security systems at the front door, where parents use a Personal Identification Number (PIN) or fob to gain entry into the building. This records each child’s in or out of the school and identifies the approved individual picking up or dropping off. Children are only released to those individuals listed on records in the enrollment package and confirmed by an identification check.
PERIMETERS/ PLAYGROUND SAFETY: All perimeter and playground gates are locked and monitored by employees and cameras to ensure that children enjoy outdoor play safely.