Curriculum
Overview
Local Stream Program
Our Little Dalton Local Stream is dedicated to providing high quality multilingual education for children aged from 2 years to 6 years and is designed to provide children with a strong foundation for their educational journey. With a focus on holistic education, language development, and a seamless transition to primary school, the curriculum incorporates various approaches and subjects to foster the overall growth and development of young learners. Our local stream program serves both full day and half day students from Pre-Nursery to K3.
Holistic Education
Holistic education is at the core of our local curriculum. It recognizes the importance of nurturing the whole child, encompassing students’ physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and creative development. The local curriculum includes a wide range of subjects and activities, such as art, music, physical education, and character education. These holistic experiences foster well-rounded individuals who are not only academically competent but also possess strong values, resilience, and a sense of community.
We place a strong emphasis on building a solid foundation for a smooth transition to primary school in our local curriculum. Children are provided with age-appropriate activities and experiences that develop their cognitive, social, and emotional skills. Students in the Local Stream engage in structured learning, acquire essential literacy and numeracy skills, and cultivate good study habits. This strong foundation ensures that children are well-prepared for the challenges of primary education and transition seamlessly to primary school programs.
Montessori Approach
Our local curriculum incorporates elements of the Montessori approach into the daily routine and into our teaching methods. The Montessori approach emphasizes hands-on learning, self-directed exploration, and individualized instruction. By incorporating these principles, the local curriculum promotes independence, critical thinking, and a love for learning in young children. Exposure to Montessori-style learning in our local stream works hand in hand with our International Stream’s, Dalton Plan, which similarly focuses on experiential-based learning, allowing ample opportunity for collaboration and connection between Little Dalton’s Local and International Streams.
Maria Montessori (1870-1952)
“The goal of early childhood education should be to activate the child’s own natural desire to learn.”
Maria Montessori was an Italian physician, educator, and innovator, best known for developing the Montessori method of education. Born in 1870, she was one of the first female physicians in Italy, and her work with children with special needs inspired her to create an educational approach that focused on the individual child’s development.
Montessori developed the Montessori method through years of observation, experimentation, and practice. She worked with children from a variety of backgrounds and studied their behavior and learning patterns. Through her work, she noticed that children have a natural curiosity and desire to learn, and she believed in giving children freedom within a structured environment, allowing them to learn at their own pace and pursue their interests. She emphasized hands-on learning, self-directed activities, and the use of specially designed materials to foster independence, critical thinking, and social skills.
Although the structure of routine remains an important part of our Local Stream’s approach, Maria Montessori’s unique curriculum based on her observations of young children and their natural inclination is incorporated into the classroom environment and learning in Little Dalton’s Local Stream to mirror Montessori’s respect for the child, and her goals of nurturing independence, and fostering a love of learning.
Montessori’s student and colleague, Helen Parkhurst, went on to develop the ‘Dalton Laboratory Plan’, which is incorporated into learning in our school’s International Stream. While Parkhurst’s work was distinct from the Montessori method, her collaboration with Montessori’s ideas contributed to the evolution of her educational theories and practices, which makes for a symbiotic partnership between approaches in Little Dalton’s Local and International Streams.
“The greatest gifts we can give our children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.” Maria Montessori
The Dalton Plan
The Dalton Plan is based on an educational pioneer, Helen Parkhurst’s strong belief that whenever children are given responsibility for their learning, they instinctively seek the best way of achieving it and execute their decisions with focus and diligence, leading to success.
Journey
Little Dalton is a private, independent kindergarten with a diverse student body which provides child-centered education for families in Hong Kong.
About
Little Dalton is a progressive, dual language kindergarten guided by our Dalton Plan. Our curriculum is specially designed and delivered by experts to combine diligence and creativity.
Admissions
If you have any questions
on admissions,
please email us at
admissions@ldk.edu.hk
Contact
41B, Stubbs Road, Hong Kong
T: +852 3612 5760
E: info@ldk.edu.hk