At La Colmena, our pedagogical approach is rooted in a comprehensive methodology that combines Spanish Language Immersion, Project-Based Learning (PBL), and the renowned The Creative Curriculum for Preschool. These elements work together to create a dynamic, flexible, and child-centered educational environment tailored to each child’s needs and curiosities. This approach aims to provide deep, meaningful, and collaborative learning experiences.
Spanish Language Immersion
At La Colmena, language immersion is the cornerstone of our methodology. Children learn Spanish organically by interacting with the language through everyday, practical experiences, without direct translations. This approach allows them to develop linguistic and cognitive skills in an authentic and meaningful context.
According to Stephen Krashen's Comprehensible Input Hypothesis, a renowned linguist and language acquisition specialist, children learn a second language more effectively when they are exposed to it in natural situations, where they can connect what they hear with what they see and experience. Language immersion facilitates this process by allowing the language to be absorbed naturally, without the need for explicit grammatical explanations. This approach provides smoother and more lasting learning, as it is integrated directly into their daily lives.
Project-Based Learning (PBL)
Project-Based Learning (PBL) fosters curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking by engaging children in hands-on and collaborative projects. Following the philosophy of John Dewey (1938), one of the pioneers of the constructivist approach, children learn best when solving real-world problems and working as a team. Dewey believed that education should focus on experience and active participation by students. At La Colmena, every project is designed to connect theory with everyday life, allowing children to acquire knowledge while developing problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills.
PBL has been proven effective in promoting active and meaningful learning. According to Thomas (2000), a leading researcher in the field of PBL, projects encourage deep and lasting learning because children not only apply what they have learned but also reflect on it and connect it to their daily lives. At La Colmena, we use hands-on studies like "Exploring Trees" to help children understand the world around them while developing key skills. These studies include activities such as direct observation, experiments, art, and group reflections, connecting theory with practice.
Would you like to learn more about how PBL works in our program?
Click the button below to explore an example study in depth:
The Creative
Curriculum
At La Colmena, we use The Creative Curriculum for Preschool, an educational program recognized for its scientific foundation and alignment with the state early learning guidelines and the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework. This curriculum supports the holistic development of children by combining theory and research with innovative and meaningful educational practices.
What makes The Creative Curriculum for Preschool unique?
Child-Interest-Based Learning
Our curriculum adapts to the curiosities and passions of children, fostering active and meaningful learning that connects their interests with practical experiences, inspiring intrinsic motivation.
Comprehensive Approach
Designed to address all key areas of childhood development—language, math, science, art, and motor skills—ensuring that every child grows in a balanced and holistic manner.
Learning Through Play
Play is an essential learning tool. Through structured, playful activities, children explore concepts, solve problems, and naturally develop social skills in a fun and engaging way.
Rich Learning Environment
We create a stimulating and welcoming environment filled with materials and resources designed to inspire creativity, autonomy, and a love of learning in every child.
Social and Emotional Development
We cultivate essential skills such as empathy, teamwork, and emotional self-regulation, ensuring that children are prepared for both academic and personal success.
Synergy of the Approach
At La Colmena, the true strength of our program lies in the harmonious combination of our methodologies. Spanish Language Immersion develops solid and natural linguistic skills. Project-Based Learning (PBL) fuels children’s creativity and autonomy, connecting their learning to real-world experiences. Finally, The Creative Curriculum for Preschool ensures that every area of childhood development is thoughtfully addressed.
Together, these components work in perfect harmony to ensure that our students not only become competent Spanish speakers but also critical thinkers, creative problem solvers, and effective collaborators, ready to face the challenges of the future.
Exploring Trees
Phase 1: Introduction and Curiosity
The project begins with an intriguing question: "What do we know about trees, and what would we like to learn?" Children share their ideas, such as what parts a tree has, what animals live in them, or how they grow, and the teacher organizes activities based on their curiosities.
Phase 2: Active Exploration
Over several weeks, children dive into activities such as:
Direct Observation: Exploring trees in the schoolyard or a nearby park, identifying leaves, bark, and branches.
Natural Mathematics: Counting leaves, measuring trunks, or comparing the sizes of different types of trees.
Hands-On Science: Investigating what trees need to grow, including light, water, and nutrients.
Nature-Inspired Art: Creating leaf collages, drawing trees, or even building 3D models of trees.
Reading and Language: Listening to stories about trees, learning related vocabulary (roots, trunk, branches), and discussing their importance in nature.
Phase 3: Reflection and Sharing
At the end of the study, children have the opportunity to share what they’ve learned with their peers and families. They might create a collaborative mural, present a group project, or even host a small "nature exhibition" in the classroom.
​
Benefits of the Study
This study fosters critical thinking, scientific curiosity, and an appreciation for the environment while helping children develop key skills like communication, problem-solving, and teamwork.