We all want our children to excel when it comes to school. And as parents, how can we help? Perhaps one of the first things we can do is to start our kids on the path to learning early on. Chamblee residents, Spencer and Polina Williams, set out to do just that when they noticed their son, Silas, wasn’t hitting some of the usual milestones most children reached at certain ages. In addition, he was nonverbal, which they initially thought was because they were raising him in a bilingual household. They decided to enroll him in school.
Unfortunately, the first school Spencer and Polina enrolled their son in wasn’t the experience they had hoped for. It was during that experience they learned their son was likely on the autism spectrum, and the school wasn’t prepared to help them. Polina says they immediately withdrew Silas from the school and searched for a new one. After interviewing five schools, they found The Goddard School of Chamblee (Brookhaven).
“At The Goddard School, we believe the early years of a child’s life are critical, as they set the foundation for their future success,” said Akshi Naik, owner of The Goddard School of Chamblee (Brookhaven). “As a parent myself, I understand the importance of nurturing young minds during these formative years.”
The Goddard School’s exclusive inquiry-based education program, Wonder of Learning™, embraces how children learn best—through their innate curiosity—because research confirms that when wonder leads, learning follows. Wonder of Learning features a cutting-edge curriculum developed by a diversely skilled group of educators, researchers, physicians and early childhood experts, as well as built-in assessment of academic and social-emotional progress and family communication via a proprietary app.
Inquiry-based learning, which guides the Wonder of Learning curriculum, is a teaching and learning approach that focuses on the natural curiosity and sense of wonder children bring into the classroom. With teacher-guided inquiry topics, children learn about themselves and the world around them by exploring their interests, investigating concepts and asking questions. Wonder of Learning builds age-appropriate academic, social and emotional skills through curiosity, collaboration, investigation and discovery. The program also incorporates STEAM enrichment activities, including yoga, art, music and outdoor play that embed concepts such as community, design thinking, communication and critical thinking, which support children today and in the future.
“By encouraging children to ask questions and explore their interests and curiosities, we help them develop a lifelong love of learning,” added Naik. “When children develop a strong desire to learn early on, they are more likely to excel as they progress through their educational journeys.”
The Williamses’ son eventually received an official diagnosis. As his mother, Polina is his biggest advocate, and she says she never realized it would be so hard. But some things, including his new school, have made it a little easier. Silas has attended The Goddard School of Chamblee (Brookhaven) for about a year now, and he is not only doing well, but like many of his classmates, he’s thriving.
The Goddard School of Chamblee (Brookhaven) also offers several enrichment programs, including Spanish, dance and engineering. Additionally, it features an indoor gymnasium, an outdoor garden, multiple playgrounds and hospital-grade sanitization equipment to ensure a healthy environment.
For more about The Goddard School and how to enroll in the Chamblee (Brookhaven) location, visit GoddardSchool.com.
Joseph Markle, public relations specialist with The Goddard School contributed to this article.