The Goddard School Introduces Innovative Wonder of Learning Education Program

Inquiry-based program complemented by new children’s book, “Curious Blueberry the Carousel Horse”

The Goddard School^®, the nation’s leading premium early childhood education provider, today announced the introduction of its exclusive inquiry-based education program, Wonder of Learning™. Building upon The Goddard School’s play-based F.L.EX.^® (Fun Learning Experience) framework and 36 years of experience with child-centered learning, this innovative program embraces how children learn best—through their innate curiosity—because research confirms¹ that when wonder leads, learning follows.

Wonder of Learning features a cutting-edge curriculum developed collaboratively by Goddard’s in-house education team, under the leadership of Chief Academic Officer Dr. Lauren Loquasto, and Goddard’s Educational Advisory Board, which is comprised of a diversely skilled group of educators, researchers, physicians and early childhood experts. The holistic program encompasses not just a leading curriculum but also a built-in assessment of academic and social-emotional progress, family communication via a proprietary app and resources, training and support for faculty.

“Wonder of Learning continues The Goddard School’s tradition of educational excellence through a game-changing new approach to nurturing learning through experience,” said Dennis R. Maple, chairman and CEO of Goddard Systems, LLC, the manager of The Goddard School franchise system. “Wonder of Learning is an integrated program that meaningfully impacts everyone in the Goddard ecosystem. As you would expect, it provides a world-class education for children and enhanced communication and reporting for families, but it also offers exceptional training for teachers and a point of difference for our franchisees. I'm thankful to the franchisees and faculty from across the country who tested and offered their feedback on this program so we could ensure it provides the best experience for the children and families we serve. Our collective mission at Goddard is to make the world a better place through early childhood education, and Wonder of Learning will play a central role in our continued efforts to do just that.”

Inquiry-based learning, which guides the Wonder of Learning curriculum, is a teaching and learning approach that embraces 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. This ensures that learning is not only relevant to skill-building but also timely, contextual and meaningful, which leads to higher engagement in the classroom.

“Wonder of Learning, unlike what you find in most preschool settings, is not scripted,” said Loquasto. “Rather, the exclusive program is intentionally designed with the flexibility for teachers to tailor the instruction to the questions and interests of the children in the class. This helps foster children’s imaginations and can take the lessons in many different directions, creating endless learning opportunities guided by children’s interests, experiences and curiosity.”

The Wonder of Learning curriculum focuses on building age-appropriate academic, social and emotional skills through curiosity, collaboration, investigation and discovery that drive interest and develop confidence. Building on its academic foundation, Wonder of Learning 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.

“Young children are fascinated by the world around them. Wonder of Learning builds on this natural curiosity by providing opportunities for inquiry, reflection and meaning-making under the guidance of skilled teachers and in collaboration with peers,” said Dr. Jennifer Jipson, professor of psychology and child development at California Polytechnic State University and member of The Goddard School’s Educational Advisory Board. “The approach is consistent with contemporary research and theory, and it’s exciting to see the focus on supporting cognitive and socioemotional development in ways that will lay a strong foundation for lifelong learning and well-being.”

New Children’s Book: “Curious Blueberry the Carousel Horse”

To encourage all families—whether they are enrolled in a Goddard School or not—to practice inquiry-based learning at home, The Goddard School has published a children’s book, “Curious Blueberry the Carousel Horse,” written by award-winning author Steve Metzger and illustrated by Bruno Robert. The book follows the journey of Blueberry the Carousel Horse and her colorful carousel animal friends who learn to find joy through curiosity and questions.

The book includes cues for the reader to ask open-ended questions throughout the story, enabling an engaging and individualized experience for each child. In addition, the book features actionable tips for families to practice inquiry-based learning throughout their daily lives.

“Curious Blueberry the Carousel Horse” is a valuable resource for families and complements the Parent Resource Center on GoddardSchool.com, which contains a wealth of actionable parenting insights and guidance, including the Parenting with Goddard blog and webinar series. The book is currently available for purchase at GardenLearningStore.com and will be available at additional booksellers over the coming weeks.

 

¹ Sources: Ramanathan, Gurupriya, Carter, Deborah, Wenner, Julianne, A Framework for Scientific Inquiry in Preschool, Early Childhood Education Journal, 2022; Caballero-Garcia, Presentación and Diaz, Paloma, Inquiry-based Learning: an Innovative Proposal for Early Education, Journal of Learning Styles, 2018; and Engel, Susan, But why? Children’s Curiosity in the Classroom, Grit + Imagination Educators Summit, 2015.