First Baptist Church of Ocala

The purpose of First Steps is to extend the ministry of, and help accomplish the purpose of First Baptist Church, Ocala. We will provide care, education, and resources according to Luke 2:52: mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, and socially. This is to be accomplished by providing developmentally appropriate activities, experiences, and guidance, and by providing a program of supportive Christian ministry and outreach to the families of the children enrolled.

About our curriculum
In keeping with our philosophical belief in the education of the "whole child", our curriculum combines a trusting environment with informal experiences for learning. The teachers role in our program is that of "nurturer" and "facilitator for learning experiences." The curriculum is both "content-oriented" and "process-oriented", and the teacher carefully guides the children through activities that are both teacher planned and child planned. The content is "eclectic" (pulling from many areas) and the children's interests and comments are taken into consideration in the planning of activities.

The Infant and Toddler Program uses a "responsive" approach. That is, learning activities are utilized individually with each child as he/she demonstrates that they are developmentally ready. In this area, both a loving/trusting relationship with the caregiver and ample opportunities for exploration are planned to develop competence and independence.

The preschool curriculum is developed around themes which provide opportunities for children to learn about God's world and how to live in it.

Activities which embrace physical, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual development are included in each theme.

Above all, our curriculum is flexible. Rigid schedules, inflexible routines, and impersonal caregivers do not exist in our program. We "take time" to enjoy each other and to celebrate the "little things" that occur in our daily lives. We maintain that young children thrive in an atmosphere that is caring, stimulating, and personal. It is our plan to provide this rich, loving, and learning environment for young children.