What does Muffy's stand for?
Muffy‘s stands for Muffy’s International Kindergarten. Our founder’s son owned a teddy bear he called “Muffy”, and was given the honour of naming the kindergarten when it was established 10 years ago. As we’ve grown and evolved, we have rebranded as “Muffy’s International Kindergarten” or “MIK”.
How old is the school?
Muffy‘s was founded in 2004 with just 6 lucky students. Since then we have grown to 3 different campuses in Beijing and over 360 students. Under the Muffy’s Education brand, we have been offering quality kindergarten education in Beijing for 10 years.
Will my child be confused by learning in 2 languages?
Children under the age of 6 have an amazing ability to absorb and distinguish between languages. Many long-term studies have shown that bilingual children have a stronger grasp of language in general, are more developmentally advanced that mono-linguistic children, and are able to pick up new language skills more easily as they get older. But you don’t have to take our word for it:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2920538
http://sites.psu.edu/secondlanguagebenefits/
http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/2009/05/learning-second-language-good-childhood-mind-medicine
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationopinion/10126883/Why-learn-a-foreign-language-Benefits-of-bilingualism.html
What makes Muffy's unique?
Muffy‘s is founded on 10 years of kindergarten-level language education in Beijing. Our curriculum, facilities and teaching philosophy have been developed over years of experience and the input of many exceptional teachers, parents and education professionals. We believe strongly that bilingualism isn’t simply about learning language; it’s the foundation for cross-cultural communication and broad-minded personal development.
What is Multiple Intelligences Theory?
Multiple Intelligences Theory was developed in the early 1980s by a Harvard University Professor named Howard Gardner. Gardner defined 8 areas of intelligence in which all people have varying degrees of aptitude. He theorized that “each individual possesses a unique blend of all the intelligences.” These intelligences, of “smarts”, include musical–rhythmic, visual–spatial, verbal–linguistic, logical–mathematical, bodily–kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalistic.
The use of M.I. Theory in the classroom has resulted in a broader understanding of intelligence and childhood development among educators. The theory has given clout to the idea that early childhood education should provide support for each child’s individual holistic development, rather than aiming to achieving broadly applied academic benchmarks in specific studies.
How does Muffy's ensure that students are settling in to their program?
Muffy‘s teachers receive regular training regarding student placement and evaluation. We understand that attending school for the first time, or transitioning to a new school, can be hard for any child and our caring teachers and staff do their best to make it as stress-free as possible. If at any point it seems as though your child is having a harder time than usual, we will meet with you to talk to come up with a plan designed to give extra support for your child during the transition time.
What does Muffy's do to ensure a safe and clean environment?
Our cleaning and daily life staff follow a set of standardized cleaning routines and guidelines that comply with government standards. We also have our own cleaning and safety protocols designed to ensure the proper safety and cleanliness of all commonly used areas and food zones.
How is M.I. Theory used in the Classroom?
At Muffy‘s, Multiple Intelligence Theory forms the backbone of our curriculum planning and teaching methods. Our curriculum lays out a comprehensive set of educational themes for each age group, which are taught over the course of the school year through the 8 smarts. Not only are children given the opportunity to use their natural aptitudes and talents to understand the subject matter being taught, learning each theme in a variety of ways helps to build a solid foundation in the subject matter.
What qualifications do your teachers have?
All of our teachers have:
A bachelor’s degree
A teaching certificate or early childhood education certificate
At least 2 years of teaching experience
Undergone regular MIK training seminars
A passion for kids!
How many students are in your classes?
Our classes are designed to reach a maximum of 18 students for children 4-6 years old, and 13-15 students for children 2.5-4 years old.
What is your student/teacher ratio?
Muffy‘s student/teacher ratio is 5:1 for our older students and 4:1 for our younger students
How can I know what my child is learning?
Regular teacher/parent communication is a high priority at Muffy‘s. Your child’s teacher will email you weekly updates on what the students are learning in class. They will also provide you with a “seasonal magazine” that outlines in detail what themes your child will be taught each semester. You are also encouraged to speak directly with your child’s teacher and TA during the pickup and drop off times at the school. Throughout the year, Muffy‘s hosts a variety of events to which parents are invited and encouraged to participate in.
Does the school prepare students for elementary school?
Muffy‘s is a registered kindergarten in China and our curriculum ensures that all students are prepared for entry into a Chinese Kindergarten by the time they graduate. Additionally, we take great care to make sure our curriculum meets international elementary school standards in addition to the rigorous and mandatory Chinese education standards.
May I speak with my child's teachers?
Yes! We encourage parents to speak with their child’s teachers and TAS. You can speak with them informally during pickup and drop off times, or formally during a scheduled meeting or during regularly scheduled parent/teacher conferences.