The MCC SA program serves children through 4th grade. The only exception to this is if a child has reached the leadership (Blue) level in which case they may stay through 6th grade.

Each child is informed of 3 things when they enter MCC School Age Program:

1. The range of activities that is available at MCC program.
2. What sort of skills and conduct are necessary for them to gain access to various activities.
3. What the teacher's role is in supporting and fostering their efforts to become more independent.

Independence - What is it?

Target Behaviors

Factors that lead to access to spaces, materials or activities:

1. Trust - can usually do what they say they'll do/are asked to do.
2. Safety - shows they can focus, understand and avoid potentially dangerous situation, have fine and gross motor skills to handle demands.
3. Respect - shows respect for concerns, feelings and safety of others.
4. Honesty - is truthful, can usually can take responsibility for own actions.
5. Follow Through - usually finishes what they start, cleans up own mess.
6. Pride and Skill Building - regularly takes part in activities that have clear rules for all and that require:
7. 1. Working cooperatively with others in a small group.
   2. Planning or thinking ahead.
   3. Carrying out those steps necessary to reach the goal (i.e. cooking, craft making, fort building, tag, board games, model building, etc.).

Factors that limit access to spaces, activities and materials:

1. Trust - cannot dependably do what they say they will do/what teachers ask them to do.
2. Safety - takes unreasonable risks, fails to appreciate dangerous implications of acts for self or others - doesn't possess sufficient focus/concentration when engaging in potentially dangerous activities, doesn't possess sufficient fine and gross motor skills to do difficult tasks.
3. Respect - fails to show respect for others' physical or emotional well-being by frequently criticizing/putting down other children or physically hurting them.
4. Honesty - often fails to take responsibility for actions by lying or blaming others.
5. Follow Through - often quits activity part way through, doesn't clean up own mess.
6. Pride and Skill Building - has difficulty working with others to plan and follow through on an activity that requires following rules and completing products.

Code - for levels of independence:

1. Blue - Leadership - child not only meets independence goals, but has shown the capacity to provide leadership to other children - to help, guide and provide a good model for them.
2. Green - Independence - child can engage in activities without teacher in immediate vicinity, has shown consistent ability to meet safety, trust, respect, honesty and follow through requirements.
3. Yellow - Some Independence - child can engage in an activity with teachers nearby (in easy voice and/or visual contact), has shown increased ability to meet safety, respect, trust and responsibility requirements, but requires occasional teacher support and guidance.
4. Red - Not Independent - child needs frequent teacher support to engage in and complete an activity appropriately.

Teacher's role in independence development:

1. Under direct teacher guidance and observation, let children attempt activities they want to pursue.
2. After reviewing the independence guidelines with the child, help them evaluate their own skill and conduct with regards to their choices and interest.
3. Help them set goals for themselves.
4. Help them evaluate how effective they've been in achieving their goals.

Child's role in independent development:

1. Set goals for themselves.
2. Learn to catch themselves when they're doing something that keeps them from meeting their goals.
3. Learn to catch themselves when they do something good.
4. Learn to assess their behavior honestly.

What do children, parents and teachers gain from the Program?

Children:

1. A clear, consistent set of expectations, values and skills to strive for.
2. A clear picture of the kinds of activities MCC has to offer.
3. A sense of pride in mastering skills that lead to independence.
4. A capacity to make judgments/decisions for themselves, rather than being easily influenced by social pressures.

Parents:

1. A clear picture of what MCC values and works towards with their children.
2. A clear picture of what kinds of activities their children have access to.
3. A profile of what kinds of activities their child typically chooses.
4. A picture of their child's progress towards independence.

Teachers:

1. A clear set of teaching objectives for each child - what specific areas teachers are working to develop and strengthen for each child.
2. A profile of each child's interests.
3. Consistency - because each child's objectives are explicit.
4. Satisfaction in seeing young children progress and grow.

Program Page