RESPECT, COMPASSION and UNDERSTANDING.

The RCU™ Curriculum is an educational program which promotes social and emotional learning. Our focus is to impact the lives of children by helping them acquire skills which lead to a greater understanding of themselves and the development of healthy, positive, relationships with others throughout their lives.

The RCU curriculum provides research-based information, tools which encourage children’s engagement, and a plan of implementation designed to educate and inspire facilitators, both in home and school environments, to lay a foundation for children’s social and emotional health. We believe all children benefit when the adults in their lives make a conscious effort to promote

Why is SOCIAL and EMOTIONAL learning important?

According to the Center of Academic , Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL), social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.

• Scientific research indicates there is a strong relationship between social-emotional learning, cognitive development, and wellbeing.
• Schools where SEL competencies are taught have been shown to foster student attachment to school and receptivity to learning, factors which are strongly linked to academic success (Blum, McNeely and Rinehart, 2002; Osterman, 2000).
• “Preschool expulsions occur at a rate more than three times that of grades K through 12.” Walter S. Gilliam, PhD, Director, The Edward Zigler Center in Child Development and Social Policy, Yale University.

The Scope of the RCU™ Curriculum helps children to:

• Develop a positive self-concept and identity.
• Use social-awareness and interpersonal skills to establish and maintain positive relationships.
• Develop self-management skills.
• Demonstrate decision-making skills and responsible behavior.

RCU™ Curriculum Themes

• – Embracing Diversity 
• – Personal Development 
• – Relationship Building 
• – Calming Strategies 
• – Emotional Growth 
• – Problem Solving and Decision Making 
• – Learning for Life 
• – Self-Help Skills

Features and Benefits of RCU™ Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten Curriculum

• RCU™ allows teachers to plot their own course of action based on the social and emotional needs of their children as opposed to following a predetermined map.
• RCU™ activities are brief, fun, engaging, and easy to present.
• RCU™ allows for flexible planning.
• RCU™ provides strategies for children to use to achieve wholesome social and emotional development.
• The card-based system provides for ease of implementation. One card, one activity, one lesson is the RCU™ format.
• RCU™ activities are designed to meet the needs of individuals as well as the group.
• Puppets are integral to the RCU™ curriculum.
• RCU™ activities are brief and require very little preparation.
• RCU™ activities allow teachers to customize lessons for individual children.
• Included is a Learning Goal Locator which allows teachers to easily find activities which address specific SEL competencies.
• Included is a glossary which defines terms in a manner children will easily comprehend.
• The RCU™ assessment allows teachers to track student’s SEL competencies and serves as a guide for differentiating instruction.

Why Little Lamb Kidz?

This is an educational program which promotes Social and Emotional Learning. Our charter is to impact the lives of children by helping them acquire skills which lead to a greater understanding of themselves and the development of healthy, positive, relationships with others throughout their lives.

Why is Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) important

“Every primary grade program needs a carefully planned social-emotional component. All children—those who enter first or second grade with an ability to control their emotions and make friends and those for whom these skills are more difficult—benefit from intentional teaching in this area.”
– Beyond the Journal - Young Children on the Web; November, 2008 (NAEYC)

“Schools where SEL competencies are taught have been shown to foster student attachment to school and receptivity to learning, factors which are strongly linked to academic success.”
– (Blum, McNeely and Rinehart, 2002; Osterman, 2000)

“Preschool expulsions occur at a rate more than three times that of grades K through 12.”
– Walter S. Gilliam, PhD, Director, The Edward Zigler Center in Child Development and Social Policy, Yale University.