TLC Center BLC has five classrooms, divided by age. TLC Center GFC has six classrooms, also divided by age.
MINI LEARNERS - Infants 0-12 Months
Our infant room is designed to be the closest thing to home you can get in an early childhood care setting. Everything in this classroom is done on an “as needed” basis, meaning if your child is hungry, we feed them, if they need to nap we allow them to nap. We try to balance their needs while gradually getting them on as schedule as they mature and learn to self soothe. Here at TLC your child’s needs are met in a loving, compassionate manner whilst keeping your personal parenting styles in mind. Continuity in care is also of utmost importance to us. Staff that are assigned to this classroom rarely move in or out. We keep teams of teachers working in the same developmental areas so that once your child ages into the next classroom they are already familiar with the new teachers. Our staff are highly qualified individuals who exceed the state minimum standards for hours of education in child development and are carefully selected based upon their individual strengths within the field. This classroom ages vary from six weeks to nine months. This classroom is also an Early Head Start Collaboration class, which for us means that we have multiple resources for meeting your child's developmental and educational needs.
LITTLE LEARNERS - 12-24 Months
Our little Learner classroom enrollment is primarily nine month to fifteen month old mobile infants. It is designed to accommodate the transition between infancy and young toddler with the flexibility and patience that children at this developmental stage truly deserve. We assist your child in meeting their developmental milestones through positive guidance and personal interaction. This classroom is truly a transitional wonder for the children as they enter the room barely crawling and pulling up and graduate into the next classroom a toddler ready to tackle the world at full speed. Our primary focus for the children in our care is promoting positive peer interactions, developing physical strength and coordination and expanding vocabulary. Consistency in routines is key for helping the children to feel secure in their day. The developmental leaps achieved in this particular classroom are always impressive to both early educators and parents alike. This classroom is also an Early Head Start Collaboration class which for us means that we have multiple resources for meeting your child's developmental and educational needs.
TRAILBLAZERS AND ADVENTURERS - 2 year old
The Adventurers enrollment is children ages 24 months to 36 months. This classroom is particularly focused on peer interactions, vocabulary expansion, conflict resolution, reasoning skills and promotion of independence skills as developmentally appropriate. The goal in this classroom is to work as a team and truly gain an understanding of community partnerships while embracing the individuality that is already ever so present even in the youngest of child. We take pride in building positive self concepts and sharing our love of learning with the children in our care. The teachers for this classroom are well organized, skilled in active supervision, and patient. They are educated far beyond the state minimum and implement new techniques seamlessly into the curriculum. This classroom is also an Early Head Start Collaboration class which for us means that we have multiple resources for meeting your child's developmental and educational needs.
EXPLORERS - 3 year old
The Explorers classroom is for 3-year olds. The primary focus in this classroom is on self-concept and confidence, expansion of vocabulary, cognitive development, emotional development and understanding, positive peer interactions and pre-kindergarten skills that will carry over for expansion in the next classroom. The children in this room very much lead their learning through play and teacher directed activities. Everything in this classroom is carefully planned out with the interests of each child in mind, as well as the ideals and values of each family. The idea of learning through play keeps the children engaged and excited about their day but also gives them the skills they will need to be successful students in the following years. The teachers in this classroom are highly educated individuals in the field of early development and growth, often attending college level classes. They are patient, kind, and upbeat. The teachers in this classroom work hand in hand with the teachers in the Pre-K classroom to ensure that your child will be prepared both academically and emotionally for the journey that is Elementary school.
PIONEERS - 4 & 5 year old
The Pioneers are our Pre-K children ages four and up. This classrooms primary goal is academic and emotional preparation for kindergarten. Children in this classroom follow a carefully constructed routine that will give the children insight into what they might expect in kindergarten, while also respecting their need for big body play as they continue to grow and develop coordination skills. Their day is a fine balance of learning through play, circle time, personal interaction with the teachers through both large group and one on one activities, classroom cooperation, and peer interactions. We believe in allowing each child to direct their learning and take each child's needs and interests into consideration when planning our curriculum. The teachers in this classroom are highly skilled at making even the simplest of activities a learning opportunity. They are carefully selected for their ability to teach through play and daily routine. They are educated far beyond the state minimum standards and invest themselves fully into the success of each child in their care.
TLC Center BLC and GFC are both for-profit, Early Head Start collaborative sites, and Child & Adult Food Program participants registered with the City of Great Falls and the State of Montana. TLC Center BLC leases space from Bethel Lutheran Church. TLC Center GFC utilizes a building on the Great Falls College Campus.
TLC Center GFC has assessed with the Stars to Quality Program in February 2022.
The scores are as follows:
PAS (Program Administrative Scale) 5.21
ECERS (Older classrooms) 5.68
ITERS (Younger Classrooms) 5.44
We will officially be awarded a Star Level 4 in June 2022.
TLC GFC is working towards becoming Nationally Accredited through the NAEYC.
For more information on what accreditation is please visit the NAEYC Website.