The Goddard School

The skills children need for success in elementary school and beyond are developed during the first five years of life. For families, it's critical to select the right preschool—one with thoroughly trained faculty and a curriculum designed to nurture foundational academic, social, emotional and physical skills—and then extend learning to the home. In this article, leaders from our education team share the core skills to prioritize in preschool and why inquiry-based learning is the optimal approach to develop them. They also provide guidance for families to practice inquiry-based learning at home. To learn more about our exclusive inquiry-based education program, Wonder of Learning™, visit https://lnkd.in/gmgR3WXF.

Franchise Business Review, a franchise market research firm that performs independent surveys of franchisee satisfaction, named The Goddard School a 2024 Most Profitable Franchise. To identify the 75 companies on this year’s list, Franchise Business Review analyzed data from franchise owners representing 385 brands. To learn about Goddard School franchise opportunities, visit GoddardSchoolFranchise.com. 

As the summer of 2024 comes to a close, Dr. Kyle Pruett, a member of our Educational Advisory Board, shares proactive steps for families to take to ease the back-to-school transition in this Psychology Today article. 

The Goddard School of Summerville, SC, is now open! The school, located within Summerville’s Nexton community, is owned by Amy and Bill Strickland. "We are thrilled to bring The Goddard School to Nexton, a dynamic, family-centric community that values education and growth,” said Bill. "Its strategic location within Charleston ensures accessibility for families seeking nurturing childcare and exceptional early education services. We look forward to becoming an integral part of the Nexton community and contributing positively to its educational landscape." 

Watch as our chairman and CEO, Dennis R. Maple, surprises Christopher McDevitt with the news that he’s the 2024 Anthony A. Martino Memorial Scholarship winner! This $10,000 scholarship has been granted annually over the past 16 years to a graduating high school senior who successfully completed a Goddard School pre-k or kindergarten program. The recipient must demonstrate the dedication, resilience and community spirit that epitomized Anthony A. Martino, the founder of The Goddard School franchise system.   Christopher is a 2011 pre-k graduate of The Goddard School of Matthews, NC, and will be attending North Carolina State University. After college, he plans to pursue a career in mining engineering.   Congratulations, Christopher! Learn more about Christopher and the scholarship program here: https://lnkd.in/eu7x9Ck7.

As children across the country start heading back to school, our chairman and CEO, Dennis R. Maple, and chief academic officer, Dr. Lauren Loquasto, joined news stations nationwide to discuss our exclusive inquiry-based education program, Wonder of Learning™, and the importance of embracing children’s natural curiosity. Of course, they also highlighted our very first children’s book, “Curious Blueberry the Carousel Horse,” which, in addition to being a fun story, provides a valuable introduction to inquiry-based learning for families. For more, check out the interview with FOX 25 in Oklahoma City below. And purchase your own copy of “Curious Blueberry” here: https://lnkd.in/e-mdUzg2.

Encouraging exploration and allowing children to follow their instincts can foster creativity, independence and confidence. In this Romper article, our chief academic officer, Dr. Lauren Loquasto, discusses intrinsic motivation, which she explains is “the self-drive to do something that doesn’t require external reinforcement.” Dr. Loquasto provides guidance for families and shares how our exclusive inquiry-based education program, Wonder of Learning™, helps nurture young children’s intrinsic motivation. 

Yesterday, we announced the introduction of our exclusive inquiry-based education program, Wonder of Learning™. To complement the program and help all families encourage curiosity at home, we published our very first children’s book, “Curious Blueberry the Carousel Horse!” Written by award-winning author Steve Metzger and illustrated by Bruno Robert, the book follows the journey of Blueberry the Carousel Horse and her colorful carousel animal friends who learn to find joy through curiosity and questions. Throughout this interactive story are cues for the reader to ask open-ended questions, enabling an engaging and individualized experience for each child. In addition, the book features actionable tips for families to practice inquiry-based learning throughout their daily lives.   “Curious Blueberry the Carousel Horse” is available to purchase here: https://lnkd.in/e-mdUzg2.

Today, we are thrilled to introduce our exclusive inquiry-based education program, Wonder of Learning™! Building upon our play-based F.L.EX. (Fun Learning Experience) framework and 36 years of experience with child-centered learning, this innovative program embraces how children learn best—through their innate curiosity—because research confirms that when wonder leads, learning follows. To learn more about Wonder of Learning and the impact it will have on everyone in the Goddard ecosystem, from franchisees and faculty to families and children, check out our announcement press release: https://lnkd.in/evNe_pGN.

Our chairman & CEO, Dennis R. Maple, joined Adam Contos for another insightful and inspiring conversation about leadership. Check out this new Start With a Win episode on YouTube or any podcasting platform.