日本語サイトへWe pride ourselves for being the first school in Japan to weave four curriculums into preschool education.
We provide whole child education in a rich learning environment.
Unique 1 Curriculum Basis
I. VISION: CHILDREN WHO HAVE A BROAD VISION
We encourage our children to learn respect through experiencing diverse cultures. We give them the opportunity to experience try and error; we encourage our children to have a wide range of interests, and a passion for learning.II. WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES TO EXPLORE
Through our curriculum, children will explore while enjoying themselves. Activities of the day include English reading/writing, math, problem solving, science, cooking, music, Japanese art and physical education, etc., with our unique programs that help them to develop socially, build communication skills and independence.III. GAIN CONFIDENCE
While enjoying indoor and outdoor activities at Unique 1, they work on a variety of topics by nurturing a healthy body and mind, not being afraid of making mistakes and the ability to grow up with positive thinking, attitude, and positive self-confidence.IV. VALUES: CHILDREN WHO CAN CONSIDER OTHERS
At Unique 1, the children learn the importance of greetings and respect; listening, making eye contact, saying “please, thank you” and, “I am sorry”.Our teachers support and help them to understand respect for others and their cultures.
V. COMMUNICATION: CHILDREN WHO CAN EXPRESS THEMSELVES
We encourage children to communicate freely and openly, share their interests as they communicate, tell others what they did, their thoughts and feelings. We value their opinions and we help them to grow up as children who show empathy to one another.VI. GLOBAL MIND: CHILDREN WITH A WIDE VIEW OF THE WORLD
At Unique 1 children learn and accept the culture of their own country and at the same time, cultivate a respect for everyone by understanding the culture of other countries. They learn about the world to spark their interest and knowledge.VII. SOCIALIZE: CHILDREN WHO CAN SOCIALIZE WITH OTHERS
At Unique 1, we help children to acquire better social skills; our program is created to encourage them to communicate their ideas and respect other people's opinions and ideas, while acknowledging their differences.
Our Unique Goals
Unique 1 goal and appealing point -
- ① Children at Unique 1 will start learning early, so they have creative thinking and deepen their learning with interest.
- ② Children at Unique 1 gain smooth communication and social skills.
- ③ Children at Unique 1 acquire the ability to act positively.
- ④ Children at Unique 1 are able to read and write.
- ⑤ Children at Unique 1 will be able to do their own things by themselves.
- ⑥ Children at Unique 1 will acquire fluent English skills as native speakers.
- ⑦ Children at Unique 1 enjoy one on one attention from the teachers
Additional Information
Our preschool has an attractive environment with an open space.
Children at Unique 1 learn about various countries and their cultures and become true international people.
Parents are able to see their children’s progress three times in a year
Parents can visit the school at any time.
Our Original curriculum
Unique 1 makes sure that children have a wide range of activities which benefits each child’s needs. We weaved four unique curriculums with our original unique approach to benefit each child’s learning style. Each day, our program is divided into six corners where kids are free to participate and express themselves in any activity that they are interested in.
Our goal is for children to feel relaxed, learn, explore, express themselves and communicate with their friends and teachers daily. Most of our teachers are bilingual or trilingual early childhood educators.
Reggio Emilia
Reggio Emilia in Italy is recognized worldwide for its innovative approach to education:
The Reggio Emilia approach to teaching young children puts the natural development of children as well as the close relationships that they share with their environment at the center of its philosophy.
In this approach, there is a belief that children have rights and should be given opportunities to develop their potential. Children are believed to be “knowledge bearers”,
so they are encouraged to share their thoughts and ideas about everything they experience or do during the day.
At Unique 1, communication is a process, a way of discovering things, asking questions and using language as they play. Playing with sounds and rhythm and rhymes; delighting in the process of communicating.
Children at are encouraged to use language to investigate and explore, and to reflect on their experiences. They are listened to with respect; we believe that their questions and observations are an opportunity to learn and search together. At Unique 1, children are actively involved in the classroom as we use the Reggio Emilia approach; our teachers collaborate and work together with the children by displaying their creative work.
Montessori
What is the Montessori Method?
Maria Montessori was an Italian physician, educator, and innovator, acclaimed for her educational method that builds on the way children naturally learn.
Our Montessori curriculum offers our children opportunities to develop their potential as they step out into the world as engaged, competent, responsible, and respectful citizens with an understanding and appreciation that learning is for life.
Weaving in with the Montessori Method, we put emphasis on the fact that, each child is valued as a unique individual.
This method offers our children opportunities to develop their potential as they step out into the world as engaged, competent, responsible, and respectful citizens with an understanding and appreciation that learning is for life. Montessori education recognizes that children learn in different ways, and accommodates all learning styles.
Students are also free to learn at their own pace, each advancing through the curriculum as he/she is ready, guided by the teacher and an individualized learning plan.
Literacy skills
We nurture their reading, comprehension and reading skills which build a strong connection through their elementary age and for those who need English entrance examination for elementary school.
Even after they go up to elementary school, the children continue after-school programs where they learn phonics which strengthens the ability to read, write and understand English.
We help them recognize phonics and the meaning of words, including the ability to know and acquire "pronunciation".
These improve the understanding of English, including reading ability.
Our understanding of bilingualism is a person who can communicate with others in two languages whilst biliteracy is the ability to learn in two languages.
Children at U1IKA learn English in the same way as they learn their mother tongue through the daily routine at kindergarten. In addition to the natural English environment, learning and writing skills, the children surely enjoy learning with the teaching materials used in English-speaking countries. For children who master English as a second language, a specially developed biliteracy program is available in our school.
The Unique 1 program, which incorporate literacy into play, are aimed at strengthening vocabulary, speaking and writing full sentences, using correct grammar, and giving equal challenge to children of the same age as native speakers.
Our language education is inseparable from the process of fostering intelligence. It is no exaggeration to say that people will acquire knowledge in this intellectual world through language. In order to conform to this intellectual world, we must be able to freely "hear, read, talk and write".
Based on UMI (Useful Multiple Intelligence) theory, U1IKA's biliteracy program uses not only languages but also knowledge and logical thinking skills to improve the children's self-confidence and promote language acquisition.
Compared to children who speak one language, biliterate children are able to analyze things better and they have positive opinions about different cultures. After graduating from U1IKA, not only do children acquire good language skills but also logical thinking, observational ability and basic to advance learning abilities. Moreover, the ability to go on to an international school would be acquired by the children.
