Language development and acquisition
Children enter Maple Bear School with some basis in their home language. In learning their first language children pass through several stages in predictable order: listening, developing understanding, speaking, reading and writing. Successive stages begin while preceding stages are still in development. When Maple Bear children learn a language their development in that language proceeds through the same stages in the same sequence as in learning their first language. Research shows that learning two languages at an early age offers both linguistic and cognitive advantages.
Immersion methodology is used in Maple Bear schools to develop linguistic competence. This means that children learn to listen, speak, read, and write in English, Arabic and French by surrounding them with conversation and instruction in the same language.
Literacy, which includes listening, speaking, reading and writing, is one of the most important goals of the Maple Bear program.