Curriculum Focus

Our play-based curriculum is centered on honoring the children’s interests and supporting their exploration of the world.  Through adult scaffolding, students are encouraged to observe, experiment and reflect on their interactions with the people and materials around them.  With a 1:5 teacher to student ratio, every student receives high quality standards and support in their learning experience.  In opposition to rigorous academic drills, we allow children to develop an intrinsic love for learning and genuine interest in their child-led studies.  Although educational models before our time relied on strict teacher directives, science now tells us that the basic building blocks of brain development occur through organic play and interactions with the world re-enforced through the support of loving mentors.  Our school celebrates every child in each stage of development and allows them to progress at their natural pace.  

We provide students the tools they need to navigate social and emotional development, allowing them to develop healthy and positive relationships.  Emotional intelligence enables children to develop empathy, self-regulation, negotiation skills and the ability to delay gratification.

As health educators, we provide students the time and space to move their bodies and engage in healthy risk taking by challenging their physical strength and coordination.  With a large outdoor space to run, play and explore, children will spend time outside everyday regardless of the weather.

Pedagogy

Reggio Emilia is a pedagogy which influences our curriculum focus.  This approach is student-centered, experiential learning in a relationship building community. It focuses on principals of respect and responsibility through exploration and discovery.  We honor each child’s developing personality and their expression of ideas.

Daily Activities:

With a strong focus on nature and the arts, we provide provocations that will lead children to paint, draw, sculpt, dramatize, dance, play instruments, garden, experiment, observe and connect with the natural world.   Content areas including language, literacy and math are artfully weaved in to the daily routine.  Below is a glimpse of how these activities are accommodated for each age group.

Baby Philosophers: Ages 0 – 11 months

Area of Focus	Activities
Art/Music	Introduction to hand held instruments, classical music, painting with hands and feet.
Nature/Science	Nature strolls, tasting fresh fruits and vegetables from garden, sensory exploration with outdoor materials.
Movement	Belly time, crawling, core strength training through practice in standing and walking with assistance.
Social/Emotional	Provide daily routine and meet physical and emotional needs for health, safety and sense of belonging.  Foster child’s attachment and trust with people outside of immediate family. Introduction to sign language to express needs.

 Traveling Tykes: Ages 12 months – 2 years

Area of Focus	Activities
Art/Music	Introduction to fine motor instruments, finger painting, dancing to musical genres.
Nature/Science	Introduction to gardening, investigating characteristics of living things, sensory play with water, dirt, clay.
Movement	Crawling, core and lower body strength training, walking, running, climbing. Intro to yoga.
Social/	Emotional	The progression of parallel play to positive interactions with others. Identifying feelings through depictions, asking others for help, begin to develop self-help skills.

 Preschool Explorers: Ages 3 – 5 years

Area of Focus	Activities
Art/Music	Create rhythm and beat with instruments, painting with tools, drawing symbols and depictions, dancing to musical interests.
Nature/	Science	Gardening and harvesting in food forest, climbing trees, studying animals, insects, life cycles, seasons, using loose nature parts as manipulatives.
Movement	Field games, climbing, tumbling, balancing, eye-hand coordination. Animal yoga poses.
Social/	Emotional	Developing friendships, practicing material sharing, negotiation, acknowledging feelings, empathy, independence in self-care.