Our Preschool Program
We believe first and foremost in the joy and wonder of the child in nature.
Outdoor Classroom/Experiences
We are a nature-based preschool with children spending the majority of their time outdoors. We have full use of a 3-acre wooded pasture with outdoor classrooms, an active gardening area, and a play yard. Our days begin and end in various outdoor activities, rain or shine. We also have indoor classrooms for quiet time, indoor art activities, and support.
For more information about our approach and where we get our inspiration, please see The Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Schools at www.erafans.org.
Bilingual Exposure
Our school encourages the development of language through both English and Spanish. Each class has at least one teacher fluent in Spanish; children spend approximately half of their day in Spanish immersion.
Sensory and Gross Motor Play
Running outdoors, exploring all types of natural materials, playing in the dirt are all critical to gross motor and sensory development. Children have unstructured facilitated play throughout the morning. You must come see us to really understand the power of the outdoors.
Story Time
Reading aloud is one of the most important and powerful tools adults have to model language usage. Our read alouds are daily and frequent. Some stories will be shared in Spanish and others in English. We believe in modeling both languages as much as possible.
Emergent Literacy and Numeracy
Early Literacy/Learning Centers: Children will be engaged in different learning activities in self directed areas. The teachers rotate so all children have an opportunity to experience each center. The teachers work as a constructivist team following the child and teach from student strengths and interests. Examples of centers include, but are not limited to, the following:
Social Development
Community Clean Up/Transitions: During clean up and transition time, children will have the opportunity to learn how to follow through with a job.
Snack time
This is an informal time to learn table manners, proper eating behavior, and nutritional information. Snack time provides a natural opportunity to build Spanish vocabulary in the area of food.
We are a nature-based preschool with children spending the majority of their time outdoors. We have full use of a 3-acre wooded pasture with outdoor classrooms, an active gardening area, and a play yard. Our days begin and end in various outdoor activities, rain or shine. We also have indoor classrooms for quiet time, indoor art activities, and support.
For more information about our approach and where we get our inspiration, please see The Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Schools at www.erafans.org.
Bilingual Exposure
Our school encourages the development of language through both English and Spanish. Each class has at least one teacher fluent in Spanish; children spend approximately half of their day in Spanish immersion.
Sensory and Gross Motor Play
Running outdoors, exploring all types of natural materials, playing in the dirt are all critical to gross motor and sensory development. Children have unstructured facilitated play throughout the morning. You must come see us to really understand the power of the outdoors.
Story Time
Reading aloud is one of the most important and powerful tools adults have to model language usage. Our read alouds are daily and frequent. Some stories will be shared in Spanish and others in English. We believe in modeling both languages as much as possible.
Emergent Literacy and Numeracy
Early Literacy/Learning Centers: Children will be engaged in different learning activities in self directed areas. The teachers rotate so all children have an opportunity to experience each center. The teachers work as a constructivist team following the child and teach from student strengths and interests. Examples of centers include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Identifying letters/sounds
- Vocabulary building
- Fine motor development: writing and using a variety of writing/drawing tools and other tools of measurement.
- Interactive Writing Framework (class writing with teacher support)
- Basic geographical explorations
- Number sense explorations
- Fun with adding and take away
- Counting up to 20 and some skip counting
- Comparing and contrasting different attributes
- Concept of time
- Calendar Fun
- Dramatic Play
- Science Center Exploring
Social Development
Community Clean Up/Transitions: During clean up and transition time, children will have the opportunity to learn how to follow through with a job.
Snack time
This is an informal time to learn table manners, proper eating behavior, and nutritional information. Snack time provides a natural opportunity to build Spanish vocabulary in the area of food.
|
|
|