Early Childhood Education

Our Preschool program introduces students to school routines while building foundational social and academic skills through play and exploration.

Program Highlights

• Play-based, experiential learning in a nurturing environment that fosters social-emotional development
• Approaches to learning that cultivate curiosity, persistence, attention span, and creativity 
• Development of listening, speaking, and early literacy skills with Zoo-phonics and an engaging nursery rhyme unit
• Development of early math skills, including counting, sorting, shapes, and patterns
• Themed science and social studies units with hands-on exploration and sensory activities
• Art, dramatic play, music and movement to support creativity as well as fine and gross motor development
• Learning in the classroom and school garden
   

Pre-Kindergarten prepares students for a confident transition to Kindergarten through a balance of guided instruction, hands-on learning, and independent discovery.

Program Highlights

• Explicit instruction of early literacy skills, with emphasis on letter and sound recognition as well as decoding skills using Zoo-phonics and handwriting development with Learning Without Tears
• Daily reading and weekly library visits
• Development of math skills, including counting, measuring, graphing, and problem-solving
• Thematic science and social studies units with experiments, field trips, and community connections
• Learning in the classroom and school garden
• Art, music, and movement to foster creativity and self-expression
• Twice-weekly physical education focused on coordination, gross motor skill development, teamwork, and sportsmanship