Classes

Designed to be an introduction to a group of children and new activities, the Penguin class is a fun and safe place for little people. With a parent there to share it with, children can meet other children and learn the beginnings of how to share the space and toys with others. Parents take turns bringing a snack and delight in watching their toddlers "break bread" with other toddlers (and eat off each other's napkins if we don't watch out!).

The day is set up with a variety of activities that encourage both large and small muscle development, which grow and change with the class as it grows and changes. These activities include the slide, rocking boat, tunnel, and large foam shapes for climbing and jumping off; peg boards, puzzles and sorting toys; blocks, cars, Duplos and a dollhouse; play dough, a texture table, and water play; and open-ended exploration of art materials. Children learn the simple structure of the day, which includes Choice Time, Toys Away, Snack, Outside Play, and Circle Time. In Circle, children learn fun songs and finger plays, activities to do at home with their parents, and the basics of how to listen and respond in a group setting. The main objective of this class is for children to discover that school and other children are fun and safe.

The Sea Otter class provides a safe and fun environment where young children can learn self-help skills, such as putting on and taking off their coats and shoes, serving and cleaning up their own snack, and helping to put the toys away when they are finished playing. Children are also beginning to master the ability to separate from their parents, which is handled in an individual, respectful manner with each family.

We foster independence with a day of simple structure that includes Hello Circle (to greet friends and start thinking about the day's activities); Choice Time, when children are free to move from center to center choosing to do activities that interest them (including a housekeeping center and dress ups, an art center, a math center with puzzles and small manipulatives, play dough, a texture or water table, a construction center with blocks and cars, a drawing center, and the snack table); Story Circle (for stories, puppets, dance, movement, and musical instruments); Outside Play (on our great playground); and Goodbye Circle (when each child sits on the teacher's lap and sings goodbye to his or her friends). Children learn about life and the world around them through basic themes. We also work on many social skills. The children learn to take turns, to share ideas and listen to other's ideas, to take risks and try new things, and to trust others outside of their family. These skills guide the children toward being capable and successful in a child-centered environment.

The Dolphin-age child is ready for a safe environment where they have many adult-supported opportunities to practice being a part of a social group. With a strong focus on social skills, children learn to take turns, to listen to each other's ideas, and to work together towards a common goal. The Dolphin class learns the beginnings of Project Work, or in-depth studies that stem from the children's interests and pursuits, and which reflect their development. Children learn about themselves, each other, and the world around them by asking questions and learning how to find answers. They begin to represent their thoughts and ideas through dramatic play, music, drawing and painting, and language activities. The children's learning is enhanced with respect and support from teachers and parents. The environment is planned for learning, and adults closely observe the discoveries that unfold for the children.

The class has a structured day that includes Hello Circle, to greet friends and learn of the day's activities; Choice Time, when children use carefully planned play activities to enhance their understanding of their world (including the art center, the math center with sorting and counting activities, the writing center, and the texture or water table); Story Circle, for stories, musical instruments, and movement; and Outside Play, to develop their growing bodies. These activities provide a stimulating and supportive environment as the children begin to recognize themselves as individuals that are part of a peer group and of a larger community.

In the Orca class, children have many varied opportunities to learn about themselves, each other, and the world around them. Central to our approach to curriculum is in-depth Project Work that grows from the children's pursuits and interests. Traditional preschools approach children as if they were empty vessels ready to be filled with information that adults deem important. Instead, we believe that children come to class full of ideas, experiences, and questions as they try to make sense of their world. It is the job of the adults at school to listen to children, to help children ask questions, and to teach them the skills to find answers. It is not uncommon to see adults writing observation notes or taking photos that record a child's process of discovery. We believe that fostering children's natural inquisitiveness about what excites and interests them and teaching them to represent their new-found understanding in a variety of media will help them to become lifelong learners.

Children represent their ideas and experiences through drawing and art work; writing; dance, music and movement; constructions, and more. The environment and activities are carefully planned by the teachers to assist the children in their learning. Children learn to draw what they see, to use charts and graphs, to pay careful attention to details to help them understand concepts more clearly, to ask questions of experts, and to find a way of representing their answers. There is also a strong focus on learning social skills such as respect, cooperation, and negotiation. All of these skills serve the children well in their preparation for kindergarten.