Art & Wonder Preschool

My aim in running this program is to provide working families with a quality service, and the children with a wonderful early educational experience. I strive to always bring the best practices in early childhood education. The maximum number of children in any day will be four. This will allow for quality relationships to form among children and between teacher and child. Children at Art and Wonder Preschool are adored, respected and listened to.

The projected flow of the day allows for creativity and flexibility. We begin the day with open play time and a provocation, or invitation to explore materials. We continue with circle time, including songs and movement. The morning circle regularly includes yoga, dancing, or use of musical instruments.

Then we have morning snack. We get ready to go outside to spend most of the morning in nature. When we come back inside, we prepare for lunch. I ask the families to provide a lunch that serves to connect your child with home. As an example of encouraging independence, children help themselves to their lunch bags and we sit around the table to eat. Afterwards, we get ready for rest or nap. Children can sleep on their mats, or can engage in quiet play while their classmates rest.

When it's time to wake up, the children can play and express their creativity. Open-ended materials from the art shelf can be used alongside new ideas for projects. Building with blocks, playing games, pretend play, and using table toys are also available. There is also an afternoon snack. We read books throughout the day, but there is a special story time, when we explore literacy concepts, along with the love of books. The afternoon might include a scientific investigation, or further outdoor exploration.

At Art & Wonder Preschool, I believe that children grow, learn, and thrive by exploring the world around them. The goal is to provide an environment where children will feel genuinely cared for and cherished.

The Reggio Emilia philosophy holds that each child is capable and competent. We allow children’s own interests to help facilitate their learning and engagement. By providing varied art experiences daily, we allow their creativity to flourish and teach them to become independent agents of their learning. An inquiry approach that is child-centered supports children's dispositions for discovery. The engagements of child with materials, child with ideas, and child with teacher are what makes for a meaningful educational experience. The social relationships created by shared experiences serve to build a confident person.

The emergent curriculum is a well-rounded program that promotes proficiency in all domains of early childhood learning: physical, social-emotional, cognitive, and language and literacy.

Children who have left my program have gone on to gifted and talented schools and won art awards. The slow and deliberate approach to early learning has many benefits for the whole child.