Preschool

Curriculum Philosophy:
Meaningful play and small group explorations form the foundation of our preschool curriculum. These powerful and essential experiences provide children with opportunities to build meaningful relationships, fostering the freedom to imagine, explore, and create. Our approach directly supports holistic child development, nurturing the cognitive, social-emotional, physical, and creative growth of each learner.

Inquiry-Based Learning:
We view children as naturally curious and inherently eager to understand the world around them. Guided by inquiry, our curriculum invites children to actively engage in the learning process by questioning, investigating, predicting outcomes, and drawing meaningful conclusions. Our teachers facilitate rich learning experiences by inspiring children’s innate interests, transforming wonder into knowledge and deepening their passion for learning.

Emergent Curriculum:
Our emergent curriculum is thoughtfully developed from the identities, interests, and interactions among children, teachers, and families. It includes our planning, environmental design, daily routines, material selections, and meaningful interactions. Rather than a predetermined curriculum, our program thrives on projects and investigations shaped collaboratively by our community, reflecting our shared values and beliefs about children's learning processes, with the curriculum constantly evolving.

Social Constructivist Learning Environment:
Learning takes place within individualized, small, and large-group settings, all carefully designed to energize children's interests and foster active participation. Rooted in social constructivist principles, our educators thoughtfully provoke curiosity, encouraging children to immerse themselves fully in experiences that resonate deeply with their innate sense of wonder. Learning thus becomes a meaningful journey of co-construction between children and teachers.

Foundational Skills and Lifelong Dispositions:
Our preschool experiences intentionally cultivate foundational skills and dispositions essential for lifelong learning. These include curiosity, critical thinking, problem-solving, self-directed learning, effective communication, peaceful conflict resolution, and resilience in facing challenges. Children are encouraged to actively question, explore, and reflect as they build a strong foundation for future academic success and personal growth.

Creative Expression and Hands-On Exploration:
We value the multitude of ways children communicate and learn.  Our program provides rich opportunities in art, storytelling, music and dance, dramatic play, block-building, sensory experiences, loose parts and outdoor exploration. These experiences support creativity, literacy, mathematical thinking, and physical development, ensuring children develop holistically and joyfully.

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California State Preschool Learning Foundations:
Our curriculum aligns with the California State Preschool Learning Foundations, supporting children to feel confident in their abilities and curiosities as they transition from preschool into elementary school. We recognize these foundations as a general framework and celebrate the uniqueness of each child, honoring their individual pace, developmental readiness, and personal pathways of growth. We invite families to explore these foundational guidelines here to better understand the developmental milestones and educational goals integrated into our daily practices.

Inclusive Practices:
Our preschool program is proudly located on the campus grounds of Glankler Early Learning Center, enabling meaningful inclusive opportunities for students with special rights. Collaboration between our general education teachers and Glankler's special education teachers/support staff creates inclusive opportunities for learning, playing, and growing together. Whether enrolled exclusively in one program or dually enrolled, children benefit from thoughtfully designed experiences that celebrate diversity and encourage meaningful connections among all learners.