Welcome to The Preschool Program
Ages 3-5 Years
All of our educational practices are grounded in a shared set of core beliefs. Preschoolers engage in Art and Music and spend lots of time outdoors each day. Here are three salient features of our preschool program. Our teachers look forward to telling you more.
Friendship is Everything
Preschoolers grapple with big worthy questions: What is a friend? Who is my friend? How can I be a friend? How can I keep my friend? The discoveries are daily and never ending. For instance, it’s okay for a friend to want to play separately sometimes. And friendship can be based on a shared interest or passion: this is my baseball friend, my painting friend, my worm-hunting friend. We are guides as children learn how to use their social power responsibly and kindly.
A “Let’s Find Out!” Attitude
Where does a frog live at night? Let’s find out! How long is lightning? Let’s research together! There’s an animal track in the woods? Let’s draw it in our nature journals and investigate. Preschoolers want to know and everything is worthy of inquiry, of deeper and broader discovery. We don’t simplify for kids; we encourage and allow for complexity as children make imaginative connections between seemingly dissimilar things.
Learning to Fly on One’s Own
Preschoolers are growing into greater agency and autonomy. They take such pride in their capabilities and love to share newfound knowledge and skills: pumping on a swing, donning snow gear, identifying bird song, drawing the tricky letter “q,” tying shoes. Allowing children to “do for themselves” can require holding back and standing by while they see, say, discover, decide, navigate conflicts—and learn from inevitable stumbles.
“I’m very interested in children’s imaginative thinking and ways that children’s brains are capable of extending far beyond our own. I’m interested in imagination as a bonafide, powerful way of understanding and learning.”
Our Daily Flow
Our two preschool classrooms, Songbirds and Fox Den, flow with familiar rhythms and routines that help children feel confident, calm, cooperative and secure.
Greeting & Morning Provocations. Children are greeted with morning “provocations,” a diversity of thoughtfully-designed activities based on children’s interests or next growing step. Children are free to explore and participate at their own pace.
Morning Circle. Toddler and preschool classrooms invite children to join in morning gatherings: children share ideas, songs and stories, problem solve, and get to plan and reflect on their play and learning journeys.
Snack and Outside Time. After morning snack provided by TCS, children head outside—rain, snow or shine—for gross motor fun on the playground or hikes on the trails.
Lunchtime, with food provided by families, encourages valuable communal conversations.
Rest time. Children nap or rest quietly for at least 30 minutes. Quiet activities are offered to non-nappers.
Snack and Open Play. Afternoon snack is provided by TCS, and sometimes by our Little Chefs (PreK), followed by open play indoors or outside until 3:15PM pick up.
And… we call this a “flow” for a reason! The schedule is rarely precise. There will be artmaking in the atelier, cooking in the kitchen, special garden visits, walking adventures to the Montshire Museum, family music concerts, cross-classroom projects, visits to the tadpoles in the vernal pool, art encounters at the Hood, fall field trips to the apple orchard, and other events that vary our days. Our daily flow allows for flexibility in response to children’s needs, levels of engagement, and bright imaginings.