OUR PROGRAMS

Depending on your family’s schedule, our Full-Time Program might be the right fit for you. Our full time program runs from September to​ June.

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Little Meadow emphasizes learning through purposeful play.

 

Little Meadow is a best-practices preschool. This means we pull from many of the best known educational theories to create a unique program for children. We use a nature education curriculum in addition to many activities and materials from Montessori, Reggio Emilia and Howard Gardner's multiple intelligence theories.

 

We believe that children learn the most while having fun, experiencing topics directly and learning about topics that interest and motivate them individually.

This includes: building with blocks, dressing up, artistic endeavors, experimenting at the sensory table and exploring the natural world.

Little Meadow also encourages learning practical and academic skills through the use of Montessori materials such as working with sandpaper letters and numbers, color mixing, hammering, pouring water, setting the table for snack-time and many more. Weather permitting, outdoor play is an essential part of a child's experience. Children climb, pedal tricycles, play hide and seek, write on chalk-boards or paint at an easel.

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Areas of focus

At Little Meadow, children learn through themes that rotate weekly or biweekly. The themes are organized into multidisciplinary areas such as:

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*early reading *music & movement *sensory

*language development *math
*art

*fine motor skills *science
*cooking activities

Lessons are developed to include skills in observation, noting similarities and differences, sorting and classifying. School readiness skills such as listening, cooperative learning, letter and number recognition and following directions are also emphasized. Development of a child's social abilities is always a focus. We place particular emphasis on learning to ask for a turn, giving children strategies for sharing, practicing politeness and learning to advocate for oneself in a positive way.

Attention is given to each child's learning style and care is taken to present information through different modalities such as visual, oral, tactile and kinesthetic. Children experience directed learning activities as well as open-ended and more creative learning. Themes are chosen by teachers or inspired by children themselves.

During the day, students engage in activities that are of intrinsic interest to them. We also come together for two group times per class. Group time includes music, movement, games, and storytelling. It also includes discussion and introduction to themes and materials.