Larks Preschool

We have built a home here at Larks Preschool. Its play-based philosophy stems from our own beliefs about early childhood education and is inspired by Reggio-Emilia based principles. The Reggio method supports the belief that play is a childs work. While playing, children learn about themselves and their world. A nurturing, stimulating environment where children feel safe to explore and express themselves aids in their emotional, developmental and intellectual growth.

To ensure all pre-kindergarden students are well prepared we collaborate with parents to ensure individual and familial goals are met. To this end, when we are developing goals for a child it is important to understand that learning must make sense from the childs perspective. We understand many of the difficulties associated with letter recognition, phonics, and other basic reading skills associated with early childhood development and direct teach students wile maintaining ongoing assesment to ensure academic proficiency. We direct teach crucial components of early math competency (such as counting, addition, and subtraction) through puzzles, block play, and a variety of hands on activities. We believe that children must participate in choices that foster their direction of learning. Here, successful growth occurs through multiple tactile learning experiences that address the needs of all learning styles. Its so rewarding to see their self-esteem grow as their skills and abilities expand.

As a Reggio-inspired program we also emphasize documentation, communication and setting the child up for success. At Larks, the child is viewed as strong and capable and we create an environment that supports this belief by gently leading the child to explore the classroom freely and discover within themselves their own strengths and abilities. Our activities are open-ended. This allows for children to join in the projects at different points. Open-ended art projects allow room for interpretation and creation at the highest level for all of the children. Teacher-guided, child-led, Larks is a vibrant and lively alternative to traditional childcare programs.

Larks Preschool goes one step more, by celebrating the uniqueness of each child and their individual learning style, we create a community where the sense of respect for each other, and mutual responsibility further supports a sense of connectedness with the world around us. This is the safe, supportive environment where children, families and teachers thrive! At Larks, we view ourselves as partners and collaborators with parents in an effort to foster individual competencies for future child success.

We believe success in school and success in life are interrelated and teaching provides the opportunity to help a child reach their full potential, to the benefit of his/her self and their future academic and social competence.