Classroom Philosophy
Our preschool program serves children ages 2 through 5 in classrooms balanced by age and child development.
We are proponents of mixed age preschool classrooms because it fosters respect for the learning needs of students and it creates a setting where siblings can attend on the same days, simplifying family schedules. Each child is guided by his or her individual readiness, ability and interests, while being supported by teachers and students. In addition, older children learn by assisting younger children; younger children model behavior by observation of older children.
There are specific periods during the day where children are separated by age groups. For instance, circle time and outdoor time is separate since toddlers have a shorter attention span as well as different needs in terms of playground equipment and age-appropriate activities.
Our foreign language instruction is grounded in immersion. We believe that total immersion is the best way for preschoolers to develop a long-lasting foundation in any language. In a total immersion program, children learn all of their subjects in the target language. For more information on immersion programs please see our Immersion FAQ.
Getting a child started in a second language program at an early age helps establish a foundation for a higher level of fluency later in life. Research indicates that children who learn a language before adolescence are more likely to develop a higher level of authentic pronunciation. Evidence is also emerging that young children use the right hemisphere of their brain for language learning but less so in later years. The right hemisphere learns a language from a variety of inputs - acoustic, tactile, emotional, and experiential. Thus, total immersion programs, where children actually experience a language in a meaningful, real-life context, are extremely effective.
Research demonstrates that:
We are proponents of mixed age preschool classrooms because it fosters respect for the learning needs of students and it creates a setting where siblings can attend on the same days, simplifying family schedules. Each child is guided by his or her individual readiness, ability and interests, while being supported by teachers and students. In addition, older children learn by assisting younger children; younger children model behavior by observation of older children.
There are specific periods during the day where children are separated by age groups. For instance, circle time and outdoor time is separate since toddlers have a shorter attention span as well as different needs in terms of playground equipment and age-appropriate activities.
Our foreign language instruction is grounded in immersion. We believe that total immersion is the best way for preschoolers to develop a long-lasting foundation in any language. In a total immersion program, children learn all of their subjects in the target language. For more information on immersion programs please see our Immersion FAQ.
Getting a child started in a second language program at an early age helps establish a foundation for a higher level of fluency later in life. Research indicates that children who learn a language before adolescence are more likely to develop a higher level of authentic pronunciation. Evidence is also emerging that young children use the right hemisphere of their brain for language learning but less so in later years. The right hemisphere learns a language from a variety of inputs - acoustic, tactile, emotional, and experiential. Thus, total immersion programs, where children actually experience a language in a meaningful, real-life context, are extremely effective.
Research demonstrates that:
- The window of opportunity for easy language acquisition is between infancy and the age of 10.
- A young brain forms neural connections with each new language it learns.
- Preschool children naturally have a high level of curiosity and are much more receptive to learning about other cultures.
- Learning another language improves communication skills in one's own language.
- Children who learn a second language tend to develop a greater degree of creativity and heightened self-confidence.
