3 and 4-Year Old Program

Using the Project Approach Model

• Ratio: 27:5 (three teachers, two helping parents)

• An additional support teacher is not included in the ratio above

• 3 and 4-year old children: Tuesday through Friday:

  • 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (with add-on option of Lunch Bunch ending at 12:50 p.m.)

• Rising Kindergarteners: Monday through Friday

  • 9 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. on Monday (Lunch Bunch on this day is mandatory)

  • 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Tuesday - Friday (with add-on option of Lunch Bunch ending at 12:50 p.m.)

Our 3 and 4-year old children progress from a Theme-based to a Project Approach Curriculum.  Learn more about our unique Project Approach.

In the 3 and 4-year old classes, children begin each day running around in the fresh air on our large, natural playground. Our 3 and 4-year old  program is a mixed-aged class of 27 children that share three large classrooms and three staff teachers. Two helping parents assist the teachers each day.

Mixed Age & Gender Balanced Classrooms

Each teacher has a mixed-age and gender-balanced gathering of 8-9 children who spend gathering and snack times together as a smaller group. The remainder of the school day is spent with the larger group at center time and playing outside.

Our 3-year old children attend school four mornings per week (Tuesday-Friday) and our rising Kindergarteners attend all five mornings. Monday morning is a special lesson time reserved for our rising Kindergartener group and is more focused on pre-academic areas such as emerging literacy and numerical concepts.

Teacher-Directed & Child-Initiated

During center time, children are free to choose and participate in a variety of teacher-directed and child-initiated activities and free-play. Daily activities are designed to facilitate the growth of children’s independent decision-making, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution skills. Teachers provide daily opportunities for the children to learn new concepts  and be creative through art, music, movement, and scientific exploration.

During project work, many of our center-time activities are guided by our current project topic. After center time and clean-up, the children return to their small groups for a second, structured gathering time. Our day ends back outside on the playground.

Photos from Past Projects