Laying the foundations for success in one of the top academic programs in the country
The earliest years of a child’s education are marked by meaningful discoveries and “lightbulb” moments. Our Early Learning Program is designed to maximize these moments, creating a balance between a child’s natural tendencies and intentional academic learning. A key goal is to inspire students to delight in learning. Fostering this as early as possible leads to future academic and lifelong success.
We take a developmentally appropriate approach to fueling academic, social, and emotional growth.
Our Discovery Blocks of Learning curriculum offers an impressive array of courses that foster early numeracy, literacy, and awareness of the ideas and topics to come in later years. Students learn through developmentally appropriate play, music, and exploratory activities to help make high-level material more accessible. The Discovery Blocks of Learning include:
- Social & Emotional Development and Self-Care Skills
- Language & Literacy
- Math Discovery
- Expressive Arts: Art, Music & Drama
- Mandarin
- Movement & Physical Education
- World Discovery
- STEM Discovery
The Toddler Program (2 year olds) provides a supportive environment that nurtures growing minds and lays the necessary building blocks for physical, social, emotional, and language development. This year sets the foundation for later literacy learning as our teachers support oral language development and phonemic awareness. Through STEM, movement, and the arts, students are able to improve their motor skills, develop problem-solving skills, and experience the joy of being creative. Consistent routines and strong relationships with teachers help students feel secure and more confident in the classroom.
Campuses offered: McLean
In PreK-1 and PreK-2 we offer a thematic, hands-on, comprehensive, and content-rich curriculum that builds skills in an environment that fosters curiosity and mutual respect between teachers, students, and one another. We focus on instilling intellectual curiosity as early as possible and challenging students as they are exposed to new concepts and learn how to set and reach goals individually and as a class.
Campuses offered: Brooklyn, Manhattan, McLean
In Transitional Kindergarten (TK) we offer a thematic, hands-on, comprehensive, and content-rich curriculum that builds skills in an environment designed for students who are not yet ready for our kindergarten class, but for whom a traditional PreK curriculum wouldn’t offer social-emotional and academic advancement.
We focus on instilling intellectual curiosity as early as possible and challenging students as they are exposed to new concepts and learn how to set and reach goals both together and as a class. Our curriculum offers an impressive array of foundational courses that foster early numeracy, literacy, and awareness of the many ideas and topics to explore. Students learn through developmentally appropriate play, music, and hands-on activities to help make high-level material more accessible.
Campuses offered: Fremont, Silicon Valley
In Kindergarten we focus on more formal, foundational learning, with the curriculum facilitating opportunities for children to interact with academic, physical, and social concepts in goal-oriented activities throughout the day. The curriculum helps students develop their literacy and math skills, and gives them opportunities for plenty of movement and exercise, and connects what they know about their environment to new ideas in civics, science, and history. We also introduce the concepts of Engineering, Visual & Performing Arts, and Mandarin. Students work toward mastering first grade skills by the end of the year, leaving them with an incredibly strong foundation.
Our unique two-teacher model designates two teachers in the classroom, each with deep knowledge of effective pedagogical techniques and the expertise to craft engaging lessons. Students have both an Early Learning Teacher and an Early Learning Teaching Fellow with them in their classrooms throughout the year. Subject Expert Teachers may replace Early Learning Teachers for “specials” courses such as Mandarin and PE.
These two teachers work together to guide students in making vital connections both inside and outside the classroom, delivering lessons to elicit student engagement and inspire a hunger for learning.
While academics are a priority, so is the social-emotional development and support of our students.
Our Early Learning Teachers hone in on students’ individual needs, ensuring they understand that school is a place that is safe for exploration, taking risks, making mistakes, and facing challenges head-on. This encourages them to be curious, creative, and proactive learners, and to associate the classroom as a place where they can discover and be themselves.
We believe that every learning experience should positively contribute to a child’s social and emotional growth and well-being. Our teachers ensure every child feels supported and has their individual needs met as they learn and develop.
Building curious, inquisitive students from the moment they step into our classrooms.
At the beginning of each year, teachers issue a syllabus that includes an overview of the topics covered in their class. Beyond subject-specific goals centered on academics and social-emotional readiness to progress to the next grade, students in our Early Learning Program will:
- Feel empowered by their curiosity and willingness to learn
- Have opportunities to experience victories and milestones, such as fine motor skills, social-emotional and self-help skills, and phonological awareness
- Broaden their understanding of the classroom environment and learn to make connections to their home and other outside environments
- Get the best start to their academic journey as well as the means to make a seamless transition into future grade levels
