We are so excited for another amazing school year at Wild Roots! We have designed a beautiful layout in our primary program’s Oak Room to which we will begin with the basics in each area and slowly add materials throughout the year, as the children progress in the curriculum. Maintaining unique areas of the Wild Roots Preschool classroom is critical for fostering balance between focused, purposeful work and open ended exploration.
For further reading on classroom balance, follow the link here: Individual Work and Projects
Inspired by the Montessori Method, we keep the classroom as neutral and clutter free as possible, while providing an orderly environment that encourages productivity. Each defined area of the room has progressive and concept-based learning materials for children ages 3-6 years to find their unique flow and rhythm within the work period. Each area of the classroom is outlined below!
Practical Life Skills:
One of the most important aspects of any preschool classroom should be the development of fine motor skills, concentration, and independence. In our Oak room we provide multiple shelves and furniture for this “practical life” work, which truly lays the foundation for all the other areas of development. From pouring grains and water, to washing dishes, caring for plants, and practicing with various tools, there is a work for each child to find delight while mastering everyday techniques of the hand and discovering sense of community.
Mathematics:
The children have beautiful, hands-on work materials, which inspire a meaningful way to learn the fundamentals of math concepts such as forming number symbols, counting one by one, matching number symbols to quantities, understanding time, learning the basics of operations, and more!
Language:
Our simple and effective writing-to-reading approach to literacy is a huge success for the early development of language skills. After spending time with pre-writing skill materials such as tracing insets, children begin to learn to form letter symbols and learn the basics of phonetic writing and reading. The careful process we take that finally leads to paper and pencil ensures success and beautiful penmanship without the frustration.
Science & Social Studies:
Becoming aware of the natural world and properties of living creatures and life cycles of plants is surely one of the most exciting aspects of growing up! Our science and social studies section introduces the properties and cycles of various plants and animals, the study of earth, land and water forms, discovery of geography and culture of the world, and even astronomy. The science and social studies area utilizes beautiful puzzles, magnets, books, cards, photos and various sensory items to provoke interest and spark thoughts.
Block Building and Loose Parts:
Children need space to create with open ended creativity in mind! We utilize natural wood blocks of various shapes and sizes as well as loose parts of shells, driftwood, corks, and more. We also provide a light table that they can sit at, bringing loose parts to explore with, witnessing translucency, shadows, and color mixing. When bringing dinosaurs and other animal figures to this area, the scene becomes a habitat for even more imagination!
Snack Table:
So much work and play creates quite a healthy appetite! Our Oak room provides a snack table ready for just a few friends at a time to serve themselves whenever their tummies grumble. Taking turns at the snack table, which consists of organic brown rice and fresh fruit, encourages self-discipline and patience. When the child is finished eating, he has the opportunity to wash his own dish and place in a bin, satisfying the need for independence. The children also have opportunities during the day to assist in replenishing our snack area, by folding clean linens for reuse, and placing clean dishes on the snack shelves.
Atelier:
Our art studio is now a large section within our Oak room that has its own defined space! With a dedicated Atelierista teacher who is ready to receive a group of 8 children or less, there are opportunities for group work each morning work period! Inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach to collaborative project-based work, the children are able to contribute their skillsets learned from the various areas of the classroom to projects with other children! There is an opportunity to invest in long term projects that are initiated by the children’s ideas and interests. Utilizing natural and recycled materials as well as every art medium one could imagine, the children have everything they need to feel fulfilled & expressive in their creative minds!
Movement and Gathering Rug:
Our very large and beautiful movement rug, inspired by the Montessori “walking on the line” exercises, is a special place for movement and gathering times. The rug is also a perfect spot to sit as a group and share a story, sing songs together or discuss a classroom project!
The children enjoy Tai Chi moves and yoga poses each morning. During the work period, children are often invited to walk, skip, and run along the white outer line, corresponding to the tempo of music. These exercises build strength, refine large motor skills and hand-eye coordination, and allow for a peaceful work energy.
For more info on Preschool Tai Chi, follow the link below:
Fostering Clarity and Peace Through Tai Chi
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