In Pre-K at Parker, children feel honored and respected, enabling them to show respect and kindness to others. We nurture the natural creativity, playfulness, and joy in discovery that is present in every three and four-year-old. We support the children in their development as individuals whose skills and talents emerge at their own pace. And, most important of all, we laugh and have fun.

Inside Pre-K:

• Learning through play, discovery, and time spent in nature
• Skill development and social development are closely intertwined
• An integrated approach to learning
• The school day
• Lunch and snacks
• Daily schedule
• Curriculum Links

Learning through play, discovery, and time spent in nature

Play is the important and joyful work of children. It’s the way they develop the power to think, reason, experiment and create. It’s how they learn about the give and take of being members of a community. Their executive functioning skills, those connected to self-control and organization, are developed through sustained, themed play. At Parker, we build in time for this crucial element of child development both indoors and throughout our 77-acre outdoor classroom.

In our large, sunny Pre-K classrooms are many types of blocks, building materials, tools, vehicles, dolls, a kitchen, a science table, a puppet stage, a dress-up corner, books, art, math, and writing materials. Themed-play areas are set up to support our learning units: a doctor’s office, a restaurant, a supermarket, or a spaceship, for example.

Outdoors we have a specially designed play structure – just for preschoolers. We use our fields, stream and paths to enhance learning opportunities in science and physical development – walking, running, exploring, observing, and collecting. We go outside at least twice each day in sun or snow. On rainy days we spend time in the gym.

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Skill development and social development are closely intertwined

Learning has a social purpose. We empower children to know themselves and communicate themselves to others. Three and four-year-olds learn this through modeling from teachers and practice with peers in daily interactions. Children also do this through writing, journals, reading their stories aloud, and at Morning Meetings with a message and greeting.

At Parker, innovative thinking reaps inherent rewards. When one child invents a block structure or uses materials in a new way, and others gather around to find out how it works, to exclaim and to question, there is growth on all sides.

We foster cooperation, negotiation, and expressing feelings. These go hand-in-hand with art and cooking projects, building challenges, dramatic play, and math exploration.

Pre-K students have grade 4 and 5 students as buddies. They read, write and do projects together. They enjoy getting to know each other.

Our teachers are brilliant at creating an environment where children find success!

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An integrated approach to learning

Skills in mathematical thinking, reading, writing, listening, speaking, and artistic expression are developed through themes. Stories, songs, discussion, invention, fine and gross motor practice, cooking, measuring, observing, recording…all these grow out of themes that relate to the lives of three and four-year-olds. Samples of our themes include:

• Gifts from the Earth
• The Doctor’s Office
• Seasonal Changes
• Our School Habitat: meadow,
  woods, and creek
• Grocery Store
• Pizza Restaurant

• The Post Office
• Day Sky/Night Sky
• The Planets and Space Exploration
• Wind Week
• Birds
• Fish
• Growing and Gardening

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The school day

We carefully construct a daily structure and comfortable routine that enables children to feel safe so that their learning and creativity can thrive.

Full Day: 8:45 AM – 3:30 PM

Half Day: 8:45 AM – 12:15 PM (includes lunchtime)

Pre-K 3 children attend school for a minimum of three mornings per week up to full-time. Pre-K 4 children attend school for a minimum of five mornings up to full-time.

Before Club and After Club are available: 7:30 – 8:45 AM and 3:30 – 5:45 PM daily.

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Lunch and snacks

Lunch: Children bring their lunch. We eat and socialize around the tables in our classrooms in a relaxed and companionable way.

Snacks: Fresh fruit and vegetables are prepared for our daily snack. Students help make healthy snacks. A whole grains mix is prepared for the After Club snack .

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Daily schedule

The daily schedule follows a predictable pattern with Buddy Time, Music, Physical Education, Library, and Spanish interspersed through the week. On Fridays, Pre-K joins the All-school Assembly.

Here is a sample day:

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Curriculum Links

• 4 Year Old Skills
• Core Curriculum Summary
• Music
• Science

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