Preschool Class Philosophy

We believe...

• in and rely upon the notion that our classroom itself is a third teacher. With this in mind we endeavor to keep materials in all the learning areas rotated, enticing and pertinent to the children’s interests, skills and needs.

• in providing materials that can be utilized individually and in collaboration with others, by children with a wide range of experience and ability.

• in an open-ended ways as well as being utilized by teachers as a means of challenging individual children.

• in a schedule that allows teachers to model the use of materials.

• that teacher facilitated projects should emphasize exposing students to new materials, skills and processes in ways that allow for the most hands-on experiences possible.

• that while teacher facilitated projects ought to have sound objectives and ought not shy away from sometimes including specific directions and processes, they should also always allow for some measure of creativity, choice making and critical thinking on behalf of students.

• that preschoolers are capable of and ought to be challenged to approach their work with focus and a sense of integrity.

• that preschool children ought to be challenged to and supported in taking care of as many of their needs as possible at school; from toileting and dressing, to locating materials and expressing ideas. And, that they be expected to seek help whenever needed, in as polite and constructive a way as possible.

• that a great curriculum for preschool should be rich in a wide variety of open-ended projects and materials flexible enough to accommodate emerging interests, relevant to enough of the students to inspire participation, instructive in basic skills and concepts and striving to balance the use of the body and brain, as well as engaging all the senses.

• that children are capable of engaging in meaningful and appropriate problem solving and that all conflicts warrant thoughtful discussion and resolution.

• that it is important to behave in ways that are conducive to an environment where everyone feels safe, both physically and emotionally and in which everyone has the opportunity to express themselves.

• that while we endeavor to create some continuity/integration between discussions, group and individual projects and the work available in many areas of the classroom, we are not a “theme” based program. We reject the idea that preschool age children gain enough benefit from being expected to maintain uniform interest in any given subject to warrant all projects and work areas be theme related-- especially if doing so results in projects that do not make the best use of children’s skills, aptitudes, insights and freedom to express themselves both creatively and intellectually.

Unique Qualities of the Clark Fork School Preschool Program:

• Utilizes the classroom as a third teacher.

• Inherently encourages children to pursue their own interests.

• Embraces teachable moments.

• Fosters real relationships between students and teachers.

• Focuses on attention to detail.

• Emphasizes oral language development.

• Teaches respect for the natural world.

• Utilizes nature as a model for living.

• Supports independent use of available resources.

• Nurtures the concepts of cooperation and community.

• Provides materials inspired by student interest.

• Strives for balance in every regard.

• Believes that the process, not the product, is more important.

• Instills educational strategies, skills and habits that will serve well throughout the educational experience and life.