Cottage

kindergarten

At Marvelously Made – the School for Young Children we have multi-age classes by design.  We know through research and experience that not only do multiage classrooms work; they work beautifully. Having a mix of ages, supported by teachers that meet each student’s learning needs, in an experience-based environment where the children are given time, space, and support to build academic skills, emotional intelligence, and social skills is the only way to educate the WHOLE child.
 

At the Cottage students share, learn, experiment, design, create, discuss, and play together! Our kindergarten class sizes are 16 with two teachers and 14 with two teachers.  The children’s learning experiences are enriched by visitors throughout the year which bring the children a variety of experiences.  To date we have had some incredibly interesting visitors including a sheep shearer, fire fighters, a cellist, an airplane pilot, a gemologist, and more.

Our Rhythm of The Day

Rather than a strict schedule we opt for a routine which we call the “Rhythm of the Day”.  Our approach to having a daily rhythm allows for a predictable flow of each day while still providing the children with time and space to accommodate conversations and deep involvement in working and learning.

Here is our daily rhythm:

  • 1. Arrival

    Arrive to the Outdoor Classroom to socialize, tinker, and get ready for the day.

  • 2. All-Group Morning Gathering

    Once everyone is settled, we do announcements, birthdays, and calendar.

  • 3. Small Group Gathering

    The older and younger groups split for a teacher directed time that includes Poem of the Week (phonics concepts and fluency), Joke of the Day (Shared Writing), a read aloud, and other literacy components.

  • 4. Morning Work Hour

    Child Initiated with purposeful invitations to play and learn.

  • 5. Snack + Outdoor Classroom

    The children will eat a snack at their pace and transition to the Outdoor Classroom to participate in different experiences that interest them. From building ramps and mixing potions to swinging and running, this 45-60 minute time in the Outdoor Classroom is extremely valuable academically, emotionally, and socially.

  • 6. Small Group

    Teacher directed group time that can include Math, Science, Social Studies, Instant Challenges, or Creative Experiences. Children are then dismissed for the end of end.

Curriculum at the Cottage

Curriculum is a plan for learning.  One of the incredible things about Marvelously Made is that we are able to write our own curriculum!  Our staff is extremely knowledgeable about early education and child development and is able to put that knowledge into practice as they develop lessons and choose activities which are relevant, exciting, and meaningful to the class as a whole and to individual children.  Each of the teachers in our Kindergarten and Primary classes holds a degree in education and is certified to teach in Texas.  Our Curriculum Framework (yearly overview of concepts taught) is aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and incorporates supporting the development of social skills and emotional intelligence. Below is a brief explanation of some of our curriculum areas.

Curriculum at
the Cottage

Curriculum is a plan for learning.  One of the incredible things about Marvelously Made is that we are able to write our own curriculum!  Our staff is extremely knowledgeable about early education and child development and is able to put that knowledge into practice as they develop lessons and choose activities which are relevant, exciting, and meaningful to the class as a whole and to individual children.  Each of the teachers in our Kindergarten and Primary classes holds a degree in education and is certified to teach in Texas.  Our Curriculum Framework (yearly overview of concepts taught) is aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and incorporates supporting the development of social skills and emotional intelligence. Below is a brief explanation of some of our curriculum areas.

MATH

Children are introduced to Math concepts (sorting, patterning,  addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) through storytelling with a miniature, magical town we call Math Land.  Math Land is available all year to explore and play with as we apply different math stories to each of the characters. Math Land provides a concrete foundation of math terminology and processes that the children will benefit from as they advance through the development of mathematical thinking skills and learning math processes.

You will also find the children of the Cottage involved in many, many math games that allow them to master math concepts, make logical thinking connections, and build social awareness as they win, lose, and reach goals together. We utilize many hands-on materials to facilitate math learning for our K/1 class.  Some of the materials which support our math curriculum include rekenreks, unifix cubes, ten frames, and subitizing cards.

MATH

Children are introduced to Math concepts (sorting, patterning,  addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) through storytelling with a miniature, magical town we call Math Land.  Math Land is available all year to explore and play with as we apply different math stories to each of the characters. Math Land provides a concrete foundation of math terminology and processes that the children will benefit from as they advance through the development of mathematical thinking skills and learning math processes.

You will also find the children of the Green House involved in many, many math games that allow them to master math concepts, make logical thinking connections, and build social awareness as they win, lose, and reach goals together. We utilize many hands-on materials to facilitate math learning for our K/1 class.  Some of the materials which support our math curriculum include rekenreks, unifix cubes, ten frames, and subitizing cards.

Reading + Writing

As we nurture a love of language we facilitate learning to read.  Learning to read is a very individual journey!  As we explore letters, letter sounds, blending sounds, and other phonics rules, the teachers support and challenge each child at their own level as they build their skills and confidence inspired by his/her interests.   Reading together for pleasure, playing with language through poetry readings, learning chants, rhymes, and songs, taking story dictations from the children, and writing Story Plays are some of the ways we stir a desire in each child to love reading and to want to learn how to read!

Handwriting is such an important skill! Before children can write they must have strong hands, developed vision, shoulder stability, eye-hand coordination, mastery of mark making, and an interest in letter formation.  Children at Marvelously Made  manipulate clay, sew, (to strengthen hand and finger muscles), build letters with wooden piecses and so much more as we support a solid development of handwriting for each child.

Reading + Writing

As we nurture a love of language we facilitate learning to read.  Learning to read is a very individual journey!  As we explore letters, letter sounds, blending sounds, and other phonics rules, the teachers support and challenge each child at their own level as they build their skills and confidence inspired by his/her interests.   Reading together for pleasure, playing with language through poetry readings, learning chants, rhymes, and songs, taking story dictations from the children, and writing Story Plays are some of the ways we stir a desire in each child to love reading and to want to learn how to read!

Handwriting is such an important skill! Before children can write they must have strong hands, developed vision, shoulder stability, eye-hand coordination, mastery of mark making, and an interest in letter formation.  Children at Marvelously Made  manipulate clay, sew, (to strengthen hand and finger muscles), build letters with wooden piecses and so much more as we support a solid development of handwriting for each child.

Ideas on Paper

Until handwriting becomes fluent (and even afterwards), children can be found dictating their stories, observations, and ideas to a teacher.  Getting ideas onto paper is crucial for confidence, building connections, and self-expression.  We make time for all of these things as part of our daily learning.

Share Boards

Share Boards are child-appropriate research projects. They are another engaging and valuable way we support interesting and authentic learning at Marvelously Made.  Through the use of Share Boards, the children become the teachers as they share information about a topic which interests them with the class. From brainstorming and research to presenting their information and asking and answering questions Share Boards build so many important skills! 

Story Plays

Story Plays are another unique part of our Language Arts curriculum at Marvelously Made. Children dictate stories which are turned into plays and are acted out with classmates for the younger children at school.  Our Story Plays bring stories to life in a fun and engaging way!.

Science + Social Studies

Science and Social Studies learning are embedded into our environment in so many purposeful ways. Our wide variety of animals (chickens, a tortoise, bunnies, aquatic frogs, and more!) give the children real-life interactions with and opportunities to develop kindness towards all creatures as they enjoy them and begin to understand the responsibility of caring for and respecting them.

Throughout the year we garden together in our Outdoor Classroom. We study and make maps as we learn about our neighborhoods and state. Our teachers are responsive to the children’s interests in all of these areas; creating an environment for authentic learning across the curriculum.

Science + Social Studies

Science and Social Studies learning are embedded into our environment in so many purposeful ways. Our wide variety of animals (chickens, a tortoise, bunnies, aquatic frogs, and more!) give the children real-life interactions with and opportunities to develop kindness towards all creatures as they enjoy them and begin to understand the responsibility of caring for and respecting them.

Throughout the year we garden together in our Outdoor Classroom. We study and make maps as we learn about our neighborhoods and state. Our teachers are responsive to the children’s interests in all of these areas; creating an environment for authentic learning across the curriculum.

Nurturing Creativity

At Marvelously Made – the School for Young Children we encourage and create time for lots of creative work throughout each day.  We know that children are made to create!  During our days the children paint, build, water color, sculpt, glue, glitter, cut, color, and paste! We explore art techniques as we learn about art and artists.  We sew and knit and learn how to “Paint with Crayons”.  Each piece of art is unique and important because we know that “Every Child is an Artist” (Picasso) and “Art is Anything You Can Get Away With” (Andy Warhol)!

Nurturing Creativity

At Marvelously Made – the School for Young Children we encourage and create time for lots of creative work throughout each day.  We know that children are made to create!  During our days the children paint, build, water color, sculpt, glue, glitter, cut, color, and paste! We explore art techniques as we learn about art and artists.  We sew and knit and learn how to “Paint with Crayons”.  Each piece of art is unique and important because we know that “Every Child is an Artist” (Picasso) and “Art is Anything You Can Get Away With” (Andy Warhol)!

Marvelously Made is truly a school which makes learning fun, meaningful, and interesting!  

We would love an opportunity to show you our school
so you can see the Marvelously Made Difference!

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