Farmhouse
preschool : 3-5 years old
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.
Our Farmhouse building houses our preschool class (three year olds – five year olds). At the Farmhouse children spend their day moving between the Indoor and Outdoor Classrooms, participating in Gathering Time, and enjoying a Small Group activity. Together we share, learn, experiment, design, create, discuss, and play!
Farmhouse
(preschool)
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.
Our Farmhouse building houses our preschool class (three year olds – five year olds). At the Farmhouse children spend their day moving between the Indoor and Outdoor Classrooms, participating in Gathering Time, and enjoying a Small Group activity. Together we share, learn, experiment, design, create, discuss, and play!
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:
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1. Arrival
Upon arrival the children find a multitude of activities ready and waiting to be explored. Because research supports the value of spending long periods of time participating in activities for authentic learning to occur we allow the children to play (aka: work) in the Indoor and Outdoor Classrooms for a large portion of our day. With two teachers inside and three outside the children thrive socially, academically, and emotionally.
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2. Gathering Time
After enjoying a long morning of play and enjoying a snack from home, Gathering Time is next. This is the time we come together as a large group to build community, celebrate birthdays, sing, read, and share of new information.
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3. Small Group
Small Group is attended by each child once per week. During this time the group participates in a teacher-led activity or exploration. Each week the small group activity changes and the experiences rotate through science, math, language, and art concepts.
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4. Dismissal
Dismissal takes place in the Outdoor Classroom. After their small group has finished, children return to the outdoor classroom and play until their adult arrives to take them home.
Curriculum at the Farmhouse
A 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 that are relevant, exciting, and meaningful to the class as a whole and to individual children. Our Curriculum Framework (yearly overview of concepts taught) considers all areas of academic subjects 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 Farmhouse
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. We utilize many resources when developing our unique curriculum and 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 naturally mathematical thinkers! At Marvelously Made children explore math concepts as outlined by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Building a solid foundation in number sense and operations is the primary goal in the early childhood years. We work to help children develop a strong fluidity and flexibility with numbers and a solid sense of what numbers mean. We also provide the children with learning experiences in geometry, measurement, algebraic thinking, and data analysis and probability.
MATH
Children are naturally mathematical thinkers! At Marvelously Made children explore math concepts as outlined by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Building a solid foundation in number sense and operations is the primary goal in the early childhood years. We work to help children develop a strong fluidity and flexibility with numbers and a solid sense of what numbers mean. We also provide the children with learning experiences in geometry, measurement, algebraic thinking, and data analysis and probability.
Orality + Literacy Development
Orality (speaking) is the skill on which language and literacy knowledge is built. We nurture orality through the sharing of age-appropriate stories and poems, finger plays, songs, story dictations, and other language-play experiences. Children are exposed to letters kinesthetically, visually and verbally. Letters are reinforced through playtime activities, crafts, books read during gathering circle, and in other activities throughout the day. We also provided ample experiences to strengthen their hands, develop wrist rotation and pencil grasp, and master fine motor skills. Mastery in these areas prepares children to perform paper to pencil tasks in the years to come.
Orality + Literacy
Orality (speaking) is the skill on which language and literacy knowledge is built. We nurture orality through the sharing of age-appropriate stories and poems, finger plays, songs, story dictations, and other language-play experiences. Children are exposed to letters kinesthetically, visually and verbally. Letters are reinforced through playtime activities, crafts, books read during gathering circle, and in other activities throughout the day. We also provided ample experiences to strengthen their hands, develop wrist rotation and pencil grasp, and master fine motor skills. Mastery in these areas prepares children to perform paper to pencil tasks in the years to come.
Science
Science learning is embedded in our daily activities at school. We know children need real experiences to really learn so we are intentional about including hands-on science experiences throughout our indoor and outdoor classrooms. Our school is home to a wide variety of critters including bunnies, chickens, reptiles (Newman our bearded dragon, and Rampage our tortoise), snails, hermit crabs, a hedgehog, aquatic frogs, and more! Daily interactions with animals allows the children opportunities to develop respect for them, kindness towards them, and to begin to grasp the responsibility of caring for them. The children actively garden all year long. Science experiments which are offered as group experiences are presented using the scientific process as we wonder about new things and test our ideas. Additionally, a wide variety of science and sensory exploration activities are offered in all of our classrooms daily. Whether children are playing in the sand pit, mixing “potions” (baking soda, vinegar, colored water, etc.), working with water, or exploring substances such as shaving cream they are building a solid understanding of materials in their world.
Science
Science learning is embedded in our daily activities at school. We know children need real experiences to really learn so we are intentional about including hands-on science experiences throughout our indoor and outdoor classrooms. Our school is home to a wide variety of critters including bunnies, chickens, reptiles (Puff our bearded dragon and Rampage our tortoise), snails, hermit crabs, a hedgehog, aquatic frogs, and more! Daily interactions with these animals allow the children opportunities to develop respect for them, kindness towards them, and to begin to grasp the responsibility of caring for them. The children actively garden all year long. Science experiments which are offered as group experiences are presented using the scientific process as we wonder about new things and test our ideas. Additionally, a wide variety of science and sensory exploration activities are offered in all of our classrooms daily. Whether children are playing in the sand pit, mixing “potions” (baking soda, vinegar, colored water, etc.), working with water, or exploring substances such as shaving cream they are building a solid understanding of materials in their world.
Science
Science learning is embedded in our daily activities at school. We know children need real experiences to really learn so we are intentional about including hands-on science experiences throughout our indoor and outdoor classrooms. Our school is home to a wide variety of critters including bunnies, chickens, reptiles (Newman our bearded dragon and Rampage our tortoise), snails, hermit crabs, a hedgehog, aquatic frogs, and more! Daily interactions with these animals allow the children opportunities to develop respect for them, kindness towards them, and to begin to grasp the responsibility of caring for them. The children actively garden all year long. Science experiments which are offered as group experiences are presented using the scientific process as we wonder about new things and test our ideas.
Additionally, a wide variety of science and sensory exploration activities are offered in all of our classrooms on a daily basis. Whether children are playing in the sand pit, mixing “potions” (baking soda, vinegar, colored water, etc.), working with water, or exploring substances such as shaving cream they are building a solid understanding of materials in their world.
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 born with an insatiable desire to create. We also know that within creative experiences all areas of curriculum are intertwined. Art is a complex combination of science, math, language, motor, sensory, visual, social, and
emotional learning. So the children at Marvelously Made create art every. single. day. Not crafts (cut out by an adult and meant to produce one cookie-cutter product). Art! The children paint, bead/lace, mold clay, watercolor, sculpt, collage, print, and more daily throughout the entire year. 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 born with an insatiable desire to create. We also know that within creative experiences all areas of curriculum are intertwined. Art is a complex combination of science, math, language, motor, sensory, visual, social, and emotional learning. So the children at Marvelously Made create art every. single. day. Not crafts (cut out by an adult and meant to produce one cookie-cutter product). Art! The children paint, bead/lace, mold clay, watercolor, sculpt, collage, print, and more daily throughout the entire year. 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 that makes learning fun,
meaningful, and interesting!
We would love an opportunity to show you Marvelously Made Difference!
Schedule A Visit!