Early Learning Curriculum
Discover a nursery school with an individualized curriculum focused on the
development of young learners and their interests.
Nurturing Curiosity, One Step at a Time
Nurturing Curiosity, One Child at a Time
As an independent school, MCNS has the freedom to make curriculum choices throughout the year to meet the evolving social and intellectual development of each child. Teachers observe children at play to identify areas of enthusiasm and apply that insight to create meaningful learning experiences. We make curriculum choices throughout the year to meet the evolving social and intellectual development of each child.
Each classroom is filled with classic, open-ended materials, and each day provides opportunities to include the ideas of others. Children exercise their critical thinking skills as they assess the properties of materials, and when they make plans together during collaborative play and projects. Teachers regularly introduce more complex materials to provide intellectual
challenges.
“Learning and teaching should not stand on opposite banks and just watch the river flow by; instead, they should embark together on a journey down the water. Through an active, reciprocal exchange, teaching can strengthen learning and how to learn.”
Malaguzzi, L. “History, Ideas and Philosophy,” The Hundred Languages of
Children: The Reggio Emilia Approach to Early Childhood Education, 1993.
Explorers
In the Explorers Room, two year olds learn to navigate social situations in a loving, accepting environment. Teachers model conversations between peers, facilitating the children’s ability to share space and materials, and resolve conflicts verbally. This skill is particularly valuable as children move from parallel to collaborative play and begin forming friendships with each other.
The Explorers curriculum is designed for children to develop a sense of autonomy and ownership in the classroom. They also learn to function as a member of a community while internalizing school routines.
Pathfinders
Social interaction remains central to the curriculum in the Pathfinders Room, where three-year-olds learn through experimentation and communication during extended periods of play. The emergent curriculum focuses on the children’s own interests, building on their innate curiosity about the world around them and the people in it. Beginning academic skills are embedded in projects the teachers implement after observing the children during activities such as cooking, building and reading stories together. As the year progresses, children take care of their classroom, their supplies and each other when they perform their daily jobs. These jobs promote a sense of competence while introducing the ideas of service and responsibility in communities.
Trailblazers (Pre-K)
The Trailblazers Room emphasizes the idea that we are a community of collaborative learners. Literacy, mathematical concepts, and fine motor proficiency are woven into all aspects of the classroom. The daily schedule includes ample time for self-directed activities using an extensive collection of intellectually stimulating materials in small groups, pairs, and individually.
Regular drumming with djembes and floor toms highlight patterning and rhythm.
Teachers use Handwriting Without Tears ® to facilitate children’s growing interest in writing, and every week includes time for writing and acting out stories. As their ability to engage in group discussion strengthens, children’s observations and inquiries lead to deeper and more sophisticated classroom studies and projects. Children take turns leading the morning meeting and managing classroom tasks, moving to Kindergarten with a sense of confidence and accomplishment.
NY State Standards and the Core Body of Knowledge are incorporated into our play based, progressive curriculum.