“My daughter had the opportunity to learn at her own pace in a comfortable environment where her ideas were respected. She went on to enter 1st grade with the social confidence and academic skills that she needed to succeed.”
The Millburn Cooperative Nursery School has been serving families from the area for over 50 years. In 2020, we jumped at the opportunity to enhance our preschool program by adding a “bridge program” for children who will turn five by January 1st of the year of entry. Our curriculum is rooted in a deep knowledge of child development and inspires children to love the process of learning and approach problem solving with curiosity and confidence. Our small class size of 15 students allows our two co-head teachers to individualize learning and design curriculum in response to the collective interests of the class. At the conclusion of the K School year, children are prepared to enter kindergarten or first grade, depending on their birthdays. At the Millburn Co-op, families are an integral part of our school and we deeply value our community. While our K program does not require monthly parent participation, we seek to create a classroom community that welcomes and involves our children’s families in a variety of ways. The K school is located in St. George’s Church at 550 Ridgewood Road, in Maplewood.
THE Curriculum
The curriculum of the K School will naturally follow the philosophy of the Millburn Co-op, where social emotional development is fostered along side the learning of reading, writing, literature, math, science, social studies, art, drama, music and physical activity.
As our teachers closely observe the play and exploration of the children, they learn about their individual and collective interests and learning styles. Our teachers design meaningful learning experiences that build upon the questions and interests that the children bring to the classroom and invite them to explore and discover more.
Instilling a love of the environment and all living things is always integral to our curriculum. Social studies and science themes such as life cycles in the natural world (ie. Plants, insects, animals, water) build upon and engage children’s natural curiosity and create meaningful opportunities to read, write, count, measure, draw, paint, sing, experiment and solve problems.
Our students approach new academic concepts in a variety of playful ways. We foster a love of learning and provide a variety of ways for our young learners to construct knowledge that is meaningful to them. Math, for instance, is taught experientially through interaction with every day objects, as well as specially designed manipulatives (ie. Unit Blocks, Pattern Blocks, Unifix Cubes, Geoboards, etc…) Math concepts are illustrated in books we read, art projects, songs we sing, games we play and stories we make up. Mathematical concepts are an exciting part of the daily routines in the K classroom.
Our learning experiences are designed to meet each child where they are developmentally and to ensure that they feel success and confidence in exploring new concepts. Weekly journal writing provides an excellent example of this approach. “Journal writing” is an empowering opportunity for each child to record their thoughts on paper - the children draws and/or use their own invented spelling to record an entry of their choice in their very own K school journal. One-on-one teacher-child conferences are an opportunity for teachers to individualize learning from a developmental perspective and celebrate each child’s individual accomplishments. As the year progresses, the children’s journals reflect their developmental growth and the knowledge they have gained through playful exploration and investigation of letters, their sounds, and the patterns in words.
By the conclusion of our bridge program, children will be prepared for whatever comes next. Some will enter Kindergarten while others may be eligible to enter 1st grade depending on their birth dates. We work closely with each family to determine what is the best next step for their individual child.
Read more about why a play based curriculum is best for children here . . .
“I really love my teachers. They don’t make me do things all by myself and they don’t do it all for me. They take the time to help me learn how to do it.
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THE CHILD
Children are five by January 1st of the year of entry. Our program is a 5s bridge program for children that miss the cutoff or just need one more year in a smaller, more supportive learning environment before entering either Kindergarten or 1st Grade, depending on the child’s birthdate.
Children are invited into a learning environment where their social, intellectual, physical and emotional needs are considered to be an important part of their academic education. Children are encouraged to explore and learn from mistakes without a loss of self-esteem and are guided to gain the social and emotional skills necessary to become and active part of the class. As students get to know each other, a feeling of belonging evolves. We believe that a sense of community and belonging is an important key to academic success.
Normal developmental struggles such as separation, socialization, and frustration are part of the program and are dealt with in a positive manner. Children learn to speak to their classmates and resolve conflict with the support of their teachers.
THE TEACHERs
Our certified co-head teachers stimulate learning by inspiring a child's spontaneous curiosity while helping them to develop at they own pace. Our teachers are readily available to the entire family, offering support and information through informal telephone contact, email, home visits, conferences and written evaluations. A strong home-school connection is a core value of our school and we strive to create close relationships with each family in our community. At regular parents’ meetings, the teachers report class activities and lead discussions on pertinent topics.
OUTSIDE PLAY
Outside play is an important part of our curriculum. We are lucky to have a designated play space where we can explore the changing seasons. Dressed appropriately, we play outside every day, in rain, snow and sun. The children use the outdoor equipment, search for nature and go on walks throughout the community to further their learning.
“The Kinderenrichment program has been the perfect extension of the early education Madeleine received at the co-op. She wakes up everyday excited to go to “her school” and comes home eager to share everything she is learning. We are constantly amazed at her growth and the program that Kinderenrichment offers.”