Education Guide 2022

2 02 2

STEM FOR EARLY LEARNERS

Plus Our 2022 Private School Directory

DEALING WITH TEST ANXIETY Q&A WITH COLORADO TEACHER OF THE YEAR

ColoradoParent.com

TUTORING VS. EDUCATIONAL THERAPY

We believe in

PREPARING TOMORROW’S

CHANGEMAKERS

Now Enrolling Pre-K to 9th Grade For over 30 years, Montessori Children’s House of Denver has provided a nurturing environment based on three core values: respect for oneself, respect for others, and respect for the environment. Through individualized instruction and a range of community-oriented activities, our students develop confidence in themselves and their abilities, as well as an understanding of how to use their gifts to make the world a better place. If you would like to see your child engaging with the world on a deeper level, we invite you to schedule a tour or register for an upcoming open house.

Mayfair - Park Hill - Central Park 303.322.8324 • mchdenver.org

2022 | ColoradoParent.com

3

CO N T EN TS

Education Guide | brought to you by Colorado Parent

06.

DEALING WITH TEST ANXIETY

08.

Q&A WITH COLORADO TEACHER OF THE YEAR

09.

TUTORING VS. EDUCATIONAL THERAPY

11.

PRIVATE SCHOOL DIRECTORY

17.

STEM FOR EARLY LEARNERS

08

PUBLISHER Amy Foreman ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Brandon Foreman BUSINESS OPERATIONS Director of Operations: Laurie Acosta Client Relations Coordinator: Sarah Miller EDITORIAL Managing Editor: Amanda Miller Assistant Editors: Austria Cohn Emily Drez

Editorial Assistants: Sarah Batrous Anthony Bui

Business Development: Representative Jade Gray

ART/ PRODUCTION Graphic Designers: Madison Graham Grace Knox

MARKETING Director of Marketing: Emily Mancuso

ADVERTISING Account Executives: Crystal Barrett Camille Cavin Jennifer Hoffmann Jeanne Jacobs Ryn Whiteside

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Director of Community Partnerships: Teri Hodges Community Outreach: Roxane Voorhies

1675 Larimer Street Suite 675, Denver, CO 80202 P (303) 320-1000 Visit us online at ColoradoParent.com Distribution + Circulation: circulation@coloradoparent.com

09

Colorado Parent is published monthly by Geaux Publish, Inc. Please note that the advertisements in this magazine are paid for by the advertisers, which allows this magazine to be free to the consumer.

Limit of one free copy per reader. Call (303) 320-1000 to request additional copies. Unless specifically noted, no advertisers, products, or services are endorsed by the Publisher. Editorial submissions are welcome.

Colorado Parent ©2023 Geaux Publish, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.

Please recycle this magazine.

11

4

Education Guide | 2022

2022 | ColoradoParent.com

5

Dealing with Test Anxiety

By Courtney Drake-McDonough

Tests are nerve-wracking no matter if it’s a third-grade spelling test or AP biology exam. These experts share their tips for helping kids overcome test anxiety.

THE THERAPIST SAYS…

Some text anxiety can be a good thing because it motivates us to study.

Problems arise when our anxiety is so high that it hijacks our cerebral cortex, or our “thinking brain,” causing our mind to “go blank.” In a testing situation, this can lead to panic because pulling information from our mind is our main goal at that moment.

It’s best to begin early, helping elementary students use strategies to manage test anxiety because there is less pressure surrounding grades. If a child has high test anxiety, parents and teachers should collaborate to figure out what works best for the student, trying out different scenarios on weekly tests to practice getting used to the emotional experience of test taking.

Strategies include allowing students to take tests without time and location constraints. Once they’ve adjusted to that, they can practice taking tests timed and in a group. For some students, incorporating test accommodations through a 504 Plan or an Individualized Education Plan may be needed.

-Emily W. King, Ph.D., Child Psychologist, Raleigh, NC. learnwithdremily.com

6

Education Guide | 2022

THE TUTORING COMPANY SAYS…

Being prepared and rested before testing can minimize anxiety levels in kids. Children and teenagers have many competing priorities so parents can support their students by making sure there is time in their schedule to study, a dedicated study space, and tools to facilitate productive studying. Providing enough time to rest and decompress before testing is crucial too.

Anxiety in children and teenagers is often exacerbated by the pressure to excel that may come from their parents/ guardians, peers, teachers, etc. Some children take this very seriously and put extra pressure on themselves. This can be alleviated by reassuring your child that their grades/scores do not always define their abilities, that there’s always an opportunity to improve, and that many lessons are to be learned from failure itself.

-Cristina H. Hartman, Ph.D., owner & CEO Mindcraft Makerspace & eXL Learning mindcraftmakerspace.com/ exl-turoring

THE LONG-TIME TEACHER SAYS…

It’s so important for students to learn how to advocate for themselves as they learn more about their learning and testing styles. Creating a positive relationship with teachers and parents helps lower anxiety before it even starts.

It’s then helpful if the teacher can tell students the purpose of the tests such as showing understanding of concepts we’ve been learning or a diagnostic test to see what skills need to be worked on.

Understanding “the why” of the test can help a test taker calm down their brain.

Reach out to your child’s teacher and school to come up with accommodations that work for your child. This could include taking the test in smaller chunks or in a small group. Or, looking to getting 504 accommodations, which some students get because of a medical diagnosis of anxiety.

-Shannon Blackard, educator, Denver

2022 | ColoradoParent.com

7

Q AND A WITH CO TEACHER OF THE YEAR

By Lydia Rueger

INTERVIEW WITH 2022 TEACHER OF THE YEAR, AUTUMN RIVERA Colorado Parent: What is your favorite part of being an educator?

CP: What’s a method or practice you’ve discovered that generally helps to keep kids motivated?

Autumn Rivera: My favorite part of being an educator is the ability to build relationships with my students and their families. I love teaching them about science, but just getting to hear about their lives is so special. When they update me on their latest football game, dance recital, ski race, or new sibling, it always makes me smile. I am lucky to live in a very tight knit community where I also get to teach siblings and cousins of students. To meet students as sixth graders and then watch them graduate six years later is such a gift. I am so honored to have the amazing students I do.

AR: In my 17 years of teaching, the one method that works best to motivate students is to get to know them. Learn what they are interested in and what gets them excited. Once I know that, I am able to tailor instruction to pique their curiosity. When learning relates to their lives, students are more engaged and their learning is more authentic.

CP: What makes being an educator most challenging?

AR: One major challenge is time. There is just not enough time to do all the things I wish I could do for my students.

Between grading, meetings, lesson plans, conferences, and phone calls, the day is filled with so many different tasks pulling me in different directions. I wish I had more time to focus on my students and how I can support them.

I look forward to the day when education in Colorado is fully funded and we can fully staff our schools with all the support they need.

CP: What specific area outside of school subjects do you see current students struggling with the most?

In an ideal situation, what do you think would help with this the most?

AR: After two years of persevering through COVID-19, our students have come out stronger. Their learning shifts are areas to celebrate, and I have never been prouder. However, one area in which students need a bit more support is with their social skills. As students were not around their classmates for so long, they did not learn the social skills that one learns during their formative years. I notice many students entering eighth grade that still having the social skills of a fifth or sixth grader. They will catch up and figure it out, but we can help our students by providing more specific social-emotional support. COVID-19 was traumatic for all of us, including our students. Helping them process that trauma while also providing them the steps they need to move forward will help us all move forward.

CP: What tip can you give parents on how they can best support student learning at home (that is realistic for busy families)?

AR: Talk to your children about school. Ask questions that are more specific than “what did you do today?” Ask your children what challenged them, what made them smile, or how they were able to show kindness. Ask to see their latest test score or book they are reading. With most schools using online systems for teaching and/or grading, it is now very simple for a child to pull up an assignment to show their families. Celebrate the successes and help your child make plans for areas of growth. I know this can be more difficult as children enter the “teen tunnel,” believe me, I’ve been teaching middle schoolers for 17 years. However, when children know their parents are interested, even if they act annoyed, they want to do better.

8

Education Guide | 2022

CP: What’s your philosophy on homework?

AR: I understand the importance of practicing work outside of class. And in an ideal world, I would be in support of homework. However, my students come from all walks of life; I find many times that homework is not a measure of how much a student knows, but instead a measure of how much support a student has outside of school. Therefore, I do not assign a lot of homework in my class. I instead provide opportunities in class to demonstrate individual understanding of content.

CP: What skill do you think is most important for students to develop while at school?

AR: The most important skill for students to develop while at school is perseverance—to work even when they don’t want to. For some, perseverance in school is the easiest thing and for others it is very difficult. I try to tie in persevering in sports and how that same skill can tie into school life. When students learn they can transfer that strength from one area of their lives to another, it’s amazing what they can do!

CP: Anything else you’d like to add?

AR: Teaching in Colorado is such a gift. I love working in a community where I am supported by students and parents alike. It is crucial to remember that my students are not just my students, but our community’s students. We all need to work together in order to provide the best educational experience for them, as strong education builds strong communities.

Tutoring VS.

Educational Therapy

By Emily Drez One in every five students is dyslexic, yet many of these students do not receive the early intervention necessary to help them succeed in school. This is because most public schools do not consider dyslexia to be a severe enough disability to provide services for dyslexic students. As a result, students with learning disabilities such as dyslexia fall behind on their studies because they have no outlet for help. That’s when educational therapy becomes a necessity for students that need extra help outside of school.

There’s a big difference between educational therapy and tutoring, however, and Katharine Novak, one of three educational therapists in Louisiana, offers insight for parents considering supplementary learning for their child.

What is educational therapy?

Educational therapy offers children and adults with learning disabilities a wide range of interventions to remediate learning challenges and build resilience. “I do informal evaluations and screenings, and I refer families to various people for educational testing,” says Dr. Novak. She is the founder of NOLA Learning Support and Consulting, where she works with kindergarten to college-aged students with mild to moderate learning differences such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, and ADHD. “I also take educational evaluations that families have already gotten and design an intervention plan to carry out,” she adds. “I advocate for students in their schools to get them services, accommodations, or modifications, and I teach parents about their children’s learning differences and what they can do to help their child at home.”

How does it differ from tutoring?

Tutoring tends to focus on a specific subject matter with which a student is struggling, but an educational therapists’ focus is broader.

Educational therapists address the academic, socio-emotional, and non-academic areas of a given student to help develop individualized intervention strategies specific to what he or she needs. “I work with a team to develop a plan,” says Dr. Novak. “I’m required to do specific professional development for a certain amount of hours each year to stay on top of current interventions, remedial programs, and strategies that are research and/or evidence based. I have a toolbox of methods and strategies such as the Orton-Gillingham method that help improve a student’s skills so they ultimately gain more confidence and succeed in school.”

The student’s intervention plan is modified based on their needs. It can be a specific methodology or a combination of methodologies that challenge the student to be aware of their strengths and weaknesses and to use specific strategies to overcome challenges.

“We see students that have average or above-average intelligence, but their achievement in school is very low due to their learning disabilities. Dyslexic students need consistent intervention to improve their skills. I don’t know of any other private practices in New Orleans that offer our services,” says Dr. Novak.

In fact, NOLA Learning Support and Consulting has a sponsorship fund to provide free services to students who can’t afford them. It has also recently partnered with Son of a Saint, a non-profit organization that mentors boys without fathers. Currently, NOLA Learning Support and Consulting is seeing three sixth-grade boys whose reading skills have improved from a first grade level to a third or fourthgrade level thanks to the company’s assessment, interventions, and advocacy.

In what case would you recommend educational therapy for a child?

“Students who come to us are falling behind in reading, writing, and spelling, and a lot of students’ parents say that their child does not like to read and that they’re avoidant or have low self-esteem when it comes to academics,” Dr. Novak answers. Other red flags involve trouble with organization and basic executive functioning skills, along with trouble with sustained attention and time management. It’s also important to make sure your child is at the appropriate reading level by the time they are in third grade, as fifty-percent of students in Louisiana do not meet this benchmark and therefore are less likely to graduate.

Ultimately, NOLA Learning Support and Consulting hopes to bring attention to students who need early intervention and provide no-cost and private-practice opportunities for children outside their schools. Dr. Novak strives to build their confidence, teach them to advocate for themselves and any accommodations they may need, and help them understand that they are smart and capable regardless of their learning differences. If you think your child may need an educational therapist, visit aetonline.org.

2022 | ColoradoParent.com

9

Iliff

Preschool, KINDERGARTEN

& SCHOOL-AGE SUMMER CAMP ~ A PRIVATE SCHOOL EST. 1963 ~

3

TOP 3 WINNER IN CHILDCARE CENTER + PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS Year round, play based programs focusing on social development and academic enrichment for toddlers through Private Kindergarten. Popular Summer Adventure Camps for post Kindergarteners-age 12.

4140 E. Iliff Ave., Denver, CO 80222 - (303) 757- 3551 - iliffpreschool.com

10

Education Guide | 2022

PRIVATE SCHOOL DIRECTORY

PRIVATE SCHOOL DIRECTORY ARVADA

FAITH CHRISTIAN ACADEMY gofaitheagles.com 303-424-7310 K-12 Christian OAK STREET CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER oakstreetcdc.com 303-274-0519 Infant-Age 12 School Readiness SHRINE OF ST. ANNE CATHOLIC SCHOOL stannescatholic.com 303-422-1800 K-8 Roman Catholic ST. JOAN OF ARC EARLY LEARNING CENTER stjoanelc.org 303-422-4949 PK-K Roman Catholic THE ACADEMY ARVADA EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION theacademyece.com 303-424-0246 Toddler-K Early Childhood

AURORA

CEDARWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY cedarwoodchristian.org 303-361-6456 K-12 Christian KEY:

Phone Number

CHRIST OUR REDEEMER LUTHERAN SCHOOL christredeemerschool.org 303-337-3108 PK-8 Lutheran – WELS CRESCENT VIEW ACADEMY crescentview.org 303-745-2245 PK-12 Islamic HAPPY DAY LEARNING CENTER 303-337-3838 Preschool-PK Early Childhood HOLY LOVE PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN holylovelutheran.org 303-693-8519 Preschool-K Lutheran – ELCA MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF AURORA montessoriofaurora.com 303-617-0611 Toddler-K Montessori MT. OLIVE LUTHERAN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTER mtolc.org 303-750-9856 PK-JK Lutheran – MS PEACE WITH CHRIST CHRISTIAN SCHOOL pwccs.org 303-766-7116 K-8

Ages/Grades

Lutheran – MS REGIS JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL regisjesuit.com 303-269-8000 9-12 Jesuit ST. PIUS X CATHOLIC SCHOOL stpiusxschool.net 303-364-6515 PK-8 Roman Catholic ST. THERESE CATHOLIC SCHOOL stthereseschool.com 303-364-7494 PK-8 Roman Catholic

BOULDER

BIXBY SCHOOL bixbyschool.org 303-494-7508 PK-5 Independent BOULDER COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL bouldercountryday.org 303-527-493 Preschool-8 Independent BOULDER JOURNEY SCHOOL boulderjourneyschool.com 303-443-8909 Infant-PK Early Childhood BOULDER MONTESSORI SCHOOL bouldermontessori.org 303-494-5814 Toddler-K

Montessori BOULDER WALDORF KINDERGARTEN boulderwaldorf.com 303-541-0671 Toddler-K Waldorf COUNTRYSIDE MONTESSORI SCHOOL 303-494-3100 PK-K Montessori FRIENDS SCHOOL friendsschoolboulder.org 303-499-1999 Toddler-8 Independent (non-Quaker) GROWING MINDS LEARNING ACADEMY growingmindsco.com 303-530-1820 Infant-Age 8 Independent JARROW MONTESSORI SCHOOL jarrow.org 303-443-0511 Toddler-6 Montessori MACKINTOSH ACADEMY mackboulder.com 303-554-2011 K-8 Gifted Education MAPLETON MONTESSORI SCHOOL mapletonmontessori.org 303-449-4499 Ages 2½-6 Montessori

Type

2022 | ColoradoParent.com

11

Private school opener: Klaus Vedfelt/Getty images

MOUNTAIN SHADOWS MONTESSORI SCHOOL mountainshadows.org 303-530-5353 Ages 1-12 Montessori

ZION LUTHERAN SCHOOL brightonzls.org 303-659-3443 Preschool-8 Lutheran – MS

MT. ZION LUTHERAN PRESCHOOL mtzionboulder.org 303-443-8477 Toddler-PK Lutheran – MS

BROOMFIELD

SACRED HEART OF JESUS SCHOOL school.shjboulder.org 303-447-2362 Preschool-8 Roman Catholic SEPTEMBER HIGH SCHOOL septemberschool.org 303-443-9933 9-12 Independent

PRIVATE SCHOOL DIRECTORY

SHINING MOUNTAIN WALDORF SCHOOL shiningmountainwaldorf.org 303-444-7697 PK-12 Waldorf

APPLE TREE CHRISTIAN PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN broomfieldumc.org/apple-tree 303-466-8365 PK-K Early Childhood BAL SWAN CHILDREN’S CENTER balswan.org 303-466-6308 PK-1 Early Childhood BEAUTIFUL SAVIOR LUTHERAN SCHOOL & ELC beautifulsaviorbroomfield.org 303-469-2049 Infant-6th Grade Lutheran – MS HOLY FAMILY HIGH SCHOOL holyfamilyhs.com 303-410-1411 9-12 Roman Catholic

TARA PERFORMING ARTS HIGH SCHOOL tarahighschool.org 303-440-4510 9-12 Waldorf

HOPE MONTESSORI ACADEMY montessorichild.com 303-457-4400 Infant-K Montessori

TEMPLE GRANDIN SCHOOL templegrandinschool.org 303-554-7363 5-12 Special Education

NATIVITY OF OUR LORD CATHOLIC SCHOOL school.nool.us 303-466-4177 Preschool-8 Roman Catholic

THE JOSHUA SCHOOL joshuaschool.org 303-974-7732 Ages 7-21 Special Education WATERSHED SCHOOL watershedschool.org 303-440-7520 6-12 Independent ZIJI EARLY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL zijiearlyelementary.org 303-530-0844 K-2 Independent

BRIGHTON

BRIGHTON ADVENTIST ACADEMY baaconnect.org 303-659-1223 K-10 Seventh-day Adventist ELMWOOD BAPTIST ACADEMY ebabrighton.org 303-659-3818 K-12 Baptist

12

Education Guide | 2022

CASTLE ROCK

FAITH LUTHERAN PRESCHOOL faithcrco.org/preschool 303-688-3476 Preschool Lutheran MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF CASTLE ROCK montessoricastlerock.com 303-663-6942 Toddler-K Montessori

CENTENNIAL AMBLESIDE SCHOOL amblesidecolorado.com 720-712-0464 K-9 Christian CENTENNIAL MONTESSORI thecentennialmontessori.com 720-200-9220 Infant-Age 6 Montessori JOSHUA EARLY

CHILDHOOD CENTER joshuaearlychildhoodcenter.org 720-583-6849

Age 2½-6

Early Childhood SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS EARLY LEARNING CENTER shepherdhills-school.org 303-798-0711 Preschool-PK Early Childhood ST. THOMAS MORE CATHOLIC SCHOOL stmcatholic.org 303-770-0441

Preschool-8

Roman Catholic WILLOWS CHILD LEARNING CENTER willowschildlearn.com 303-771-4202

Preschool-K

Early Childhood

303-288-2159 PK-8 Roman Catholic BETH JACOB HIGH SCHOOL OF DENVER bjhs.org 303-893-1333 9-12 Jewish (all-girl) BISHOP MACHEBEUF HIGH SCHOOL machebeuf.org 720-743-3970 9-12 Roman Catholic BLESSED SACRAMENT CATHOLIC SCHOOL bscs-denver.net 303-377-8835 Preschool-8 Roman Catholic CALVARY APOSTOLIC ACADEMY cacdenver.org

WILLOWS OLDE MILL willowschildlearn.com 303-721-7771 Preschool-K Early Childhood

COMMERCE CITY

ROCKY MOUNTAIN LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL rmlhs.org 303-346-1947 9-12 Lutheran – WELS

CONIFER

ASPEN PARK MONTESSORI aspenparkmontessori.org 303-668-1532 PK-K Montessori

DENVER

ACCELERATED SCHOOLS acceleratedschools.org 303-758-2003 1-12 Gifted Education ANNUNCIATION CATHOLIC SCHOOL annunciationk8.org 303-295-2515 K-8 Roman Catholic ARRUPE JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL arrupejesuit.com

303-758-5900 Pentecostal

K-12

CHILDREN’S GARDEN MONTESSORI SCHOOL cgmontessori.com 303-322-0972 Toddler-K Montessori CHRIST LUTHERAN EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER christlutheranecc.org 303-722-1424 Toddler-PK Lutheran – MS CHRIST THE KING ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOL christthekingdenver.org 303-321-2123 Preschool-8 Roman Catholic COLORADO ACADEMY coloradoacademy.org 303-986-1501 PK-12 Independent DENVER ACADEMY denveracademy.org 303-777-5161 1-12 Independent DENVER ACADEMY OF TORAH datcampus.org 720-859-6806 K-12 Jewish

9-12

DENVER JEWISH DAY SCHOOL denverjds.org 303-369-0663 K-12 Jewish

ASSUMPTION CATHOLIC SCHOOL assumptiondenver.org

L’ECOLE DE DENVER ecoledenver.com 970-439-0130 PK and 5th-8th

303-455-7449 Jesuit

grade (no K-4th grade) Language School ESCUELA DE GUADALUPE escuelaguadalupe.org 303-964-8456 PK-8 Roman Catholic GARFIELD MONTESSORI SCHOOL garfieldmontessori.org 303-388-8828 Ages 2½-6 Montessori GOOD SHEPHERD CATHOLIC SCHOOL goodshepherddenver.org 303-321-6231 Preschool-8 Roman Catholic GRALAND COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL graland.org 303-399-0390 Preschool-8 Independent GUARDIAN ANGELS CATHOLIC SCHOOL guardianangelschurchdenver.org 303-480-9005 Preschool-8 Roman Catholic HILLEL ACADEMY OF DENVER hillelacademyofdenver.com 303-333-1511 PK-8 Jewish

DENVER montessoridenver.org 720-606-4321 Toddler-8 Montessori

ST. ELIZABETH’S SCHOOL stelizabethsdenver.org 303-322-4209 K-8 Episcopal

INNER CITY SCHOOL innercityschool.org 303-316-4533 PK-7 Christian

MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF WASHINGTON PARK mswp.org 303-722-7708 Age 2½-6 Montessori

ST. JOHN’S SCHOOL & EARLY LEARNING CENTER sjdenver.org/school 303-733-3777 Toddler-8 Lutheran – MS

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF DENVER isdenver.org 303-340-3647 PK-8 Independent

MONTVIEW COMMUNITY PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN montviewpreschool.org 303-322-7296 Preschool-K Early Childhood

JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER CATHOLIC SCHOOL jccdenver.org school.mpbdenver.org 303-316-6377 Toddler-Preschool 303-757-1279 K-8 Jewish Roman Catholic

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL CATHOLIC SCHOOL svdpk8.com 303-777-3812 PK-8 Roman Catholic

MONARCH MONTESSORI OF DENVER monarchm.com 303-712-2001 Infant-Age 5 Montessori

STANLEY BRITISH PRIMARY SCHOOL stanleybps.org 303-360-0803 K-8 Independent

MONTESSORI ACADEMY OF COLORADO montessoriacademyofcolorado.org 303-623-2609 Infant-8th Grade Montessori MONTESSORI CHILDREN’S HOUSE OF DENVER mchdenver.org 303-322-8324 PK-9 Montessori MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF

MULLEN HIGH SCHOOL mullenhigh.com 303-761-1764 9-12 Roman Catholic NOTRE DAME PARISH SCHOOL notredamedenver.org 303-935-3549 Preschool-8 Roman Catholic OUR LADY OF LOURDES CATHOLIC SCHOOL

THE DENVER WALDORF SCHOOL

PADDINGTON STATION PRESCHOOL

THE LOGAN SCHOOL theloganschool.org 303-340-2444 K-8 Gifted Education

paddingtonstation.org 303-333-9154 Toddler-K Early Childhood

Gifted Education ROCK SOLID CHRISTIAN ACADEMY rocksolidchristian.com 303-797-1005 K-12 Christian ST. ANNE’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL st-annes.org 303-756-9481 Episcopal Ages/Grades

sinaidenver.org/preschool 303-759-0755 Age 15 months-3 years Jewish

denverwaldorf.org 303-777-0531 PK-12 Waldorf

RICKS CENTER FOR GIFTED CHILDREN AT DU du.edu/ricks 303-871-2982 Preschool-8

Phone Number

TEMPLE SINAI PRESCHOOL

lourdesclassical.org 303-722-7525 PK-8 Roman Catholic

RABBI STEVEN FOSTER EARLY LEARNING CENTER elc.emanueldenver.org 303-321-7258 Toddler-K Jewish

KEY:

ST. ROSE OF LIMA CATHOLIC ACADEMY strosedenver.org 303-733-5806 PK-8 Catholic

Preschool-8

Teacher and child: Getty Images.

HOPE CENTER EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION hopecenterinc.org 303-388-4801 Toddler-K Special Education

ILIFF PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN iliffpreschool.com 303-757-3551 Toddler-K Early Childhood

THREE BEARS LEARNING CENTER threebearslearning.com 303-369-6464 Toddler-K Early Childhood YESHIVA TORAS CHAIM OF DENVER ytcdenver.org 303-629-8200 9-12 Jewish (all-boy)

EASTLAKE

EASTLAKE MONTESSORI PRESCHOOL

eastlakemontessori.com 303-452-3835 Ages 3-7 Montessori

ENGLEWOOD

ALL SOULS CATHOLIC SCHOOL

Type

2022 | ColoradoParent.com

13

allsoulscatholic.org/school 303-789-2155 PK-8 Roman Catholic HUMANEX ACADEMY humanexacademy.com 303-783-0137 6-12 Alternative School KENT DENVER SCHOOL kentdenver.org 303-770-7660 6-12 Independent ST. MARY’S ACADEMY stmarys.academy 303-762-8300 PK-12 Catholic Independent THE JOSHUA SCHOOL joshuaschool.org 303-758-7171 Ages 7-21 Special Education

TRINITY LUTHERAN SCHOOL tlcas.org 303-841-4660 Preschool-8 Lutheran – MS

GOLDEN

5280 EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTER 5280ecec.com 303-278-7772 Infant-PK Early Childhood CORNERSTONE MONTESSORI SCHOOL cornerstonemontessori.net 303-277-0245 Toddler-K Montessori

GREELEY

DAYSPRING

ERIE

PRIVATE SCHOOL DIRECTORY

FRANKTOWN

BLUE MOUNTAIN MONTESSORI bluemountainmontessori.com 303-339-0117 Preschool-K Montessori VISTA RIDGE ACADEMY vistaridge.org 303-828-4944 Preschool-8 Seventh-day Adventist

EVERGREEN

EVERGREEN ACADEMY evergreenacademy.org 303-670-1721 Infant-Preschool Christian EVERGREEN COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL evergreencountryday.org 303-674-3400 Toddler-8th Grade Independent MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF EVERGREEN montessori-evergreen.org 303-674-0093 Toddler-8 Montessori

FOXFIELD

OUR LADY OF LORETO CATHOLIC SCHOOL ololcatholicschool.org 303-951-8330 PK-8 Roman Catholic

Education Guide | 2022

Experiential

LAKEWOOD

GUNBARREL

HILLSIDE SCHOOL hillsidelearning.org 303-494-1468 1-12 Special Education, Dyslexia

HIGHLANDS RANCH

ARMA DEI ACADEMY armadeiacademy.com 303-346-4523 Preschool-8 Christian CHERRY HILLS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL cherryhillschristian.org 303-791-5500 Preschool-8 Christian

ADVANTAGE LEARNING CENTER advantagelc.net 303-914-5482 Infant-PK Early Childhood AUGUSTINE CLASSICAL ACADEMY augustineclassical.org 720-446-6286 Preschool-12 Christian BETHLEHEM LUTHERAN SCHOOL bethlehemdenver.com/school 303-233-0401 Preschool-8 Lutheran – MS CLEVER KIDS LEARNING CENTER child-care-preschool.brighthorizons. com/co/denver/cleverkids 720-258-4210 Infant-PK Early Childhood

CHRISTIAN ACADEMY dayspringeagles.org 970-330-1151 Preschool-12 Christian

ESPREE CHILD LEARNING CENTER espreeclc.com 303-471-1110 Preschool-K Early Childhood

SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS LUTHERAN PRESCHOOL sothgreeley.org 970-353-6582 Preschool Lutheran – WELS

ST. LUKE’S LITTLE SCHOOL stlukeslittleschool.org 303-791-1982 Ages 2½-5 Christian

DENVER CHRISTIAN SCHOOL denverchristian.org 303-733-2421 Preschool-12 Christian

HIGHLANDS RANCH LEARNING CENTER highlandsranchlearning.com 303-346-7144 Infant-K Early Childhood

DENVER STREET SCHOOL (WEST CAMPUS) denverstreetschool.org 303-847-7582 9-12 Christian

MILE HIGH ACADEMY milehighacademy.org 303-744-1069 Preschool-12 Seventh-day Adventist

LAKEWOOD UNITED METHODIST PRESCHOOL lumpreschool.org 303-238-9082 Preschool Early Education

ST. MARY’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL stmarycs.net 970-353-8100 Preschool-8 Roman Catholic TRINITY LUTHERAN SCHOOL tlsgreeley.org 970-330-2485 Preschool-8 Lutheran – MS

GREENWOOD VILLAGE ASPEN ACADEMY

aspenacademy.org 303-346-3500 PK-8 Independent THE GARDNER SCHOOL OF DTC thegardnerschool.com/schools/thegardner-school-of-dtc/ 720-672-9980 Infant-Age 5 Independent THE VILLAGE CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER villagelearning.com

KEY:

14

303-290-9005 Toddler-K Early Childhood

Phone Number

VALOR CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL govalor.com 303-471-3000 9-12 Christian

LAFAYETTE

ADVENTURE MONTESSORI adventuremontessori.com 303-665-6789 Infant-Age 9 Montessori DAWSON SCHOOL dawsonschool.org 303-665-6679 K-12

Ages/Grades

Type

CONCORDIA PRESCHOOL clcgrace.org 303-989-5260 PK-K Lutheran – MS

OUR LADY OF FATIMA CATHOLIC SCHOOL olfcs.com 303-233-2500 Preschool-8 Roman Catholic WELLSPRING CATHOLIC ACADEMY OF ST. BERNADETTE stbcs.net 303-237-0401 Preschool-8 Roman Catholic

LITTLETON

ABIDING HOPE PRESCHOOL

thepatchworkschool.com 720-271-6729 Ages 1-6 Early Education

RED ROCKS CHRISTIAN PRESCHOOL redrockschristianpreschool.org 303-922-8305 Ages 3-4 Christian

THORNTON

NIWOT

LITTLE VILLAGE CHRISTIAN CHILD CARE CENTER village-church.org/little-village 303-452-2944 Preschool-PK Christian

BOULDER VALLEY

& KINDERGARTEN abidinghopepreschool.org 303-932-9160 Preschool-K Lutheran – ELCA FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN fcpk.org 303-972-3162 Toddler-K Christian FRONT RANGE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL frcs.org 303-531-4541 Preschool-12 Christian HAVERN SCHOOL havernschool.org 303-986-4587 K-8 Special Education

cremedelacreme.com 303-625-6837 Infant-K Early Childhood MONTESSORI SCHOOL AT LONE TREE montessoriatlonetree.com 303-799-8540 Ages 2½-7 Montessori

LONGMONT

303-652-9162

Preschool-8

Christian

GATEWAY MONTESSORI SCHOOL gmslongmont.com 303-772-3864 Ages 1-5 Montessori

STEP BY STEP CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER

Roman Catholic

LOUISVILLE

glutheranschool.com 303-451-6908

Preschool-PK

Lutheran – MS

Infant-Age 12

Early Childhood

Phone Number

AVE MARIA CATHOLIC SCHOOL school.avemariacatholicparish.org 720-842-5400 Preschool-8 Roman Catholic LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL lhsparker.org 303-841-5551 9-12

Ages/Grades

BELLEVIEW CHRISTIAN SCHOOL belleviewchristian.com 303-427-5459 Toddler-12 Christian

DEVEREUX CLEO WALLACE CENTER devereux.org 5-12

Special Education FLATIRONS ACADEMY flatironsacademy.org 303-451-1421 K-12 Christian LIFE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

PARKER

Lutheran – MS FAIRVIEW MONTESSORI SCHOOL PARKER MONTESSORI fairviewmontessori.com parkermontessori.com 303-661-0343 Preschool-K 303-841-4325 Infant-Age 6 Montessori Montessori ST. LOUIS CATHOLIC SCHOOL RENAISSANCE school.stlp.org MONTESSORI ACADEMY 303-666-6220 Preschool-8 rmaschool.org Roman Catholic 303-840-6119 Age 2½-K Montessori THE PATCHWORK SCHOOL KEY:

WESTMINSTER

303-466-7391

stepbystepchildcare.net 303-451-1740

A CHILD’S TOUCH achildstouch.com 303-286-8460 Infant-K Christian

BLESSED MIGUEL PRO CATHOLIC ACADEMY miguelpro.org 303-427-5632 Preschool-8 Roman Catholic

LUTHERAN SCHOOL

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC SCHOOL school.johnthebaptist.org 303-776-8760 Preschool-8

CRÈME DE LA CRÈME

rmcaonline.org

DESIDERATA SCHOOL desiderataschool.com 303-678-9335 6-12 Alternative School

ST. MARY CATHOLIC SCHOOL littletoncatholicschool.com 303-798-2375 Preschool-8 Roman Catholic

LONE TREE

ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

GETHSEMANE

LONGMONT CHRISTIAN SCHOOL longmontchristian.org 303-776-3254 Preschool-12 Christian

WILLOWS ARAPAHO HILLS willowschildlearn.com 303-794-3871 Preschool-PK Early Childhood

Waldorf

NORTHGLENN

MACKINTOSH ACADEMY mackintoshacademy.com 303-794-6222 PK-8 Gifted Education

STEPPING STONES LEARNING CENTER OF LITTLETON sslcoflittleton.com 303-904-1121 Infant-Age 12 Early Childhood

WALDORF SCHOOL bvwaldorf.org 303-652-0130 Preschool-8

Children with worms: SDI Productions/Getty Images.

MORRISON

SOUTHEAST CHRISTIAN SCHOOL sechristianschool.org 303-841-5988 Preschool-8 Christian

lifechristianacad.org 303-438-1260

K-12

Christian NOAH’S ARK PRESCHOOL AND CHILDCARE noahsarkpreschoolandchildcare.com 303-466-6887 Infant-PK Christian SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN SCHOOL svlchurch.com 303-424-1306 Preschool-8 Lutheran – WELS THE ACADEMY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTER theacademyece.com 303-438-8610 Toddler-K

Type

2022 | ColoradoParent.com

15

Early Childhood VICTORY MONTESSORI & CHILDCARE victorydenver.com/childcare 303-426-8888 Infant-K Montessori WOODEN SHOE PRESCHOOL & PREKINDERGARTEN woodenshoe-childcare.com 303-422-6195 Toddler-PK Early Childhood

WHEAT RIDGE

ALPINE VALLEY SCHOOL alpinevalleyschool.com 303-271-0525 K-12 Sudbury School BETH EDEN BAPTIST SCHOOL bethedenschool.org 303-232-2313 Preschool-12 Baptist

STS. PETER & PAUL CATHOLIC SCHOOL sppscatholic.com 303-424-0402 Preschool-8 Roman Catholic

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS

BRIGHT HORIZONS EARLY EDUCATION & PRESCHOOL brighthorizons.com 877-624-4532 Infant-Primary Early Childhood EVERBROOK ACADEMY everbrookacademy.com 888-235-0670 6 weeks-12 years Traditional

Education Guide | 2022

lapetite.com 248-697-9287

Infant-K

Early Childhood LITTLE PEOPLE’S LANDING littlepeopleslanding.com 303-972-0787 Infant-PK Early Childhood PRIMROSE SCHOOLS primroseschools.com 770-529-4100 Infant-K Early Childhood THE COTTAGE SCHOOL cottageschoolsco.com 303-546-6814 Infant-K Early Childhood

KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTERS

THE GODDARD SCHOOL

kindercare.com 888-525-2780 Infant-K Early Childhood

goddardschool.com 800-463-3273 Infant-K Early Childhood

KEY:

16

LA PETITE ACADEMY

Phone Number

Ages/Grades

Type

STEM for Early Learners

By Lydia Rueger

Tips and Tools for Young Students to Start Engaging in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math

A=

B

It seems there’s no shortage of opportunities for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) and STEAM (just add Art for the A) learning for elementary, middle, and high school students these days. It’s become the focus of entire schools, teacher-sponsored clubs, and after-school programs, and with good reason: Children who learn STEM concepts throughout their education are better prepared to meet increasingly technology-focused professional requirements, according to an article from American University’s School of Education.

But what about early childhood? Is it unreasonable to teach babies, toddlers and preschoolers complex concepts of science, technology, engineering, and math? Experts agree it’s never too early to begin, but the way these concepts are introduced to early learners is different. According to the same American University article: At its core, STEM concepts help children develop new ways of thinking, encouraging curiosity and analysis—it’s not just about introducing them to new subjects. Establishing these skills at an early age (infancy through third grade), when young minds are most malleable, establishes lifelong thinking skills.

And while there are many ways to teach different STEM concepts, the overall goal at any age is to move away from rote memorization toward project-based learning that sparks students’ imaginations and develops their real-world skills.

“I think a big reason why kids struggle in STEM later is because they weren’t around it enough when they were young and then find it intimidating,” says Kayla Opperman, owner of Snapology of Golden-Littleton, a company that offers STEM-based workshops and camps to young students. “I don’t think it’s ever too early to start! There’s always an opportunity to point STEM concepts out and make it fun…They learn best when having fun and when not even realizing it’s educational.

2022 | ColoradoParent.com

17

Consider the following for your early learners, to help them do just that.

Encourage and model curiosity. With more than 35 years experience working with and raising children, Colorado-based reading specialist and STEM author Laura Roettiger thinks encouraging curiosity is the single most important thing a parent can do to encourage an interest in STEM subjects. “Curiosity will take that child in whatever direction they are meant to go,” she says. With her own daughter, now a mechanical engineer, Roettiger remembers that she was always curious about how things fit together as a child and always wanted to build things. “I said, ‘sure, give it a try.’ I was not the parent that said, ‘No, you’ll make a mess or you’ll break something.’” It’s also the message she conveys in her STEM-themed book, Aliana Reaches for the Moon.

Roettiger thinks it’s important for adults to model this curiosity for their own interests, too. Tell kids how you learn things when you are curious, whether that’s through internet research, going to a museum or nature center, or by asking experts. “If we are interested, how do we learn?” she asks.

Provide opportunities for exploration and hands-on learning. “I believe the most effective way for kids to learn STEM concepts is through hands-on, interactive play,” Opperman says. “I think Lego bricks are perfect for learning math, as they’ll probably have an easier time with fractions later if they build during the early years. Technic bricks and gears will help them understand basic physics concepts later on.”

As a former electrical engineer, Opperman loves teaching kids robotics and watching their wheels turn as they put together the pieces. “The programming part brings it all together, and they get to understand how gear ratio, sensors, motors, wheels, axles, and more work. Snapology teaches children, as young as four, robotics, and even that age can stay engaged if you make it fun, and if they know what the end product is going to be.”

Roettiger suggests slowing down to give very young kids opportunities to explore their surroundings. Show infants the different feeling of warm and cold by putting their hands under the faucet. Sniff spices or walk by the bakery to experience different smells.

18

Education Guide | 2022

“Children are born scientists,” Roettiger says. “Think about the way a child looks at the world. They pick up a leaf, drop it, and watch it float to the ground. That same child picks up a rock and watches it fall faster. This is all information gathering and making sense of their world. As parents, caregivers, and educators we need to honor the child’s innate motivation to learn about their world.”

As a preschool teacher at Colorado STEM Academy in Westminster, Stevi Caridi sees firsthand how her four- and five-year-old students learn best when given the opportunity to “see and touch and do, rather than sitting and getting,” she says. Her school uses a curriculum called Project Lead The Way, which incorporates various challenges for young children to solve, along with the physical materials to go with them.

One of the final projects for her preschoolers is making a cast for a child’s arm. Working in pairs, they create something that is waterproof and supports the arm. She adds that when it comes to learning STEM concepts, it needs to be projects that are relatable to a child’s world, that they are able to test themselves.

Ask questions about their process, and let them take the lead. Caridi finds that these projects and problems in the curriculum work best when they are student-led and guided by teachers. She says that when her preschoolers get frustrated, she helps them by asking questions that could help develop their problem solving skills.

For example, if they are building a house with popsicle sticks and it’s not coming together as they planned, she might ask, “how many walls does a house have?” rather than telling them what to do. She pairs this with building their confidence when they figure something out: “You’re right, a house does have four walls!”

“You just give them a little direction, and their mind goes crazy,” she says. “It’s so different from when I was in school, with just sitting and listening, and not as much hands-on exploration. Here, we see problem solving and collaboration.”

Explore these STEM-based projects, products, and places Science

Technology

Engineering

Math

Toy

Zoomie 2.0 Handheld Digital Microscope allows kids to take a closer look at fruits and vegetables, sand, and other objects.

See what objects are made of and view easily on a computer screen.

With Sphero indi, early learners can experience coding without a screen.

Kids communicate instructions to a robot car by placing colored tiles on the floor, which tells the robot what to do.

Experiment with basic wooden blocks, or Magna Tiles magnetic shapes to create buildings, mazes, and tunnels. Pick up classic LEGOs that aren’t part of a set to encourage free building.

MerryHeart Wooden Math Learning Board 1-100 helps littles learn to recognize numbers and count to 100. And LEGOs aren’t just for building, they are also tools for learning math. Weareteachers. com/lego-math/ has simple math lessons using LEGOs.

Book

Aliana Reaches for the Moon by Colorado-based author Laura Roettiger

How to Code a Rollercoaster by Josh Funk, illustrated by Sara Palacios

Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty, Illustrated by David Roberts

How Do Dinosaurs Count to Ten? board book, by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague

Activity

Plant a seed, observe how Create a short video story it grows and what it needs starring your child’s favorin order to grow. ite toys or dolls. Practice digital literacy skills.

Build a simple fort or stick structure—like a small bridge or floating raft— together.

Measure recipe ingredients or use a tape measure to size up various items around the house.

2022 | ColoradoParent.com

19

Game

Place

20

Life on Earth Memory & Matching Game from eeBoo. Ages 3 and up.

Join the Scratch online coding community for children where kids can learn to program and share what they create. Scratch Jr. is for age 5 and up.

Sesame Street Hi Ho! Cherry-O board Ramp Racers and game. Ages 3 and up.

Arthur Animal Home Builder online PBS Kids Engineering Games. pbskids.org/games/ engineering

Denver Museum of Nature & Science and The Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus are filled with handson science exploration exhibits for all ages.

Snapology offers year-round STEM workshops and camps at schools and recreation centers.

Themes include robotics, stop-motion animation, junior engineering, and more.

At Junkyard Social Club in Boulder kids explore outdoors on structures made of repurposed supplies that can be moved and changed as children’s play dictates.

Education Guide | 2022

Toddlers and preschoolers are learning early math concepts like counting, identifying patterns, and sorting. Make it fun by visiting the Denver Zoo to count animals, identify stripes versus spots, and tally big versus small creatures.

2022 | ColoradoParent.com

21

Lead with values, learn with purpose, and believe in your potential and power to change the world.

Co-ed Pre-K through Grade 8 | All-Girl High School | Founded in 1864 www.stmarys.academy/admissions | 303.762-8300

22

Education Guide | 2022

Global VillaGe academy

Our families love Global Village Academy because…

Their children are learning their family’s heritage language or a new one.

Their children are becoming global citizens, learning through language and culture.

Their children are taught by teachers who come from all over the world.

The school embraces diversity & cultural awareness.

Watch a Video About Our Language Immersion Experience!

SCAN THE QR CODE TO LEARN MORE

Every child learns in English plus Spanish, French, Mandarin or Russian.

K-8th Grade, Tuition-free, Public Charter Schools GVA Douglas County is K-5 grade.

Open the World for Your Child & Enroll Them Today!! gvaschools.org/learnmore

Aurora • Parker • Thornton • gvaschools.org