Little Reds Look Book

The world is our classroom.

boys and girls | 6 weeks to 5 years old

Little Reds: Where learning meets play.

Little Reds at Roland Park Country School embraces the Reggio Emilia philosophy, which originated in a small Italian city of the same name and has been garnering worldwide attention for its compelling approach to early childhood education. Little Reds emphasizes rich and deep learning through stimulating experiences. Children are capable and motivated learners who bring with them an innate curiosity about the world.

Our expert educators carefully consider and discuss each child’s interests to intentionally guide experiential learning. Little Reds students are encouraged to explore, wonder, deduce, observe and then express their understanding and the meaning of their experiences to create deep, lasting and profound learning. By using the world around us as our classroom and combining learning and play, we promote inquiry, discovery, literacy and numeracy so that RPCS Little Reds students are prepared for kindergarten and beyond.

Our teachers are constantly working to stimulate ideas and jump-start the imaginations of our students. Experiences and activities are set up in response to a child’s interests and ideas. Each day, children are invited in different ways to explore fearlessly and think independently. In this example, children expressed interest in natural items they were discovering in the five acres of backwoods behind RPCS. To dive deeper into this area of interest, sensory items were collected (soft petals, damp moss, crunchy dried flowers, rough sticks and cool rocks) for an art project. Teachers used these natural materials to strategically pull in academic subjects, such as one-to-one correspondence (counting/ numeracy) and storytelling (literacy).

Artwork

Self-expression at its best! In the Little Reds classroom, no two arts and crafts projects are alike, as our teachers plan and provide materials, but not end products. The Reggio Emiliainspired approach encourages students to come up with their own artistic vision and plan. The result? Beautiful, original artwork that encourages fine motor skills and emphasizes creativity, individuality and innovative ideas.

Social-Emotional Development

Social-emotional development focuses on the child’s increasing capacity to understand and regulate emotions, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships with peers and adults, and make responsible decisions. By playing and working with each other, children practice their social skills with guidance and support from adults and peers.

Playground as extension of classroom The Little Reds playground is a carefully designed space that is an extension of the classroom. Our children use the playground to climb, jump and run, and also to read, write, learn, explore and create art. It is a place to interact with each other and the natural world. We select greenery that encourages visits from butterflies, insects, hummingbirds and squirrels. We hang feeders in hopes of spotting feathered friends.

We have decomposing logs and rocks for our children to turn over and find worms, centipedes and other critters. Plus, we go outside in all kinds of weather: warm, cold, wet, snow. With all of these different seasonal elements in play, we constantly have new and exciting learning opportunities to explore seasons and nature’s life cycle.

Life Preparedness: Our expert educators are committed to building a love of learning and a strong foundation for fundamental skills that will serve our children in kindergarten and beyond. Math, science, reading, writing, and technology are taught with intention and brought to life through rich and exciting experiences in the world around us.

Documentation At the end of each day, parents and guardians receive a digital log (complete with several pages of photos!) that recaps the activities, explorations and efforts for that particular day. This log is a useful tool that enables parents and guardians to talk with their child about their experiences and connect with their world at school.

Teachers create a digital portfolio for each child that includes photos and video footage that serves as a reference tool for educators and parents to have thoughtful and intentional conversations about a child’s social-emotional and academic development throughout the school year.

Date: May 14, 2019

Snack: Bananas Special: Music , crackers, carrots

May 14, 2019 Snack: Banana s, crackers, ca rrots Special: Mus ic This morning we harvested kale with Ms. Carm ona. After cleaning the kale, we took it inside to cut it into smaller pieces to make kale chips.

This morning we harvested kale with Ms. C. After cl eaning the ka le, we took it inside to cu t it into smalle r pieces to make kale ch ips.

Date: May 14, 2019

Snack: Bananas Special: Music , crackers, carrots

This morning we harvested kale with Ms. Carm ona. After cleaning the kale, we took it

inside to cut it into smaller pieces to make Today we had kale chips.

Music class with Mrs. G. We pract iced our songs for Spring Fest playing a game and had fun that with a song abou goes along t squirrels and trees.

Maps

We had Music class with Mrs . G. We practiced ou r songs for Sp ring Fest and had fun playin g a game that goes along with a song ab out squirrels and trees.

The clay statio n has been po pular recently. Clark made coils an d Evelyn made a pinch pot!

We have a few summer birthday celebrations coming up.

Friends were hard at work today writing birthday cards. The clay station has been popular recently.

Clark made coils and Evelyn made a pinch pot!

AT LEFT: A truncated sample of a daily digital log

Today we had Music class with Mrs. G. We pract iced our songs for Spring Fest playing a game and had fun that with a song abou goes along t squirrels and trees.

Charting new territory! The Reggio Emiliainspired approach at Little Reds harnesses the children’s interests to build critical thinking and developmental skills. After many of our families traveled over the winter break, the students pored over maps to see where they went and then created maps of their own, an intentional exercise that encourages fine motor skills as well as mental imaging and spatial representation.

“ My house you go down, down, down like a river and then up, up, up a giant hill.” Spencer, age 3

Little Reds Key Principles: The child as the protagonist: Children are capable and competent learners who can guide their own learning, with the expert facilitation of encouraging teachers.

The environment is our third teacher: Nature and our surroundings offer endless learning experiences that provide children with the foundation for a lifelong relationship between themselves, the earth and its natural resources. (The parent and teacher are considered the first and second teachers.)

Relationships and a sense of belonging: Children are natural communicators who have an innate tendency to connect and collaborate with their peers, teachers and family members. During school, learning often occurs within social groups, which encourages communication and flexibility. Additionally, each child feels a sense of belonging in the Little Reds school setting. When they are part of a trusted community, they are internally motivated to be their best selves. “The Hundred Languages of Children�: Children have the ability to express, explore and connect their thoughts, senses, feelings and imaginings in infinite ways that are noticed and nurtured.

The world is our classroom.

Programs by Age The Infant Program (Littlest Reds) Trust and Comfort The Littlest Reds infant program is more than daycare. Our warm, caring teachers lay the foundation for strong social-emotional development by establishing an environment of trust and comfort. Infants are constantly investigating and making meaning of the world around them, and their sensory systems are primed to explore new and information-rich environments. By keeping them safe and secure while allowing them the freedom to explore, our teachers create an environment for optimal development. Each teacher builds a bond, not only with the child, but also with the child’s family in order to support the community link between school and home. *Each child has a primary caregiver, your main point of contact, to provide daily logs of activity, as well as to guide your child’s individual development.

The 1s Program (Littlest Reds) Language and Increased Independence The Littlest Reds 1s program is always teeming with excitement and curiosity as our toddlers are beginning to take control of their own learning and are mastering new milestones daily. Our teachers satisfy their curiosity with rich sensory activities that encourage cognitive growth and exploration. As toddlers are learning to communicate, it is important to use language (both spoken and through sign) intentionally in order to help build their awareness of their emotions and feelings of connection with other people. The children follow a flexible schedule that includes circle time with stories and songs, art, sensory exploration and outdoor play.

Citizenship Citizens in the making! Our Little Reds explore the world beyond their classroom, from the innovation spaces at RPCS to the local library and grocery store, to encourage community and collaboration.

Relationship building and teaching empathy and compassion are key components of the Reggio Emilia-inspired approach at our preschool.

The 2s Program (Little Reds)

and innovation) into projects that truly fascinate our

Social-Emotional Development In the Little Reds

children and create deep and lasting learning that was

2s program, the idea of community really starts to

born through their own curiosity.

take root. Bonds between children begin to emerge and the connections between teacher and child

The 4s Program (Little Reds)

strengthen. The establishment of these relationships

Ready for Kindergarten and Beyond The Little

aid in the development of social-emotional skills,

Reds 4s program centers around preparedness. Our

language skills and empathy, as well as personal

curriculum provides the foundation for your child

interests and discoveries. Teachers nurture these

to excel in kindergarten and beyond. Children at

skills by encouraging children to participate in a

this age are adventurous, bold and curious. Our

wide range of activities that are specifically designed

teachers work to understand what methods for

and strategically implemented based on careful

learning work best for each student’s brain and how

observation of their play. Often times this happens

best to strategically integrate areas in which they are

in “parallel play,” where children can enjoy doing

interested to challenge and engage them. At the same

the same activity alongside one another, while not

time that they are becoming an individual, a child’s

necessarily playing together, so that they can still

sense of community is blossoming as friendships

interact socially.

and bonds with teachers strengthen. By the time a child graduates from Little Reds, he or she is an eager

The 3s Program (Little Reds)

student bursting with questions and is a citizen of the

Ourselves and the World Around Us The Little Reds

world who is equipped with a lifelong love of learning.

3s program centers around the expression of self. At this age, children’s language has blossomed, and they are figuring out their own identities and making realworld connections. They are questioning everything.

Teachers guide their education by carefully observing and strategically implementing academics (literacy, mathematics, social studies, science, and technology

Learning from the natural world around us In our Little Reds preschool, we know the most genuine learning happens when students are engaged through hands-on experiences. Our nature education program, inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, creates a lifelong connection between children and the natural world. By planting a butterfly garden and watching a caterpillar on milkweed grow into a chrysalis and transform into a butterfly, our Little Reds explore the life cycle of nature, and a lasting love of animals and the natural world is born.

Self-portraits As children start exploring the world around them, a great place to start is with themselves.

In the Reggio Emilia-inspired philosophy, self-portraits are an important place to begin as children are understanding symbolic representation.

This creates an opportunity to discuss who we are as individuals in relation to the world around us.

Curriculum: A child’s interest in learning comes from innate curiosity, initiative, creativity, inventiveness, confidence, openmindedness, and persistence. Little Reds students approach each day with excitement and a positive attitude that positions them to become lifelong learners.

Literacy Language and literacy development focus

World Languages World Languages are an important

on children’s growing abilities to use oral and written

part of discovering who we are in relation to the world

language to convey feelings and desires, interact with

around us and it sparks a healthy curiosity about other

others, ask questions, contemplate the world around

cultures. French and Spanish are taught through songs,

them, represent what they know, and talk about

books, games, puppets and simple crafts. Children will

imaginary situations. Children develop oral language,

learn numbers, colors, animals and commands, and will

listening skills, vocabulary, letter recognition, rhymes,

explore rhythm and movement through song and dance.

phonics, reading readiness, writing skills, and a positive

Science Science and nature education provide

attitude about reading. Early and emergent writers and

open-ended experiences that expose children to

readers use a variety of means to communicate, such as

the possibilities that exist within the physical and

conventional signs and symbols (scribbles, mock letters,

natural world. By participating in these experiences,

letters), visual art forms (painting and drawing) and other

children practice observing, investigating, predicting,

materials, such as blocks and clay.

questioning, hypothesizing, and solving problems.

Mathematical Literacy Mathematics focuses on

As they explore, children begin to deepen their

children’s emerging abilities to coordinate thinking

understanding of the characteristics of living things,

processes and mental frameworks around mathematical

the physical properties of objects and materials, and

concepts and problem-solving. Through active

properties of our earth. Nature education provides

participation in a variety of experiences, children begin

children with a foundation for a lifelong relationship

to develop an awareness of numbers and operations,

between themselves, the earth and its natural resources.

geometry and spatial sense, patterns and relationships, and measurement.

Backwoods It’s Forest Friday! No matter the weather, every week the Little Reds explore the backwoods, five acres of trees, wetlands and a stream. Discoveries abound: the crunch of fallen leaves, the wetness of green moss, the mystery of footprints in crisp white snow.

The Reggio Emilia-inspired approach to learning encourages curiosity and hands-on experiential learning.

Technology and Innovation Experiences in

memory, verbal expression and motor skills. They learn

technology and innovation are intentionally integrated

about beat, rhythm, tempo and melody from teachers who

throughout our preschool program. The children

specialize in music education.

explore our innovation spaces and are guided by faculty

Dance Through dance, children explore a variety of

members who specialize in technology at Roland Park

movement, which facilitates creative self-expression

Country School. These interactions provide effective,

and builds gross motor strength. They practice simple

engaging, and appropriate ways for our youngest minds

yoga movements and locomotor skills, such as skipping,

to be their most creative selves. We encourage this

leaping and pencil rolls. They also have the opportunity

creativity through collaborative problem-solving, early

to learn the basics of ballet, jazz, tap and hip-hop from

engineering and programming concepts, robotics, and

expert dancers in our dance studio.

digital art.

Physical Education Children use their bodies to move

Social Studies Children begin to learn about

expressively as they develop a sense of where their body

themselves and others in relation to the world around

is in space, as well as in relation to others. They develop

them. They learn about different family structures,

small and large muscle control, eye-hand coordination,

cultures, their immediate school community and the

and improve collaboration/teamwork skills through a

community at large. By doing this, they develop a sense

multitude of activities and games.

of place and are able to question and explore how they can contribute to the life of their community.

Art Children are exposed to a broad variety of media, which helps build fine motor control, cognitive skills and creativity. With the help of dedicated art teachers, they explore painting, cutting, stamping, clay building, stitching, beading, collage, and more in our art studio.

Music Music offers children the opportunity to express themselves melodically and rhythmically. Children respond to a variety of songs, finger plays and instruments as they discover different ways to use their voices and bodies.

Students improve auditory discrimination and auditory

Gardens From playground to table!

The Reggio Emilia-inspired philosophy in our Little Reds program emphasizes learning through the natural world.

Our students experience first-hand the food cycle, science and the environment by planting a garden, harvesting, and preparing and serving vegetables (carrots, radishes, kale, green beans) for a shared community feast. Bonus: Because the children are so invested in the process, even our pickiest eaters are willing to experience new flavors and try all of the vegetables. After the harvest, our children have a salad bar party!

Little Reds Sample Daily Schedule 7:30 - 9:00 a.m.

Arrival and morning play in the Outdoor Classroom 9:00 - 9:30 a.m.

pecial area classes: music, dance, technology and S innovation, world languages, art, physical education, and library. These special classes are taught by experts in their fields and often take place outside of the preschool classrooms in dance labs, music studios, or innovation spaces.

9:30 - 10:00 a.m.

Morning snack: Children are provided with a healthy, organic snack each day that includes a fresh fruit or vegetable to accompany crackers, string cheese, or cereal. Items vary daily and all allergies are taken into consideration. We are an allergy-aware environment.

10:00 - 10:30 a.m.

Morning meeting: This time focuses on singing songs and reading stories, as well as different developmentally appropriate activities. Examples include counting classmates and trying to guess how many are missing, or engaging in a new topic by exploring authentic materials or items like bok choy, a stethoscope, or insects. It is also the time to set the tone of the day by going over what activities and special area classes will take place that day.

10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Center time/small group instruction: “Provocations” are set up to provoke inquiry and questions. Loose parts, such as rocks, stones, seashells, twigs, leaves or recycled materials, stimulate creativity, exploration, and imagination. This time can also be used to work one-on-one or in small groups on different content areas, such as literacy and numeracy, patterning, bookmaking or cutting skills, to name a few.

11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Late morning play in the Outdoor Classroom 12:00 - 12:45 p.m.

Lunch

12:00 - 12:30 p.m. Pickup option #1 12:45 - 1:00 p.m.

Storytime: Children select books and the class reads together.

1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Nap or rest time 2:30 - 3:00 p.m.

Afternoon snack: Children are provided with a healthy, organic snack each day that includes a fresh fruit or vegetable to accompany crackers, string cheese, or cereal. Items vary daily and all allergies are taken into consideration. We are an allergy-aware environment.

3:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Afternoon play in the Outdoor Classroom 3:00 - 3:30 p.m.

Pickup option #2 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Extended Day: Children have free play in the Outdoor Classroom and are encouraged to do arts and crafts, ride bikes, play in the sandbox, play at the sensory table or use their imaginations to role play. During this time, our highly experienced Extended Day teachers also set up storytelling hour when children dictate creative stories while they are transcribed by the teacher word for word. At the end of the week, children perform their stories with classmates. This connects to our Reggio Emilia-inspired philosophy because it speaks to the concept of the child as the protagonist. It demonstrates to children that their words and ideas are important.

3:30 - 6:00 p.m.

Pickup option #3

Littlest Reds Schedule Little Reds hours are 7:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

For infants (0-12 months), teachers follow the individual schedule of the particular child.

Children will participate in sensory and gross-motor activities around their sleeping/feeding routines.

The 1s follow a more structured schedule that designates time for meals, naps, outdoor play, sensory activities, crafts and exploration.

“Wisdom begins in wonder.”

-Socrates

The world is our classroom.

boys and girls | 6 weeks to 5 years old