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Oakland, CA
Rockridge Little School

Parents at this school would recommend this school to other parents.

Review this preschool

neighborhood: Rockridge / Temescal ·  Telephone: (510) 420-1200  · Website: www.rockridgelittleschool.com/

• Summary
• General Info
• School Philosophy
  & Day-in-the-Life
• Curriculum &
  Teaching Approach
• Quality of
  Teaching
• Home/School
  Connection
• Discipline,
  Health & Safety
• Ages, Schedule
  & Tuition
• Application &
  Admissions
• Kindergarten
  Placement&Tips

General Approach to Learning

	Play-based
	Play-based with some structure
	Predominantly teacher-led instruction
	Montessori
	Waldorf
	Co-op
	Reggio-Emilia

source:

Director's Comments

At Rockridge Little School each child's initiative and independence is recognized, celebrated, and supported. Children will have the opportunity to try out a number of structured learning activities, and have access to special materials that emphasize the use of all senses as they learn about the world around them through a variety of activities.

Social Skills & Work Habits

OVERALL RATING (4.5)
This school has increased my child's:
Ability to listen and follow directions
Ability to sit still for longer periods of time
Ability to be a part of a group of children
Self-sufficiency and independence
Awareness of others’ feelings
Cooperation with other children

source:

Curriculum and Teaching Approach

	PLAY-BASED	PLAY-BASED WITH SOME STRUCTURE	MOSTLY TEACHER LED	NOT FORMALLY IN CURRICULUM	CONDUCIVE ENVIRONMENT
Language					Yes
Oral language	-	-	-	-
Nursery rhymes, poems, songs	-	-	-	-
Storybook reading	-	-		-
Emerging literacy skills	-	-	-	-
Cognitive Development
Math and number sense	-	-	-	-	Yes
Time & space	-	-	-	-	Yes
Sci. reasoning/physical world	-	-	-	-	Yes
Music	-	-		-	Yes
Visual arts	-	-		-	Yes
Physical activity	-	-		-	Yes
Other subjects taught	Spanish through songs and play.

source:

Director's Comments

Lessons at Rockridge Little School are designed to teach children about, science, math, culture, nature, dance, music and language. Our goal is to give children an opportunity to try out new skills through play.

We encourage students to plunge into hands-on learning in ways that reveal the wide world and how wonderfully intricate its workings are. We want them to curl up with a familiar book in the corner or have their teacher read their favorite story so many times that they both know it by heart.

Parents' Comments

Parent #1
The kids have free play, but for the most part they are read to, singing songs, and learning throughout the day.

Parent #2
For kids in the 5-year range, could be more structured to provide additional learning opportunities.

Parent #3
School regularly brings in outside artists/instructors to teach sessions such as dance, music, acting, yoga and more. Reading, writing, more formal "learning" happens organically at tables in the classroom as the kids take interest. Teachers don't necessarily instruct, they simply assist with examples or questions that the kids might have.

Parent #4
The school combines free play with structure at certain times of the day with teacher led instruction at other times of the day. They will have projects at tables with free play blocks of time, then have circle time with songs and reading. They also have enrichment programs that bring in different types of dance and music in a class based structure. They don't do field trips (which I prefer), but do bring in interesting things (animals, park rangers, etc.). It is a dynamic and fun environment.

Parent #5
RLS offers a play-based approach, with a wide variety of creative art projects, music, imaginative play and storytelling.