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Oakland, CA
The Lake School

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

Review this preschool

neighborhood: Oakland Downtown / Lake Merritt ·  Telephone: (510) 839-4227

• 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:

Savvy Source's Comments

To foster enthusiasm, responsibility for learning, and the child's natural creativity and curiosity. To encourage self-confidence and individuality and enable children to develop learning and social skills. To maintain a low teacher-child ratio within small groups and to provide a curriculum which meets the different and developing interests of each child. To provide a homelike setting, rich in materials and resources, and a caring and highly qualified staff. To perform ongoing assessments of each child's cognitive, physical, and social growth. To communicate to parents the philosophy, goals and program of The Lake School and to provide opportunities for parent involvement and education. To enrich school experiences by utilizing community resources and outside professionals in the field of early childhood education. Extracted from The Lake School Application flier 2006

Social Skills & Work Habits

OVERALL RATING (5.0)
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					-
Oral language	-	-	-	-	n/a
Nursery rhymes, poems, songs	-	-	-	-	n/a
Storybook reading	-	-	-	-	n/a
Emerging literacy skills	-	-	-	-	n/a
Cognitive Development					n/a
Math and number sense	-		-	-	-
Time & space	-	-	-	-	-
Sci. reasoning/physical world	-	-	-	-	Yes
Music	-	-	-	-	-
Visual arts	-	-	-	-	Yes
Physical activity	-	-	-	-	Yes
Other subjects taught					n/a

source:

Savvy Source's Comments

Set in a Victorian house with a large outdoor space, The Lake School offers yound children an ideal environment in which to grow and learn. The program at our School is thoughtfully planned to provide a variety of activites, addressing the developmental levels of the children as well as their interests and strengths. Open-ended activities stimulate children to invent creative uses for materilas and equipment, as they construct knowledge of the world around them. The social and emotional well-being of children is of primary importance in The Lake School program. Two year-olds are helped to adjust to being away from home and participating in a group. Three and four year-olds are guided toward developing the ability to share, take turns and resolve conflicts appropriately. Five year-olds are supported as they gain the confidence necessary to face the challenges of kindergarten. Our ideal teacher child ration ensures that there will be ample opportunities for meaningful interactions throughout the school day for each child. Oral language experiences, books and activities stimulate a child's natural curiosity about words and literacy. An interest in numbers, mathematical concepts and thinking skills is developed through play with math manipulatives and games. A variety of pets, gardens, science materials and experiences encourage the child's curisity about the natural and physical world. Dramatic play offers the young child a way to make sense of their roles in the family and community, while art activities foster self-expression and creativity. Small toys and other learning materials build fine motor development. A variety of outdoor play equipment, movement activites and free play develop the child's large muscles. The Lake School seeks to provide children with a wealth of successful learning experiences. The School offers an intergrated curriculum, providing both teacher-guided and child-initiated activities. The children's accomplishments in both cooperative and individual activities build self-confidence, autonomy and initiative to explore new areas of interest. The curisoity and self-awareness gained, coupled with the skills acquired, and the abiltity to work in a group will form a solid intellectual and social foundation for future success. Extracted from The Lake School Application flier 2006

Parents' Comments

Parent #1
Everyday, the teachers at the Lake School set up many different stations inside and outside based on a theme that include the categories listed above. The children choose what they want to do.