Plymouth, MI
New Morning School

"New Morning School was established in 1973 by teachers and parents who believed in the following educational tenets:

The program should be individualized to maximize each student's learning potential.
Children learn best by doing.
Children should learn to be responsible for their learning and for their behavior.
Parental involvement is critical to a child's education.
The school’s proven educational tenets and method of instruction has evolved over 32 years of experience in the classroom. Let’s look at each of these tenets further:

Individualized Education
At New Morning the needs of the individual come first. Each student has strengths and weaknesses. At New Morning School each student works at his/her level in various academic areas. Goals for each child are periodically reviewed and new challenges added.

Hands-On Learning
Active learning abounds at the school. Whether it’s hands-on algebra in the middle school, weighing pumpkins in the elementary classroom, or seeing how long it takes to melt snow in the preschool, students learn from their experiences.

Student Responsibility
Students are respected and valued for being able to give critical input about their academic interests, goals and needs:

Student responsibility and initiative are expected.
Students learn to set goals and attain them.
Preparation for the Future
In addition, students of the 21st century, living in a technological world, need the ability to analyze information and make informed decisions. Rote memorization is not enough.

Students learn to evaluate information critically.
Problem-solving and thinking skills are stressed.
Parental Support
The New Morning School Curriculum is complete when parental support is meshed with caring, competent teachers and involved students. The three work together as a team to implement the school’s philosophy and create a positive, challenging learning experience for each child.

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Excerpted from the preschool's website

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"DAILY ROUTINE

Creative Play Area - Activities centered in the creative play area foster both large muscle and social skills. Features of the creative play area include blocks, builders, dress up, kitchen area, and fix-it table.
Collage - Fine motor skills such a cutting, pasting, gluing, and sorting are reinforced in our collage area.
Arts and Crafts - Children are encouraged to develop their artistic awareness and skills in a daily art project. In addition, the easel is available for artistic expression.
Snack - Children follow graphic recipe cards to make individual snack portions in a child-sized kitchenette.
Discovery Table - Daily activities at the Discovery Table challenge students to solve problems, classify objects and develop an awareness of basic scientific and mathematical principles.
ABC and 123 Games - Children select ABC or 123 games to use play to encourage development of both verbal and mathematical skills
Writing Center - A variety of materials are available at our writing center to help young children tap their ability to use lines, shapes, and eventually symbols and letters to share their understanding of the world.
Sand, Water or Playdough - Each day children flock to the area which features our sand table, water table or playdough, featured on a rotating basis. These areas give children an opportunity to develop gross and fine motor skills, and introduce them to concepts like mass, volume, gravity, and quantity.
Large Muscle Skills - Children develop gross motor skills during movement activities in the gym. Outside skills are further developed as children enjoy the playhouse, sandbox and play equipment. The use of balls improves hand-eye coordination.
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Excerpted from the preschool's website

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