San Francisco, CA
The Little School

The Little School was founded to provide children with a developmental, child-centered preschool experience. We are committed to providing individualized, quality attention to children, parents and staff. As an institution, we are committed to helping each member of our community grow in the ability to communicate and respect one another. Additionally, we are a relationship-based program. This means that we recognize the central role that relationships play in the learning process and look at how the relationship between child and teacher, child and child and child in the class community can be used to foster development of the whole child (cognitive, emotional, social, language, physical and creative development). Finally, we serve a wide range of children including children with special needs, believing that each child benefits from exposure to a diverse class community.

source:

A four year old would enter a class set up with a variety of familiar areas and some new activities. He would be able to choose freely; the first hour is open choice with teachers serving as facilitators and guides. At the end of open choice, the child might clean up the block area with a buddy, matching the blocks to the shapes on the shelves. Then time for community meeting-a time when the class discusses problems, dilemmas or exciting creations that occurred that morning or a host of other things important to their lives. From community meeting, they might go for a long period of free play outdoors, come in for a teacher-led music or movement time and end the day with a communal lunch. These four year olds also have as part of their week an all school music time, a teacher-led small group, and one day a week when as a class they hike, climb and muck about in the Presidio. Two years old have a simpler day with open choice, clean up, circle time, snack and outdoor play.

source: