FAQ

The Reggio Emilia approach is an educational philosophy focusing on preschool and primary education. It was created after WWII by a teacher in Reggio Emilia, Italy, which is where the approach gets its name. After the war, educators and families believed that children needed new ways of learning, to cultivate young minds as an investment in the future. The Reggio Emilia approach was developed to help children learn in this new framework.

Using a self-guided curriculum, children are allowed to express themselves in different ways as they develop their personality. Activities such as painting, drawing, sculpting, and drama are encouraged, as these are all seen as “languages” children use. By allowing children to engage in meaningful learning experiences, the Reggio Emilia approach helps to instill a love of learning, enhances early education and prepares children for the transition into school.

Under the Reggio Emilia approach, children are viewed as active, capable and valuable members of the community. They are encouraged to explore, question, and interpret the world during the first five years of life, as creating a solid foundation of experiences during these early years helps each child reach their full potential.

In the words of Maria Montessori, “Play is the work of the children”. Research has held strong for decades that play is the most effective method of learning for young children, and it has been shown that it takes a minimum of 30 minutes for children to become deeply engaged in their play. When play comes in short bursts in between more formal activities, children miss out on the bulk of its benefits, which is why I offer at least 1 straight hour of self-directed play each day. When children lead their own learning and are given the freedom to explore ideas and concepts that interest them, the things they learn hold more value and are more likely to stick.

Children learn a variety of skills during play–communication, cooperation, creativity, imagination, self-awareness, self-regulation, critical thinking, and problem solving. Play-based classrooms include plenty of academic learning, but not in the form of drills, flashcards, or worksheets. At Seed to Sprout, we take play seriously!

In short, YES! However, I prefer to embrace the stage your child is at right now, as a preschooler. My mindset is not that of kindergarten preparation–the goal is preschool mastery.  A child who has mastered preschool skills will be ready for kindergarten. 

There is a common, and unfortunate, misconception that preschool children need to know all of their alphabet letters and sounds, count to 100, and be starting to read prior to kindergarten, and as a result preschools have become highly academic environments where children engage in playful drills aimed at helping them memorize facts. Just like we would not start formally teaching a 6 month old baby to walk simply because we know walking is their next big milestone, there is no need to push heavy academics on preschoolers simply because they will soon go to kindergarten. Instead, we focus on building and strengthening skills needed for the stage of development they are currently in. When we do this in an appropriate and supportive way, they will stand out as “prepared for kindergarten” in every way!

One of the biggest benefits of an in-home preschool is that smaller enrollment numbers allow for more individualized attention–in South Jordan, in-home preschools may not enroll more than 8 students per class. At Seed to Sprout, lesson plans are created around the interests of the children in the class, and I do not recycle the same lesson plans year after year because the needs of each class is different depending on the children in it. There is lots of flexibility in our daily schedule to accommodate moments when children are highly engaged and need more time on an activity before moving on to something new. 

Many commercial preschools in our area lack an outdoor space, making it difficult to meet the large motor needs of preschool children. I am happy to have a large fenced yard with plenty of room to run, jump, throw balls, play with sidewalk chalk, and enjoy the outdoor dramatic play area. Fresh air and sunshine are a vital part of early childhood education, and I strive to provide outdoor time every day. There is no learning that takes place inside that can’t also take place outside, and we use our outdoor space as an extension of our indoor classroom.

Seed to Sprout Preschool is located in South Jordan, UT. Our classroom is housed in a bright and inviting basement space in a neighborhood just north of The District.

South Jordan’s business license department has set a cap of 8 students per class for in-home preschools. This small teacher-to-student ratio is perfect for providing individualized attention to each child.

If you find an in-home preschool in South Jordan with larger class sizes, they may not hold an active business license or are not operating within the rules of their license.

Seed to Sprout offers two class options:

Both classes have a $100 non-refundable registration fee, due upon enrollment. Students must be at least 3 years old by September 1 of the respective school year.

My program is child-led and play-based, which means lesson plans are fluid depending on a child’s interests. At times during the year, we may embark on projects, where we dive deep into a topic the children show great interest in, embedding learning over all domains into activities surrounding that topic. 

The schedule is not broken up into segments of specific learning–math, writing, science, etc.–because I aim to provide children with all of that learning throughout the entire day. They will be writing grocery lists while at the dramatic play center, learning math concepts as they measure and help prepare snack, gaining understanding of science as they mix paints or play with magnets. Learning can be found at every turn, cleverly embedded in all aspects of play.

As a teacher, I do not act as a lecturer, rather my job is to facilitate and support the children in their play. I rely heavily on observational assessment to monitor students’ progress, which allows me to provide materials in an environment that truly meets each child’s needs. 

I use a multi-sensory approach to teaching, capitalizing on visual, auditory, tactile, and kinesthetic senses to enhance and deepen learning. My classroom is a place where noise and messes are abundant, as children explore and learn through hands-on experiences. I do not shy away from providing developmentally appropriate activities simply because they might make a mess!

I employ a gentle discipline approach in my classroom. I recognize each child as a whole and complete human being who deserves the same respect as any adult. My goal is to foster a strong element of social-emotional intelligence within my classroom, and I aim to help children develop self-regulation through age-appropriate activities. I recognize behavior as something that is not in need of managing, but as a component of typical child development.

The wonderful thing about play is the high-quality learning that it offers, but parents sometimes feel a little lost about what skills their child is developing when they are engaged in hands-on activities rather than paper schoolwork. I maintain documentation all year long about each student’s progress and send home a basic skills assessment in both the fall and spring. Our mid-year parent-teacher conference is a great time to inquire about any concerns you may have about your child’s progress, but I am always willing to meet and answer any questions you have throughout the year. The weekly pictures I send to parents often include examples of the learning taking place in the classroom.

Full independence in the bathroom is a skill that many preschool children are still working on, and accidents sometimes happen in preschool. I can offer some assistance in the bathroom, but please work with your child to be as independent as possible with wiping and dressing and help them get in the habit of washing their hands after using the bathroom. I do not have the ability to change diapers at school, however pull-ups are fine if you are worried about your child’s ability to stay dry while at preschool. #2 accidents will require me to call a parent to come take care of. 

Your registration fee covers all of the supplies your child will need over the course of the year, including a daily healthy snack. A folder will be provided at the beginning of the year for safely transporting artwork home. Your child will need to bring a standard-sized backpack each day (as darling as they are, toddler backpacks are not large enough to hold a folder). I also ask that you keep a spare change of clothing, including socks and underwear, in a labeled ziplock bag in your child’s backpack. At times during the year, I might ask you to collect certain recyclable items for a project we are working on, but these items are always optional.

Yes! My degree in early childhood special education, along with my years teaching special ed preschool, means that my program is well-suited to adapt to the needs of all learners. That said, as a small private program, I do not have the same resources that are offered by public schools or larger private institutions. If you are interested in enrolling your child at Seed to Sprout, give me a call so that we can chat about your child’s needs to determine if my program would be a good fit.