AAUW Nursery School

Our Programs

Early Explorers Class

This weekly parent/child class, held on Saturdays, is for children 20-36 months old. It focuses on exploration in a planned learning environment.

Discovery Class

This morning class (9:00-11:30 a.m.) is for three year olds. Offered MWF and TTh, a child may attend 2, 3, or 5 days.

This class focuses on helping children cope with separation, learn to work and play with other children, trust teachers and respond to their guidance, and feel good about themselves and their abilities in a school setting. This is accomplished by a very loving, warm and nurturing staff who encourage play, experimentation, and discovery for each child.

A theme of family, friends and pets is interwoven into the classroom throughout the year. At this young age math and science are introduced very subtly, such as, using counting games played with water, rice, flour and corn.

Language arts consist of stories, beginning name writing (for some children) and familiarity and practice with crayons, markers, pencils and scissors.

Adventure Class

Adventure classes are for the children turning 4 by September 1 (MWF class) (TTh class). A 5 day option is available for children by enrolling in both Adventure classes. The teachers in the Adventure classes focus on guidance of rapidly blossoming social relationships (whether encouraging friendships or helping to resolve differences), helping instill self-control, and nurturing the decision-making process. The groups of playmates are larger and attention spans have broadened to allow for projects spanning a few weeks.

The children are also exposed in an age-appropriate way to academics. Activities such as baking, making play dough and silly putty, and circle time with books and discussions are the common ways to present math and science. Dictating stories and making signs are popular. Many children are beginning to write and to read a few words by summer.

Field trip to forest preserve and pizza restaurant

Field trip to
fire station

Curriculum
Our preschool programs emphasize the following components:

Literacy: Reading and writing are learned in developmentally appropriate ways. Activities that stimulate literacy skills may include singing songs, dictated writing, alphabet puzzles, games, play dough, fine motor activities, and class discussion.

Science: Children are encouraged to learn about science through first-hand experiences including planting seeds, field trips, cooking, exploring nature, observing and questioning.

Math: Building blocks, shapes, cooking, games, obstacle courses, counting songs, clean-up and snack time all offer math experiences galore!

Outdoors: For motor development, the children can run, climb ride tricycles, play in the sandbox, sled down a hill, pretend and explore on our 1/2 acre fenced play yard.

Art: Easel painting is always available, but other creative opportunities, such as gluing and making collages, are centered on the weekly themes.

Social & Emotional: The children have a wealth of opportunities to develop their social and emotional skills, including negotiating, compromising, and learning to work with others to solve problems. Sharing and learning to take turns may be observed throughout the classrooms. Helping children to "use their words," comforting them when they are upset, and finding appropriate outlets for their energy are just a few examples of the many ways we help children enhance their emotional skills.