We fully recognize that remote learning presents a particular challenge to early childhood students. Strategies that work for older students do not always translate to young children who rely on adult facilitation and are often unable to stay attentive for long periods. In addition, many early childhood learning activities require one-on-one facilitation or small-group interaction, which can be difficult to deliver in a distance learning environment. This is exactly why we have decided to further enrich our early childhood distance learning efforts to prepare for another shift to Distance Learning if necessary.

Though we would always prefer the classroom to the computer, we are confident that each child was offered the same quality education online as they would receive in person. When embarking on a time of learning from home, our goal has always been to design a Montessori-based scaffold that will serve your children well while also supporting you the best we can. It is important to us that the children’s activity during this time be gratifying, thoughtful, challenging, all while building upon children’s natural curiosities. We will continue to strive to replicate presentations given in our classrooms and to work in collaboration with you to keep a love of learning alive. We know that this passion for knowledge is what makes our community so unique. Therefore, our enhanced Distance Learning schedule is dedicated to providing families with support and activities that match the developmental needs and characteristics of each child.

We believe that both Live Zoom meetings and Video Presentations remain crucial elements in maintaining familiarity and routine for your children. This platform will keep a connection between us despite our distance. Please remember that your children are in the most significant environment they could be, your home. Your home has everything a child this age needs. Your children are perfectly capable of independent work and play. Accountability should be kept between student and teacher as much as possible. In the Pre-K/K classrooms, students do not develop their time management and executive functioning skills if a teacher constantly hovers over them, so we certainly do not expect this constant level of parental involvement when working from home. A certain level of freedom to experiment, to explore, and even to make mistakes is necessary for development of independence and intrinsic motivation. Younger children may require a little more encouragement, engagement, and supervision from parents, but as they reach the end of their time in the 3-6 class, they are capable of more independence and self-regulation. Our daily class check-ins and small group lessons will bolster accountability and provide insights to the class teacher. Just as is true in our classroom, if additional measures are needed to increase accountability, they will be implemented. We are fortunate to operate within a system that honors individual needs and allows for as much freedom or as much support as each child needs. The best thing you can do to help maintain continuity in your child’s schedule is to allow him/her to occupy themselves. You can count on your Pre-K/K teachers to provide a robust Distance Learning experience that is comparable to In-Person Learning.

The Pre-K/K Team