The Maple Grove Preschool
The Maple Grove Preschool is a Waldorf-Inspired Preschool that I have created out of my home. The Waldorf philosophy for educating the young child is that they learn through imitation and creative play. My program is a “Play-Based” curriculum, in a home setting, which allows for a natural transition from home to school.
Our school provides a warm and nurturing environment for the young child. The intentions of this program are to: Foster a continuous relationship for the young child between home and school and parent and teacher, provide daily, weekly and seasonal rhythms that nourish the growth of the child, and to develop caring and respectful social relationships between children, adults and nature.
The Maple Grove Preschool is nestled amongst acres of Maples, Red Cedar and Douglas Fir trees. The children are able to play in our year-round creeks, and the plethora of Oregon’s best wildlife. The children have daily rhythms such as free play, circle time, outside play, puppet shows, singing, beeswax molding. Some of our weekly activities include crafting, beeswax coloring, watercolor painting, and gardening. I refer to the day as our activity. Instead of saying "it is Monday," I will say, “it is baking day today”. When we are transitioning, songs and verses are sung, which is helping to form a picture that the children can live into. All of our toys are made from the natural elements such as: rocks, shells, nuts, wool, wood, silk, cotton. I believe that using natural materials allows for the children’s’ imagination to unfold. Our toys are open-ended. A pine cone can be food at the table one minute and a hair brush the next. The quality of the children’s’ play is unparalleled.
The snacks that are prepared and shared in class are created using only organic ingredients (and local when available) that I purchase with Gwen at Green Grocer, The Steiner Storehouse and Bob’s Red Mill.
A large portion of the day is spent outside with the chickens, birds, squirrels, salamanders… The children dig holes with sticks, build houses with branches, and roof the homes with moss. Our outside is spent playing in the natural elements. Children require many hours outside, JUST PLAYING!
After outside time we have a daily puppet show, lunch and are swallowed up then in our parents’ arms.
Come and visit us and experience the splendor we offer.
Kindly!
Miss Teresa
Rhythm of the Day
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | ||
| 9:00 | Activity | bread baking | coloring with beeswax crayons |
wet-on-wet watercolor painting |
| 9:15 | Creative Play | |||
| 10:15 | Tidy-Up Time | |||
| 10:20 | Potty/wash hands | |||
| 10:25 | Circle Time | |||
| 10:35 | Snack | brown rice |
oats |
millet |
| 11:00 | Rest | |||
| 11:15 | Outdoor Play | |||
| 12:30 | Puppet Story | |||
| 12:40 | Lunch | |||