Little Acorns Grow Preschool Is Growing: Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Grades!

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Little Acorn 1

Recently, I went to see Little Acorns Grow, a charming Preschool-Kindergarten school in Reseda. Founded in 2011 by Melanie Martin, the director, the school is expanding by adding kindergarten, and grades 1st-3rd.  The kindergarten class is in its first year (there are 4 spots currently open!) and 1st grade will begin in 2015, followed by 2nd grade in 2015 and 3rd grade the year after.

 

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Melanie greeted me at the front of the school to begin my tour. She is friendly and energetic, talking excitedly about her school. It was late morning and the kids were completely absorbed in various classroom and outdoor play activities. The school is small (12 kids per grade), with a very large play space with a garden in the back.  Classrooms are bright, filled with color and newly updated.

 

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The focus at Little Acorns Grow is individualized instruction with a healthy dose of play based learning in the integrated curriculum. Each class has a teacher and an aide. Taking inspiration from Montessori, Reggio and Waldorf, the school is a blend of educational philosophies. Kids begin learning to read in Transitional Kindergarten and reading typically happens in Kindergarten. The “why” is important, the logic of why things happen is key to the curriculum. Discipline doesn’t include time-outs, but instead focuses on positive tools to help kids get along.

 

Melanie, a mom of two kids, has years of experience as the head of elementary school at Delphi Academy. She’s used her professional experience to create a high quality program at Little Acorns Grow. It is her pride and passion. From the organic snacks to the enrichment classes that include yoga, art, music, drama, cooking and languages, the kids are exposed to creative, hands-on experiences.

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Parents are welcome to volunteer. This year, a parent will be teaching robotics. Another helps the teachers prepare classroom activities. There are school field trips, art shows, puppet shows and more, all with help from parent volunteers.

 

Little Acorn 7Little Acorns Grow is small and nurturing, with a well-developed curriculum, an abundance of learning and play activities and a plan to expand to add grades 1-3. It is the kind of school where my own kids would have flourished. The tuition is $850 per month for a full day and $700 for half-day.

 

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Little Acorns Grow was one of three schools featured in this super-cool new video by Soul Pancake as part of the National Campaign To Learn.

 

“We could talk your ear off about the importance of early learning, but figured you would rather have some cute kids with GoPro cameras show you why they love preschool. They’re telling stories, doing art projects, practicing counting, and learning that “when somebody’s talking to someone else, you be patient.“–Soul Pancake. 

To see the Soul Pancake video, click HERE.

For more information, visit www.littleacornsgrow.net or call 818-779-1099.

 

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What Makes A School Traditional? Developmental? Progressive?

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Photo: Seier and Seier, Flickr Creative Commons License
Photo: Seier and Seier, Flickr Creative Commons License

This post is an excerpt from my remarks at a recent preschool speaking event. One of the first –and most important–things to do is figure out the type of school that’s right for your child.  Sometimes a school is a mix of several philosophies (you’ll see a few schools listed in several categories below) or it’s not clear to you what type of school it is from a website or a tour. Most L.A. private elementary schools are a hybrid/mix of educational philosophies. This is not an exact science, but more about the way each school adheres to a particular philosophy or combines several philosophies.  For example, you might see a progressive school with a developmental approach to teaching.  Or, you may see a traditional school that incorporates a developmental approach in the classroom. But, if a school doesn’t seem to have a clear philosophy that can be understood and explained, ask questions! And, there are clues you can look for to help figure out what kind of school it is. Your goal should be for your child to attend a school that offers a learning environment where he/she can thrive and one that you truly believe in. — Christina

 

While every school is different, here are some of the characteristics that can help you identify the type of school:

 

Traditional: ( Examples: John Thomas Dye, Viewpoint, Carltorp, Brentwood, Pilgrim, St. James, St. Brendan, Curtis, Steven S. Wise, Campbell Hall, Village, Mirman, Chandler (Pasadena), St. Matthews), Catholic Schools tend to be traditional 

  • Similar to the public schools many of us attended as kids
  • Academic achievement is the core philosophy
  • Structured schedule
  • Teacher centered-not kid centered
  • Kids expected to meet academic milestones by certain time (reading by mid-year kindergarten)
  • More homework, more multiple choice tests, quizzes
  • Fewer group projects
  • Teacher directed work, not kid directed
  • Classroom setup usually has teacher at front, desks facing front of room
  • Grades start early
  • Lots of memorization
  • Competitive sports teams 
  • A focus on good character and values
  • Uniforms

 

Developmental: (Brentwood, Turning Point, Echo Horizon, Oakwood, Lawrence, Campbell Hall, Temple Israel, St. Mark’s (Altadena), Willows, Center For Early Education, Westside Neighborhood School)

  • Kids develop and learn at their own pace, eventually all arriving at the same academic milestones (reading for example). That is celebrated, not discouraged.
  • Kids are not competing with each other to see who can read first or memorize multiplication tables first.
  • Kids can help each other learn, not just teacher directed learning
  • Big concepts and ideas are taught, not a ton of detail/memorization
  • Integrated curriculum…what’s happening in science relates to language arts, etc.
  • May or may not have uniforms

 

Progressive: (PS#1, Wildwood, Pasadena Waldorf, Westland, Children’s Community School, Oakwood Elementary, Seven Arrows, Willows, Sequoyah (Pasadena), Waverly (Pasadena), Center For Early Education, Lycée International de Los Angeles, Walden, Pasadena)

  • Child-centered learning, kid-initiated projects
  • Concepts like sharing, creating, caring
  • Engaging kids with the world around them
  • Rejection of memorizing big amounts of information
  • A whole child approach-social, emotional and academic have equal importance
  • Lots of group projects, discussion and debate
  • Kids work at tables grouped for 4 or 6 kids
  • Very little homework, few worksheets (if any)
  • No grades until MS or even HS (or not)
  • Lots of expository writing
  • Play-based in preschool and kindergarten
  • An emphasis on field trips for real-world learning
  • A focus on the arts
  • A de-emphasis on standardized testing
  • Kids working on creative projects with their hands using wood, paper, found objects
  • If there are uniforms, they might be a t-shirt

 

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Book Review: “Liv On Life” by Wildwood School Mom Elizabeth Gorcey

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Liv On Life

 

Imagine how nice it was for my family to pull into our driveway to find Elizabeth Gorcey dropping off a copy of her new children’s book, Liv On Life: Going To The Park. Elizabeth is a friend of a friend, so we chatted about the book, mutual friends and our kids.  Friendly and outgoing, Elizabeth is a mom, an artist and a parent at Wildwood Elementary School. Her daughter, Liv, is the inspiration for the book, which encourages kids to embrace their authentic voices. The message of the book, that parents should pause to slow down in our busiest times to be mindful of our kid’s honesty and perspective, is a concept that fits perfectly with Wildwood School’s progressive philosophy.

 

Going To The Park captures moments in Liv’s life as she introduces the reader to her dog Bowie and her home life. The book is the first in a series. Stuck in traffic, Liv is thrilled because she and Bowie can look out the window. Her distracted mom isn’t so happy. Liv discovers a puppy in the car next to them, but her mom doesn’t even notice. Liv, naturally curious and creative, finds excitement in the little details that make up a quick trip to the store, the park and in her own home.

 

If you have a preschooler, especially one who loves pink as much as Liv, they’ll enjoy reading this delightful book with a deeper message, reminding us to take the time to be present for our kids in this high-tech, fast-paced world. With her patient persistence and wit, Liv encourages us all to slow down to notice the beautiful, funny everyday moments in our lives. Because that’s exactly what Liv does.

 

Please join author Elizabeth Gorcey at Skylight Books on Sunday, Oct. 5, 3-5 p.m. for a book launch party! Enjoy sweet treats and espresso with the author, her daughter and other families. For more information or to buy the book, visit Skylight Books.

 

About the Author: Director, producer and actor Elizabeth Gorcey has expanded her repertoire to book publishing with the LIV ON LIFE (”LOL”) children’s book series. The twelve-book series is written from the endearing perspective of Elizabeth’s daughter, Olivia, who shares her insights and observations on modern-day life. Elizabeth currently lives in LA with her family. When not making films or publishing books, she works diligently on her non-profit art program for terminally ill children called the CARING STROKES ART PROGRAM. For more info, please vist www.livonlife.com 

 

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Manzanita School: A New Private School In Topanga

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Photo: Manzanita School
Photo: Manzanita School

Manzanita School is a new private school in Topanga. It is a progressive school for grades 4-9. According to the school’s website the school’s natural surroundings on 20 acres will play an important role in the curriculum. “The strong pedagogical movement, “place-based education,” has illuminated the importance of connecting our schooling to the local environment.”

 

I was raised in Topanga and I know exactly where this school is located and it would be an amazing experience to attend a school in such a beautiful, peaceful location. –Christina

 

For more information, visit www.manzanitaschool.org

 

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Upcoming Event: Demystifying The L.A. Private Elementary School Admissions Process

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The Second Edition: Coming Sept./Oct. 2013!

 

Hi Everyone, Please join me for this FREE event!

 

Who: Christina Simon, co-author, Beyond The Brochure: An Insider’s Guide To Private Elementary Schools In Los Angeles

 

What: Navigating The L.A. Private Elementary School Admissions Process

  • Selecting Schools To Visit, Types of Schools and School Tours
  • Written Applications
  • Parent Interviews
  • Your Child’s Testing/Visiting Day
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • What To Do If Your Child is Wait-Listed
  • Helpful Hints and Insider Tips

 

Where: Brentwood Presbyterian Preschool

12000 San Vicente Blvd/Bundy. There is limited parking on the street.

 

When: Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2014, 6:30 p.m.

 

Details: Christine Cornsinita, director of Brentwood Presbyterian Church Preschool, has graciously welcomed me back to her amazing preschool for the third year. She’s also invited any of our blog readers who would like to attend. The event is free, but If you plan to join us, you must RSVP to Christine at: bpcp90049 @ gmail dot com. Space is limited. Everyone attending the event will get an event summary from my remarks. I look forward to meeting you! –Christina

Update: Corrected email is: bpcp90049 @gmail dot com 

Let’s be social! Like Beyond The Brochure on Facebook. We post a lot of stuff on Facebook that’s not on the blog!  Are you more the email type? Get our posts in your in box by subscribing (enter your email in the “subscribe” box on the right sidebar of the blog. Or, buy the Second Edition of our book at Amazon.com or your local bookstores!