If you’ve got a preschooler who was learning at home last year or an almost preschooler, thinking about the next step in readying children for Kindergarten is extra challenging in 2021—whether your children will be learning at home or in an early childhood learning community.
Typically, when parents are getting ready to enroll pre-school aged children in a program, they make an appointment to tour the schools and meet the directors and teachers. While the process helps build comfort with the decision, the COVID-19 pandemic makes spending time in the classroom difficult, if not impossible, as many schools have had to restrict visitors. We all want to make sure that we’re giving our children every advantage and opportunity that we can, and that means ensuring that their education begins early—and gets off to the right start. Whether or not COVID-19 prevention practices are stopping you from touring a school as part of your decision-making process, there are many other considerations that can help you decide on a program and find the best fit.
You can start by assessing the school’s philosophy and curriculum
As we’ve all experienced in the last year, kids will face many challenges in the ever-changing world around them. In this climate and the future, they can benefit from being entrepreneurial and adaptable—by learning to be makers and doers, not just thinkers. That’s why many schools, including the new Everbrook Academy locations opening this winter in Wayne and Closter, NJ, are embracing the STEAM philosophy (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Math). Everbrook Academy is a new, modern preschool to support 21st-century learners and their families. There, STEAM brings the world into every classroom, every day, to educate future leaders and innovators. Everbrook Academy offers programs for infants, toddlers, preschool, and school-age students and provides personalized lesson plans based on children’s daily learning and growth assessments.
The curriculum is defined by project-based learning and integration of the arts and sciences
Project-based learning connects academic skills to practical application, ensuring that what kids learn is more meaningful because it applies directly to their lives. The innovative and interactive method of teaching and learning at Everbrook Academy touches on the five principles of STEAM: Science nurtures inquisitive minds and inspires curiosity; technology encourages working with tools; engineering promotes problem-solving skills; the arts help children express ideas and communicate; math guides children to apply logic and understanding to systems.Everbrook Academy offers a research-based early education program that uses these principles every part of the school day. Kids build confidence and communication skills, giving them a strong base for their transition into grade school. Through STEAM experiences, children develop essential 21st-century skills (the 4 Cs) of creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and communication.
They customize the lesson plans based on your child’s development
Unlike schools that use a cookie-cutter curriculum that they assume works for every kid, Everbrook Academy takes a different approach. Through their unique Aware, Care, & Share program, kids, get precisely what they need for academic, social, and emotional growth based on their developmental stage. Students are assessed daily in the natural classroom environment, and teachers create a personalized and individualized portfolio that relates to the child’s milestones. Finally, teachers share the portfolio with parents at conferences or informally throughout the school year.
They take your child’s well being as serious as their education
Everbrook Academy believes that kids can learn to make healthy choices at an early age, which will lead to a lifetime of healthy habits. Their enhanced Grow Fit menu features selections for breakfast, lunch, and snack time approved by a registered dietician. This intentional meal plan features a wide variety of foods containing whole grains, organic, fresh fruits and vegetables, and vitamin-rich choices for growing bodies. But Grow Fit isn’t just about food—kids will also spend as much time as they can outdoors. With physical movement scheduled twice in their day, kids have space to move and explore on the playground and age-appropriate playscapes that feature exciting play areas—including basketball—on soft turf surfaces and safe equipment. There are also STEAM-inspired play systems that encourage movement and offer energetic, challenging activities for children to develop their skills and abilities while having fun with friends. Also, teachers integrate healthy eating and physical activity into daily lessons.
They are making sure your child is safe and healthy
With COVID still a serious concern, everyone is doing what they can to stay safe. The same is true for Everbrook Academy. They are following CDC guidance, as well as local and state authorities, for a healthy, safe environment when your child is away from home. Their robust procedures include: Conducting regular temperature and wellness checks; limiting classroom access; wearing masks; washing hands and sanitizing surfaces more frequently, as well as disinfections with Zono sanitizing cabinets for toys, books, and school supplies. Beyond COVID safety measures, you don’t have to worry about what your child is doing and how they are getting through the day. With their WatchMeGrow live streaming video, you can have a window into your child’s classroom from your phone or computer, seeing them engaged in activities and how they’re doing. And through the instant messaging app, Brightwheel, you’ll get real-time updates from your child’s teacher, whether it’s about participating in an activity or what your child ate for lunch.
Intrigued? Everbrook Academy is opening its first locations in New Jersey this winter at Wayne and Closter. Click on Everbrook Academy or call 866.222.0269 to schedule a virtual tour and start 2021 with an investment into your child’s future.
Everbrook Academy at 597 Piermont Road in Closter and at 918 Hamburg Turnpike in Wayne.
This post is sponsored by Everbrook Academy, offering a unique learning experience for the 21st-century child.
