We understand your child.

Teachers are deeply versed in the tenets of early childhood mathematical thinking and its foundational importance to later academic achievement. Capturing mathematical moments throughout the school day, math talk is readily heard in preschool classrooms. Connecting these natural, informal experiences in meaningful ways and building upon them facilitates children’s confidence with understanding the language of math, the meaning of numbers, simple problem solving, and learning more formalized math concepts as they grow.  Math activities guide the children's deep, meaningful understanding of number sense, simple operations, geometry and shapes, and measurement, as well as patterning.

Monthly thematic units are organized by exciting, engaging early childhood science and social studies' topics. Anchored by a relevant children’s storybook, teachers design the classrooms to expose children to science and social studies' themes and concepts through meaningful activities and fun experiences. Thematic language, curiosity, simple experiments, connection, and creative pretend play guide them as they travel around the world  to experience cultures and holidays of Stepping Stones families - contributing to children’s discovery of themselves, their community and the world around them.    

All Stepping Stones Preschool students participate in Enrichment classes intentionally designed for their age.

Our PreK students join the Kenan and Hamm Center students in small groups to engage in Art, Music, Learning Commons, PE and OT/PE activities. These small Enrichment group experiences provide opportunities for our Stepping Stones students to develop relationships outside of Stepping Stones, support awareness of other’s gifts, and develop empathy.

Music

Using the elements of music (rhythm, melody, harmony, form, dynamics, tempo and style) students are introduced to a progression of musical concepts. 

Art

Through studies of artists, students explore artistic conventions to express visual ideas, learn art vocabulary, and develop their own artistic skills.

Media

Our activity-based media center helps our students learn to use print and digital resources to research and problem-solve.

PE and OT/PE

During OT/PE classes, students engage in a variety of activities that work on their gross motor skills, muscular strength, bilateral coordination, visual spatial language, and knowledge of games and activities. Throughout these games and activities, students are enriching their vocabularies and actively using visual spatial language.

Because all development in early childhood is interrelated, the physical development of Stepping Stones students is purposefully facilitated alongside all other developmental areas at each age level by teachers and specialists.  Children’s motor skills are strengthened through a variety of activities. Sensory bins, playdough, beads, table toys, and a variety of drawing utensils and tools are used intentionally and children are guided through learning games, like clapping and stomping during a rhyming activity. The playground is an extension of the classroom and provides opportunities to develop body awareness, strength, and coordination: swinging, balancing, running, skipping, climbing, galloping, jumping etc. Integrated into the Stepping Stones classroom, our occupational therapist is a key member of our multi-disciplinary teaching team and provides goal-directed experiences for children to develop visual spatial, fine motor, gross motor,  and sensory integration skills through fun games and thematic activities, including our Handwriting Without Tears program. Our enrichment teachers round out the fun during the P.E. and O.T./P.E. classes. 

The emotional understanding of self and others and the creation and expansion of social relationships is not only critical to learning, but a life-long skill. Stepping Stones children’s self-awareness, agency,  and engagement with others are intentionally supported throughout the school day with the best and most relevant resources, trusting interactions, and tools available. Throughout the safe routine of the school day, classroom teachers and specialists use teachable moments to model emotional language, set expectations for the classroom with students, facilitate social problem-solving scenarios, and provide tools and support self-regulation in children. Additionally, all Stepping Stones classrooms participate in weekly Sunshine Circles and social and emotional learning activities. This is an interactive play-based curriculum designed to teach social skills in the classroom setting. Skills such as empathy and perspective-taking, sharing and taking turns, body awareness and impulse control are taught through large and small group social play activities.