Preschool and Play-based Learning

Morgan Academy’s Preschool is a bright, joyful learning space that promotes discovery, encourages natural curiosity, and stimulates the lively imaginations of young children in a healthy, safe, and nurturing environment. Our practice uses guided play and other research-driven instructional techniques appropriate for early childhood. These prompt children’s active reflection, deeper learning, and sense of resilience.

Our spacious preschool classroom adheres to design principles that form a physical flow between unique and comfortable studio learning zones—sparking creativity and complementing key early childhood educational needs, like varied activity and tactile experience. The adjacent playground is structured for safe, energetic physical activities and exercise, as well as learning in nature, fundamental to MA’s instructional philosophy.

The Morgan Academy preschool program offers children age three to five experiences for true and creative play. The unique space in which the class meets allows areas for both large and small motor development. Art, music, creative movement, story time, and free choice time are part of daily activities.

Goals of Morgan Academy Preschool

To create an environment that feels safe and secure.
To “awaken” your child’s spirit and imagination.
To show the children the natural beauty in the world and to appreciate it.
To plant the foundation for developing early essential literacy skills.
To allow the children many play experiences through art, music, and movement.
To foster the children’s natural urge for independence.

Philosophy

The preschool program is eclectic, which allows children to grow in independence, develop a strong sense of self, and use creativity in working and learning with others. The school environment instills a love for learning and is a place where children can explore and learn at their own pace. Many opportunities are provided for individual and group problem solving.

The preschool is organized around learning centers in a hands-on and child-directed environment, which fosters a physically safe and emotionally secure setting that encourages the development of the “whole child.” Children learn best when provided with an opportunity to freely explore their environment. A loving, positive environment within a small school “family” creates a sense of belonging. While children go through specific stages of development, each child grows and learns at his or her own pace.

Children are invited to explore, discover, and create while the teacher interacts with students individually or in small groups. The curriculum includes language experiences, creative artwork, structured and unstructured play, sand and water play, cooking projects, creative movement, and in-depth science exploration. Meaningful experiences are provided for children to learn about themselves, their families, other cultures, and their communities. A theme-based approach (see “M” week for an example) incorporates all areas of the curriculum, including circle time, music and movement, language arts, math, science, and dramatic play.

Multi-Age Classrooms

Morgan Academy believes that children benefit from being in a mixed-age classroom. Mixed-age groups resemble families. Just like families, children support and take care of one another. Mixed age groups of three, four, and five-year-olds spend their time caring, sharing, helping, working, and playing cooperatively. In addition, multi-age classrooms group children that are in similar stages of development, rather than by age, to stimulate learning.

The curriculum is designed to engage children in planning and working in learning centers. Children are active learners, choosing and working with materials according to their own interests and abilities. All children progress through the same developmental stages but not at the same rate. Mixed-age groups give each child a place to be equal, a leader, and a teacher.

Curriculum

Outside Play– Children need time each day to exercise and enhance their large motor and social skills during outside play. Children engage in physical and imaginative play, while exploring a variety of equipment that promotes a healthy, physical body by developing flexibility, endurance, and strength.
Circle Time– Includes a variety of activities: songs, discussions, sharing, music and movement, puppetry, games, poems, finger plays, and concepts (colors, letters, numbers, calendar, shapes, and more). Children learn to participate in discussions, increase their attention span and patience, develop listening skills, and explore sound and experience enjoyment through singing, listening and moving to music.
Learning Centers– Offer hands-on experiences that allow children to expand and develop cognitive, social, and fine and gross motor skills. Centers include practical life, language arts, sensory, math, science, social studies, library, art, music, dramatic play, and block play. Children are given the opportunity to choose activities to explore and experiment with from a wide variety of activities and materials.
Clean Up/Snack– Children learn to wash hands and get ready for snack time. They learn table manners such as please, thank you, and you’re welcome. This is a social time where children visit with each other and the teacher.

PRESCHOOL SESSIONS

Monday through Friday
8:45 am – 12:30 pm
Tuition: $550 per month

Monday, Wednesday, Friday
8:45 am – 12:30 pm
Tuition: $330 per month

Tuesday and Thursday

8:45 am – 12:30 pm
Tuition: $220 per month

A $250 Registration Fee is required at the time of enrollment to secure a place for your child. The first month’s tuition is due 9/1/2019.

Click here to receive more information.

To arrange a visit contact:
Bernardine Somers, Director
Morgan Academy
3988 Kearneysville Pike
Shepherdstown WV 25443
304-876-2004
[email protected]

About the Teacher Melanie Zajicek is originally from the suburbs of Chicago, IL. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with an emphasis on Early Childhood. Melanie has spent the last 16 years as a preschool teacher, a nanny, and a mother. For ten years, Melanie owned and operated Child’s Play, Inc., a developmental early education program for children. Melanie believes that each child is unique and strives to meet the individual needs of each child. Melanie has taught history at Morgan Academy for the last two years. She looks forward to teaching preschool and continuing to share her love of history with the elementary and middle school students.

A Typical Morning at Morgan Academy Preschool

For Example, this is “M” Week…

Arrival/ Free Choice Time:

Children arrive and make choices where to play and learn during our free choice activity time. Examples for “M” week may include:

Counting, weighing and sorting large and small Marshmallows.

Examples of types of Machines are introduced i.e., pulleys, lever, inclined plane

The smell of Mint is introduced through mint scented play-dough.

Tubes with Marbles are available to explore.

At the end of free choice time, children will learn responsibility as they help participate in cleaning and organizing their space.

Snack Time:

Children share snack time where social and conversational skills are emphasized.

For “M” week, children assist in measuring and mixing the ingredients as we Mash potatoes.

Story Time/Group Time:

Children gather together as a group to enjoy an interactive story. Books and stories will be used to introduce and reinforce new learning and concepts. Children also develop listening and speaking skills, and use language to share ideas and personal experiences.

For “M” week, the concept of “Manners” will be talked about. What are manners? Children brainstorm “manner” words together as we compile their words onto a giant group list.

Read Goodnight Moon and Eric Carle’s Papa Please Get the Moon for Me.

Project for parents and child: Observe the moon at night with parents and draw the shape of the moon you see.

Art:

All art experiences are “open-ended” and use “real” materials.

Literacy skills are developed by looking at art and encouraging conversations about it.

For “M” week: Children learn that Monet painted with short strokes and dabbles and splashes of pretty colors. Children are shown how to paint by dabbing and smooshing paint like Monet to create their own painting experience.

For “M” week, children learn that Michelangelo painted while lying on his back. Children experience painting while lying on their backs and painting under a table (ceiling), just like Michelangelo did.

Music/Movement:

Children will be encouraged to make their own music and rhythms.

Small-muscle movements are practiced through finger plays, hand motions, and rhythm instruments.

Language skills will be developed while children communicate through rhythm and rhyme, make up lyrics, and match tunes and rhythms to words

Movement and dancing is encouraged through the use of equipment such as, hoops, tunnels, riding toys, balls, scarves, ribbons.

For “M” week children will be introduced to different types of Music, such as, Mozart.

For “M” week, Children use Maracas as we learn a new song.

For “M” week, Talk about Moving and all the different ways we can move our bodies.

For “M” week, children Make-Believe they are Monarch Butterflies and fly through the air with dancing scarves.

Preschool and Play-based Learning

A Typical Morning at Morgan Academy Preschool

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