PROJECTS
Our teachers love working with the project method. These are interdisciplinary classes planned for about two weeks. We start them by creating a network of concepts, i.e. issues and questions that come to children’s minds in connection with the proposed topic. During the project, we answer all questions, expand knowledge in the field by means of trips, experiments, sensory activities and meetings with interesting guests. At the end, the children present the effects of their own research. They may present a poster, bring a prop, or share their knowledge with their friends.
SENSORY AND EXPERIENCE
The development of a preschooler’s mind happens in many areas at the same time, including speech, motor coordination, sensory cognition, auditory and visual processing. We organize daily activities in such a way that acquiring new skills and knowledge engages all senses. If we learn the names of colors, we have paints, crayons, pastels, colorful balls, pompoms, fruit, dyed pasta, rice and everything that our imagination suggests. If we learn about birds, we set up a trip to the nesting places with an ornithologist, have live owls to the preschool and watch a short nature film. All these give children the opportunity to feel and remember new experiences and information in the best and most effective way for their developmental stage.
READING & WRITING
To teach literacy, we use the method of prof. Jagoda Cieszyńska (simultaneous-sequential method of reading and writing preparation). We start with three-year-olds. At this stage, they learn some simple syllables, often onomatopoeic, like animal sounds. With each passing year, children learn more different syllables, combine them into words, short expressions, until in kindergarten they achieve the ability to read simple texts.
While teaching to write, we focus on the maximum development of manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination. Children have free access to paper, plastic masses, writing tools, fabrics, and in older groups also to scissors and sewing accessories. We exercise not only the hands, but also the entire shoulder girdle. We also work with a hand therapist. To ensure that a child going to school is ready for cursive writing, we train letter-like patterns in three-line notebooks in kindergarten.
LITTLE NATURALISTS
Nature, animals, plants, natural phenomena and weather are what fascinates all children. We want children’s curiosity about the world to be fueled, so that in time it turns into passions and a desire to live in harmony with nature and with themselves. Children in our preschool can experiment, observe and experience the world around them. We regularly visit the surrounding forests, parks, areas on the banks of the Vistula, florists, the Warsaw Zoo and agritourism farms. Our educational classes are also full of real nature, geography, chemistry and physics presented in an enjoyable way.
MATH
All our teachers are trained in the Children’s Mathematics curriculum by Prof. Edyta Gruszczyk-Kolczyńska, but it is only one of the many methods we use. We use Montessori tools, the Math Windmill, coding, and many others. We are looking for opportunities to observe mathematical phenomena and to practice children’s activities to show them that math is everywhere around us, and that it can be useful and fun. We do not limit ourselves to the framework set by the core curriculum, we see that some children want to know more and are even ready to learn fractions or the multiplication table.
GROSS MOTOR
Thanks to movement, child learn about the world around them; it enriches their experiences, shapes memory and attention, and develops independence. In addition to many opportunities for spontaneous physical activity during the day and for physical games with teachers, we also provide children with activities organized by specialists. Weekly corrective gymnastics is conducted by an experienced paediatric physiotherapist, and dance classes by a titled dance instructor. In the afternoon, children can take part in optional judo or multisport training. In addition, every day we use the playground, where you can go crazy on ladders, slides and other field equipment.
MORNING CLASSES
In the morning, we carry out lessons that contribute to a comprehensive development. In addition to educational classes conducted by Polish- and English-speaking teachers in the field of math, science, reading, writing, arts and crafts and sport activities, we also offer music, gymnastics, dance classes and speech therapy.
ADDITIONAL AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES
Parents have an option to enroll their children in additional afternoon classes. They are usually organized between 3:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. and their monthly cost ranges from PLN 150 to 210 per month.
Our offer currently includes: judo, ceramics, multisport, acrobatics, and robotics.
SPECIAL VISITS
Several times a month, our preschoolers host interesting guests. Sometimes they are artists presenting costumes, songs and folklore dances, sometimes children’s theaters, and yet another day live animals. We invite creators, specialists, representatives of various professions and artists who want to tell us about their passions and show us new, interesting things.
NVC
Our employees regularly train in the field of Nonviolent Communication and Positive Discipline philosophies. We know that the language we use shapes our children’s experiences. For us, a child is a person as important as an adult. Although they have less experience and knowledge, they should be treated with respect and empathy.
FIELD TRIP AND EXCURSIONS
For our preschoolers, it is an opportunity to have great fun and learn at the same time. We usually organize them once a month. We visit forests, parks, museums, theaters and cinemas. We watch shows and take part in guided tours. Since 2018, we have been cooperating with the Sobora Limo Service http://www.przewozosob.waw.pl/ transport company, which provides safe and comfortable rides for preschool children. “Older children sometimes use public transport, which teaches them their independence and responsibility.
The costs of tickets and travel are covered by parents.
CLOSE TO THE FAMILY
We want children to feel that their home and preschool are close to each other. We organize Christmas meetings, performances for grandparents, Easter fairs and family days.
At the beginning of summer, we invite the parents and siblings of our preschoolers to holiday picnics in the park, and on one of the Sundays in September, an annual integration picnic takes place outside Warsaw.