The Essence of Childhood

Inside, Outside and Beyond

Room to Grow Preschool is a place where children are encouraged to play, explore, and create freely both inside and outside.

Like the Children's Schools in Reggio Emilia, Italy we view our classroom (indoor and outdoor) environments as the '3rd teacher'. Spaces are arranged to provoke curiosity, encourage exploration, discovery, and problem solving and to support creativity. Room to Grow is also influenced by the Nature Pedagogy of Dr. Claire Warden, which focuses on the importance of nature and the natural environment to the learning process.

“It’s about giving children an opportunity to learn in and with the natural world; inside the school, outside the classroom and into the wild beyond. ”

— Claire Warden

Inside, Outside and Beyond … A Glimpse into Everyday at Room to Grow

Inside: Large Group Time

Inside: Painting in the Art Studio

Inside: Art Studio

Inside: Block Area

Inside: RTG resident Snakey

Inside: Dramatic Play Area

Inside: Light/Shadow Exploration

Inside: Science Area

Inside: Math Manipulatives

Inside: Writing Area

Inside: Literacy/Story Play

Inside: Small World Play

Inside: Maker Station

Inside: Playdough Table

Inside: Clay (Playdough) Table

Outside: Playing A Matching Game

Outside: Making Chalk Paint

Outside: Workshop

Outside: Cooking Mushrooms

Outside: Water Tables

Outside: Gardening

Outside: Reading

Outside: Painting

Outside: Sand

Outside: Music + Performance

Outside: Ball Run

Outside: House Area

Outside: Tricycles

Outside: Block Deck

Outside: Sand Kitchen

Outside: RTG Resident Flapper (the Chicken)

Outside: Creek

Outside: RTG Visitors Waylan (baby goat) + Squire (dog)

Outside: Workshop

Outside: Raising Silkworm

Outside: Math Manipulatives

Beyond: Room to Grow @ Sycamore Grove

Beyond: RTG @ Sycamore Grove

Beyond: Neighborhood Walk

Beyond: Field Trip Downtown Livemore

Beyond: Field Trip Kwanderosa Farms

Beyond: Bus Ride

Emergent Curriculum

Curriculum at Room to Grow emerges from the interests and activities of the children. Teachers and parents watch and listen carefully as the children work and play with the many open-ended materials and activities available to them. Extended explorations and often in-depth projects are planned to follow up on and extend an idea or answer a question.

Parent Participation + Education

Room to Grow is a diverse community of children, families, and staff. Parents may participate regularly in the classroom sharing their ideas, knowledge and skills to advance the children's understandings. As a community we meet to enjoy each other's company and to celebrate the children's many wonderful accomplishments. Our school year is punctuated with family events; an ice cream social in the fall, soup supper in the winter and an end of the year celebration. We also host parent education nights in the spring to talk about early childhood development and learning as well as public school readiness.