At The Cooperative School, we see children as innately creative and capable of great insight, learning, and expression.
Professionally trained teachers and informed, committed parents draw out children’s unique interests to support exploration and learning through visual arts, music, movement, and dramatic play.
The Cooperative School presents a distinctive, research-supported early childhood curriculum defined by time, space, and place.
There are four spaces for learning – the classroom, the project center, Imagination Station, and the outdoor play space.
Each area provides the focus for different types of learning experiences. Activities presented in the different spaces support literacy and language development, fine and gross motor development, as well as learning in the sciences, math, and social studies. More importantly, the environment and exploration afforded by each space support the social and emotional development in our vibrant community of children.
In this, the school closely mirrors the Reggio philosophy of early childhood education.
Projects and activities are revisited and elaborated upon based on children’s interests and needs.
By dividing the school into distinct areas of focused learning, we ensure that each child experiences fully all that the program offers.
Time and place allow the child to better explore and realize hidden talents and abilities, form friendships, strengthen skills, and enjoy the early childhood experiences unique to The Cooperative School.
Children move in either large or small groups focusing on specific experiences. Familiar activities like circle meeting, story time, fine and gross motor exploration, snack, and outdoor play occur every school day. Specials including movement, music, social dramatic play, and visual art are scheduled throughout the week.
The community we live in is also an important component of the program. Our place in the surrounding neighborhood as well as the cities of Takoma Park, Silver Spring, Washington, D.C., and, for the Tracks class, Baltimore, all serve as rich resources that sustain The Cooperative School and provide us with inspiration as well as destinations.
