Innovation
Young children are naturally curious. They wonder what things are called, how they work, and why things happen. The foundations of our Innovation pillar lie in inquiry and exploration – – these are the tools of active learning. Fostering you child’s sense of curiosity about the natural world around them can promote a lifelong interest in it.
Mathematics
The Rothewood Mathematics Program teaches your child a variety of math concepts such as how to quantify numbers, using them for addition, subtraction, division, and, in the higher classes, multiplication. Other tools used to teach math to the children are time, age, addresses, phone numbers, cooking and measurement. Through fun activities and exploration our students will grasp an important skill that they will take with them into their Elementary years.
STEM
STEM is a way of thinking about how educators at all levels—including parents—should be helping students integrate knowledge across disciplines, encouraging them to think in a more connected and holistic way. At Rothewood we also blend math and science to make learning interdisciplinary using a STEM approach. The learning becomes more relevant when our students go outside to explore nature. By asking the right questions, our Teachers can help stimulate investigations where students are identifying objects, making comparisons, making predictions, testing ideas, and sharing discoveries, all while observing their natural environment. Students can also explore sizes, shapes, patterns, and quantities in the process. In this way, children can learn concepts from different disciplines in different contexts, all in ways that are naturally engaging to them.
Outdoor Nature Program
Research has shown that a child’s sense of creativity, confidence, independence and tolerance thrives naturally in an outdoor setting. Free, non-associated play differs from what children do indoors. This type of free play has been found to develop children’s motor skills and allows them to make decisions and solve problems, thanks to the more variable and less-structured outdoor environment.
We provide our students with an opportunity to connect to the natural environment in a safe and enjoyable way. We view children as imaginative, resourceful, and inquisitive beings who are most comfortable in a natural setting. Students are encouraged to engage in activities that interest them, while our educators act as facilitators in the natural learning process.
Loose Parts
Loose Parts are a collection of everyday items that are made available for children to engage in rich, meaningful and creative open-ended interactions. We have found that by incorporating such diverse materials, the children use their imaginations to challenge themselves and each other, to learn to ask questions and to problem solve. Children learn to collaborate, negotiate, analyze and test out their theories and to ponder the magical question, “what if…?” These materials are multipurposed and can be moved, combined, and used in a multitude of different ways, ensuring that the child’s creativity and imagination are supported and encouraged!
