The Gardner School has designed age and developmentally appropriate curriculums to encourage your little one’s physical, social, emotional, and intellectual growth. We provide our students with the tools they need to grow and thrive by building a strong foundation through a balance of play and learning. No matter the age, every program includes activities such as sensory play, physical activity, arts and crafts, and so much more. And, of course, we can’t get enough of our S.T.E.A.M. lessons! To give you a glimpse into what a day at The Gardner School is like for our students, we’re sharing a few elements of a typical school day for each age group.
Infants
Our infant students are welcomed to a day of cuddles and snuggles! Your baby will have a balance of rest and play, enjoying engaging activities, such as music, art, and sensory play. We learn American Sign Language skills daily to encourage your child’s nonverbal communication. And, for our physical development, we practice Itsy Bitsy Yoga and tummy time, helping your child work toward important milestones at their own pace. We follow a daily plan for each child that is unique to their eating, napping, and diaper change schedules. Finally, no day would be complete without story time!
Toddlers
A toddler’s day at The Gardner School is filled with play and problem-solving. We help toddlers develop their cognitive skills with developmentally appropriate puzzles, games, block-building, and creative art projects. Our students’ days are spent with friends, learning communication skills, and the importance of sharing. We also dedicate time for toddlers to explore our learning centers and engage in Itsy Bitsy Yoga and outdoor play. Every day is an opportunity for a new engaging experience for your toddler, and we balance that engagement with lots of rest during nap time, story time—and plenty of cuddles.
Twos
We help foster autonomy and self-confidence for our newly-independent two-year-old students. Our twos are entering into a new phase in their development, so we build upon our toddler program by focusing more heavily on gross motor skills and potty training. We teach two-year-olds to practice cleaning up after activities and other essential skills to encourage more independence at home. And, as The Gardner School’s two-year-old students learn through exploration, they also spend a great deal of time at our thematic learning centers.
Preschool
Preschoolers at The Gardner School enjoy the same consistent, engaging routine that our younger students do but with a focus on developing our skills further. They practice handwriting, have structured technology time, and learn about language and literacy. Preschoolers also participate in leadership opportunities within classroom roles and delve further into lessons in mathematics and scientific concepts. Like all of our student programs, our preschoolers never miss a chance to play!
Pre-K
Our Pre-K students continue to the next step of The Gardner School’s academically-focused program. They practice such skills as active listening, following directions, and recognizing sight words. The students delve further into technology, developing their tech skills with computer and iPad learning. Pre-K students also begin helping to prepare their KITE binders to go home with them each day. The Gardner School’s Pre-K program helps our students work toward their next goal—kindergarten readiness!
Kindergarten
Our private kindergarten students at select schools enjoy the learning and play elements of our other programs, with the addition of age-appropriate activities, such as community service projects and hands-on group learning activities. The Gardner School’s kindergarteners love our rotation of special visitors from the community, which helps them learn about different life skills concepts, community roles, and perspectives. Kindergarteners also focus more heavily on interdisciplinary lessons in S.T.E.A.M. learning, as well as letters, language, and phonics.
Experience a Few Moments of the Day at TGS for Yourself
Our goal is to partner with parents to help children succeed inside and outside of school. Contact us to learn more about our programs or to schedule a virtual tour at The Gardner School nearest you.