Maple Tree Teachers
The Oaks and Maple Trees Rooms have been separated since June 2020. They are enthusiastic, joyous spaces for the children who begin at age 3 until they leave for kindergarten. Maple Trees is the 3 year old room and Oak Trees is the room for 4 year olds. Each room has two full time Teachers and two part time Assistant Teachers. The staff use a variety of experiences for the children to explore independently, in small groups, and as a whole group. The rooms are divided into activity areas including block play, art, dramatic play, writing, manipulatives and math, library and listening, science and nature, and sensory exploration, Teachers create experiences in the activity areas to support self-help skills and foster independence, confidence, and cooperative play. The Trees go outside daily to either our outdoor classroom or on a walk in the community to places such as Crystal Lake, Newton Centre Playground, the Library, and the Post Office. Out-of-area field trips are taken seasonally to apple orchards, Nature Centers, playgrounds, and theater shows using public transportation and rented buses. The Teachers stay with their group for two years before the children leave for kindergarten
Tree Room Goals:
Instill in each child a feeling of independence and self-discipline by allowing choices within limits
Provide a joyous, enthusiastic, creative and accepting environment in which children work and play
Provide ample opportunities for the use of stimulating and age-appropriate fine motor skills
Provide small group times allowing children on the same developmental line to meet motor, social and cognitive objectives
Offer experiences for children to explore concepts in math and science
Provide ample opportunities to develop group motor skills that allow children to use their bodies in active ways, both indoors and outdoors
Use a variety of activities that encourage language and social interactions
Support children as they experiment with a variety of art materials, science, music, movement, dramatic play opportunities and manipulative activities
Develop self-help skills in order to foster independence and confidence in each child
Provide a variety of activities within a routine to encourage and support cooperative play
Continue to foster a love and enjoyment of literature by providing a print rich environment
Enrichment:
Music with Jammin With You (twice a month)
Ahead of the Game- creative movement (monthly)
Yoga (twice a month)
Dance (monthly)
Amazing Athletes
Mass Audubon/Audubon Ark
Newton Fire Department
Pediatric Dentist
Newton Safety Officer
Newton Public Librarian
Curious Creatures
Apple Picking
Brookline Puppet Showplace
Newton Community Farms
Longwood Muddy River Hikes
Boston Nature Center and Wildlife Sanctuary
Community Playground Trips
Contact us to learn more:
info@meetinghousechildcare.com