Play is central to our preschool curriculum.  Early play experiences become the foundation for all academic learning.  Through play young children begin to construct a basic understanding of the world.  They learn how to solve problems, make choices, communicate, and generally navigate in the world around them.

Our classrooms provide children with a variety of learning experiences.  Some of these experiences are structured, while others are creative and open ended.  In some, children are encouraged to work independently, while in others they are guided by a teacher.  The physical layout of our rooms includes a variety of play centers at which the children can explore, experiment, invent and create, all while developing basic skills and concepts.  Throughout the classrooms, materials invite playful exploration and make use of multiple pathways for learning (hearing, seeing, touching, smelling, tasting, etc.).

Learning for preschoolers is about process.  In developing understanding and knowledge, young children need to repeat an activity over and over.  Our program allows children to explore and process and master activities at their own pace.

With oral language developing rapidly, early literacy is supported in our program through continual opportunities for language development, both speaking and listening.  Daily language-based activities include: play time with other children, games, songs, stories read aloud and conversations where teachers deliberately model spoken language.

Preschool students make use of our school library through weekly visits for storytime, and are encouraged to borrow books to take home.  Additionally, through informal excursions to the library, small groups of children and teachers use library resources to research information to use in classroom projects.

Early mathematical experiences are introduced through daily exposure to a variety of materials that can be held and manipulated, such as unit blocks and objects to sort and count.

Our curriculum is supported by daily routines that allow children to gradually develop self-sufficiency with basic, practical life skills such as dressing, toileting, simple food preparation, cleaning up after oneself, etc.

Socially, young children are learning how to share, solve conflicts and deal with disappointments.  They are developing coping skills for their journey to independence.  To support this development, our day includes many opportunities for activities which foster interaction with others, including All-School Meetings.

All-School Meetings take place each Monday morning at 8:30.  All Breakwater students and staff gather in the Jessie Auditorium for a 15 minute community gathering.  We welcome parent attendance at this weekly event.

Everything we do in Preschool is designed to support and celebrate the learning process of our young charges.  Throughout the school year we send home a newsletter twice each month.  Each newsletter addresses curriculum the children are currently involved with, along with information for parents about the skills children are practicing through their activities.