Exploration & Learning Station Mission

The goal of our program is to implement best practices in early childhood education. We believe this to mean creating a climate that is safe, nurturing, and stimulating, where classroom activities are driven by children’s current abilities and interests. Our learning center provides a rich learning environment that encourages children’s natural curiosity and supports them to take risks that lead to new skill development and prepares them to be lifelong learners.  Our approach to learning focuses on facilitating student opportunities for hands-on exploration, recognizing that play is the work of children. In addition, our program also provides children with experiences that encourage them to interact with others, solve problems, and to work and learn cooperatively. Our classrooms are places where problems are posed and solutions generated, mistakes are made and valued as learning experiences. It is our belief that in order to maintain a quality program, it is crucial to approach education as a partnership. Our preschool partners include, but are not limited to, teachers, parents, students, support staff, and community members. Teachers, parents and children make decisions together about what is best for children. All of these factors together help children to view themselves as valued, contributing, and successful members of their school family, and community.