Berrybrook curriculum

The philosophy of the Berrybrook School is to provide an atmosphere where children can feel free to explore their environment and express themselves through play, thus fostering individuality, creativity, and independence. Each child is entitled to a safe, secure and cheerful environment. The program promotes the cognitive, social, emotional and physical development of all children.

Our carefully planned developmental curriculum ensures a well-balanced day with alternate periods of activity and quiet and indoor and outdoor experiences. Teachers organize the day with a reasonable routine, with enough flexibility to respond to the needs of individual children. A wide variety of equipment and materials provides children with opportunities to explore different mediums, develop skills, widen interests and knowledge, and to have fun. As the year progresses the material presented to each group offers greater challenges.

The teachers create interesting, age appropriate environments and develop their own themes to enhance learning. The daily program includes a variety of activities, with opportunity for children to have free choice to work alone or with peers. Also included are teacher-led activities, story time, music, snack, creative materials and dramatic play.

Academics are presented as they relate to the program. It is our objective to build interest in letters and numbers in reality-based situations. Throughout the day children will be presented with opportunities to read and count and are encouraged to remain challenged and absorbed as long as interest continues. Children are not pressured to participate. We strive to present a program that is challenging in a manner that will build confidence.

There are occasional excursions to places of special interest and frequent walks in fields and woods to encourage the children’s awareness of nature. Art, Literature and Music activities are in harmony with the cultural background of the children enrolled and cultural diversity is introduced through language, food and celebrations where appropriate. Holidays and Birthdays provide the opportunity for simple celebrations and are welcomed by the staff as a means of expanding the children’s awareness of a wide variety of customs.

In an attempt to create an environment that fosters self-discipline, we encourage children to be independent and responsible for their own behavior and to follow basic rules of safety and courtesy in the classroom. This allows the children to manage the behavior of the group with minimal teacher control. The staff of Berrybrook welcomes any suggestions from parents, and feels communication between parents and teachers is of primary importance.

The Berrybrook Curriculum Includes:

Age Appropriate Lessons

The curriculum includes activities that encourage the development of necessary skills. Social and emotion growth is considered as important as intellectual and physical growth. Our curriculum, through developmentally based activities, is designed to promote a well-managed classroom that encourages children to learn skills like how to ask for help or how to lend a helping hand. We practice solving problems with friends and encourage children to talk about feelings. We also include activities about other good habits such as playground safety, fire safety, good nutrition, hand washing, and staying healthy.

Student Interests

Other classroom activities are geared toward the particular group of students in a class that year. Different combinations of children present with a different group dynamic and different interests. Teachers design their curriculum by including topics of particular interest to their group.

Berrybrook Traditions

Berrybrook is a school rich in tradition. Over the past 50 years, the curriculum has reflected the wealth of natural and community resources available in our immediate environment to provide children with meaningful experiences. Many Berrybrook traditions are based on the natural world. Harvesting beach plums on the property to make jelly each September and tapping the maple trees each spring are examples of traditions enjoyed every year. While the traditions are important to our curriculum, they are subject to revisions that reflect the needs of the group as well as the talents and interests of the staff and parent population.

Daily Schedule

Our schedule proves a daily routine for children that satisfies their natural need for order and consistency. However, the schedule is only a guide and it remains flexible enough to meet the needs of individual children and to accommodate special activities and events.