Programs
A classroom for every stage.
Infant Program
1:3
teacher-to-child ratio
max 9 children
Toddler Program
1:4
teacher-to-child ratio
max 12 children
Preschool Program
1:7
teacher-to-child ratio
max 14 children
Pre-K Program
1:8
teacher-to-child ratio
max 16 children
Infant Program
Every infant has one primary caregiver who knows their cues, their rhythms, and their family.
Our infant classroom is the most intimate space in the building. We follow a primary-caregiver model, which means your baby is assigned one lead teacher who learns their feeding preferences, sleep rhythms, and communication signals deeply. You and that teacher become partners in the fullest sense of the word.
- Written daily logs covering feeds, naps, diapers, and mood
- Family-led feeding schedule followed exactly as requested
- Tummy time, sensory baskets, and age-appropriate play every day
- Monthly developmental milestone check-ins with parents
- RIE-informed approach that respects each baby as a capable person
Curriculum highlights
Sample daily schedule
- 6:30 - 8:00Arrival and morning greetings, bottle or nursing as needed
- 8:00 - 9:30Tummy time, sensory exploration, and one-on-one floor play
- 9:30 - 11:00Morning nap (individualized)
- 11:00 - 12:00Lunch feeds, diaper care, outdoor fresh-air time in strollers
- 12:00 - 2:30Midday nap (individualized schedules honored)
- 2:30 - 4:00Wake-up, afternoon feeds, reading aloud, soft music, sensory play
- 4:00 - 6:00Quiet play, family pickup, evening feeds as needed
Toddler Program
Toddlers are scientists. We give them the lab.
The toddler classroom is energetic, joyful, and intentionally set up to say yes. Low shelves, open-ended materials, and an outdoor space that we visit twice a day invite big curiosity and physical development. Language explosion is the developmental hallmark of this age, so our teachers narrate everything, sing constantly, and read aloud as much as possible.
- Language-rich environment with songs, stories, and real conversation
- Sensory bins and water play changed weekly to spark fresh curiosity
- Outdoor time twice daily in all but the most extreme weather
- Consistent daily rhythm so toddlers feel safe and secure
- Gentle introduction to community: taking turns, helping clean up
Curriculum highlights
Sample daily schedule
- 6:30 - 8:00Arrival, morning free choice, breakfast at the table
- 8:00 - 9:00Morning meeting, songs, calendar, and movement
- 9:00 - 10:00Guided sensory activity or small-group art project
- 10:00 - 11:00Outdoor time on the playground
- 11:00 - 11:30Lunch, supported by teachers at the table
- 11:30 - 2:00Nap time (cots provided, favorite lovey welcome)
- 2:00 - 3:00Snack, books, and quiet table activities
- 3:00 - 4:00Second outdoor session or gross motor in gym
- 4:00 - 6:00Free choice play, family pickup
Preschool Program
Project-based learning where curiosity drives the curriculum.
Our preschool classroom is built on Reggio Emilia principles: children's interests guide long-form inquiry projects, the classroom environment acts as the 'third teacher,' and documentation of learning is visible everywhere. You will see children's sketches, dictated observations, and collaborative art hanging on the walls at their eye level.
- Long-form project work lasting two to six weeks, driven by class interests
- Reading and writing readiness woven into authentic daily activities
- Early math through patterns, sorting, measuring, and cooking projects
- Social-emotional coaching using the Zones of Regulation framework
- Weekly STEAM stations with open-ended materials
Curriculum highlights
Sample daily schedule
- 6:30 - 8:30Arrival and open studio: drawing, building, reading
- 8:30 - 9:00Morning meeting: calendar, weather, class intentions
- 9:00 - 10:30Project work, small-group literacy or math exploration
- 10:30 - 11:15Outdoor time on the nature playground
- 11:15 - 12:00Lunch and conversation at the table
- 12:00 - 2:00Rest time (quiet books for non-nappers after 20 minutes)
- 2:00 - 2:30Afternoon snack and read-aloud
- 2:30 - 4:00STEAM station rotations, art studio, or garden work
- 4:00 - 6:00Free choice, outdoor when weather allows, family pickup
Pre-K Program
Kindergarten readiness built on confidence, not compliance.
Pre-K at Little Acorns is the final chapter of early childhood before the formal school years begin. We take readiness seriously without reducing children to checklists. Our Pre-K graduates enter kindergarten knowing how to persist through difficulty, ask for help, collaborate with peers, and approach new challenges with curiosity. The academics follow naturally from that foundation.
- Structured literacy block with phonics, sight words, and interactive writing
- Math workshop including number operations, geometry, and data collection
- Executive function activities: planning, self-monitoring, flexible thinking
- Kindergarten visits and transition preparation in spring semester
- Individual portfolios documenting growth shared at family conferences twice yearly
Curriculum highlights
Sample daily schedule
- 6:30 - 8:30Arrival and morning work: journals, puzzles, building
- 8:30 - 9:15Morning meeting, shared reading, class jobs
- 9:15 - 10:30Literacy workshop: phonics, guided reading, writing
- 10:30 - 11:15Outdoor learning and gross motor exploration
- 11:15 - 12:00Lunch and social conversation
- 12:00 - 1:00Math workshop and STEAM investigation
- 1:00 - 2:00Rest and quiet choice activities
- 2:00 - 3:30Project-based unit work, science lab, or art studio
- 3:30 - 6:00Outdoor play, snack, family pickup
Not sure which program fits?
Come on a tour and let us help you figure it out. We've placed hundreds of children in the right room - sometimes it's not the one parents expect.
Book a guided tour