How Learning Happens Here
Children are capable and curious
We respect each child as an active explorer with unique ideas and a natural drive to understand the world around them.
Inquiry grows into meaningful projects
Learning follows children's questions, blossoming into deep explorations that connect different concepts through hands-on discovery.
The Arts are at the heart of STEAM
Artistic expression helps children think, investigate, communicate, and solve problems, turning complex ideas into visible stories.
Active Learning Environments
The classroom, music and movement studio, garden, and natural world are active teachers, providing endless inspiration for curiosity and exploration.
Responsive Small-Group Staffing
We adjust educator support throughout the day based on the activity, attendance, and needs of the group. During focused learning, hands-on projects, small-group instruction, and activities requiring greater guidance, we typically provide approximately one educator for every three children.
During calmer portions of the day (such as rest, quiet choices, open-ended play, and some optional-care periods) the ratio may be up to six children per educator. This responsive approach allows us to provide enhanced 3:1 support when children benefit most from individualized guidance while maintaining attentive supervision and an intentionally small-group environment throughout the day.
Making Learning Visible
Teachers observe and document children’s thinking, questions, words, work, and growth. Families receive regular highlights and learning updates, with opportunities to discuss progress and goals together.
Building Community
Our community extends beyond the classroom. RDLC offers periodic family playgroups, parent education evenings, and special date night drop-offs that give parents a few hours to recharge while children enjoy a fun and familiar setting. While there are no extra fees for enrolled preschool families, space is limited, and advance sign-up is required.
A Whole-Child Curriculum
These shared areas of discovery are intentionally woven together through daily inquiry rather than taught in isolation.
Creativity & Imagination
Using a wide range of artistic media to express ideas and explore storytelling through dramatic play.
Language & Literacy
Developing phonemic awareness, vocabulary, and communication skills through rich conversation and read-alouds.
Early Math & Problem-Solving
Exploring numbers, patterns, and logic through purposeful play, hands-on tools, and engineering challenges.
Science & Outdoor Discovery
Investigating the natural world through observation, gardening, and hands-on experiments in our outdoor spaces.
Fine & Gross Motor Development
Nurturing physical confidence through active movement, yoga, and coordinated artistic work in the studio.
Social-Emotional Growth
Building a kind community through empathy, cooperation, and developing the confidence to communicate feelings.
What We Nurture
Curious Learner
Confident Communicator
Creative Thinker
Approaching new experiences with wonder and a desire to understand.
Expressing thoughts and stories through various creative languages and once a quarter presentations.
Making connections and finding unique solutions to challenges.
Growing Individual
Joyful & Compassionate Learner
Kind Friend
Developing independence and self-awareness in a supportive environment.
Finding celebration in process and discovery every day while expressing compassion for themselves and others in the process.
Treating others with empathy, respect, and collaborative spirit.
Signature Experiences
Story- and Play-Based STEAM Inquiry
Children step into imaginative stories, ask questions, test ideas, build, experiment, and revise. Play gives purpose to inquiry while helping complex ideas feel joyful and accessible.
Literacy Through Story
We build essential skills through phonemic awareness and daily read-alouds. Children develop a genuine love of books while exploring self-expression through projects and their once a quarter presentations.
The Studio & The Hundred Languages
Painting, drawing, clay, collage, construction, music, movement, storytelling, and dramatic play become tools for thinking, investigating, communicating, and solving problems.
Music, Movement & Mindful Moments
Weekly music, yoga, breathing, movement, and opportunities for both active play and quiet regulation help children build confidence and body awareness.
Garden, Nature & Animal Care
Outdoor discovery, seasonal gardening, and gentle experiences caring for and observing our animals nurture curiosity, responsibility, empathy, and wonder.
Cooking, Culture & Language
Age-appropriate cooking and food-based STEAM experiences invite measuring, observing, creating, and sharing. Children also enjoy joyful exposure—not immersion—to Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, and French through songs, stories, routines, traditions, and play.
A Flexible Daily Rhythm
Welcome & Exploration
Morning Gathering
Learning Centers, Studio & Projects
Outdoor Exploration
Stories, Music & Movement
Nutritious Lunch, Rest & Quiet Choices
Afternoon STEAM & Creative Exploration
This rhythm provides a dependable structure while remaining responsive. Activities may shift with children’s interests, current projects, the weather, special experiences, and the needs of the group. We also have breaks, recess and nutritious snacks throughout the day.
Kindergarten Readiness, Naturally Woven In
At RDLC, learning grows from children’s questions, stories, ideas, and discoveries. Our Reggio-inspired, Arts-centered STEAM program blends purposeful play, hands-on inquiry, creative expression, strong early literacy, outdoor exploration, and meaningful preparation for kindergarten.
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Kindergarten readiness develops throughout the day through early literacy and math, communication, independence, problem-solving, self-regulation, collaboration, and confidence. Children build these skills through meaningful play, projects, routines, and relationships. Observation-based check-ins and learning documentation help teachers understand each child’s growth and thoughtfully plan what comes next.
Visit us to learn more
Visit our studio and garden to experience curiosity, creativity, and community at RDLC. Schedule a personal tour to learn more about our small group dynamics and Arts-centered STEAM program.
