young children flourish with gentle guidance and the freedom to work at their own pace.
What We Offer
Four mixed-age classrooms on our Early Childhood Campus serve children from 2.7 to 5 years old. Our Early Childhood program is based on the premise that young children flourish with gentle guidance and the freedom to work at their own pace. Our classrooms follow the Montessori model and incorporate Reggio and other educational methods to stimulate independent and social learning activities.
We also offer a Transitional Kindergarten program for children, often on the cusp in terms of age or development, who would benefit from another year in our program before entering Kindergarten.
Classroom Configuration
Our Early Childhood Campus (ECC) features four multi-age classrooms, each led by one head teacher and two assistant teachers. Our early childhood faculty understand Montessori practices deeply. Reggio Emilia ideas, which encompass artistic expression, emergent interests, home/school connection, and documentation, further inform each day’s learning activities.
Each child plays the roles of teacher and learner, progressing socially, emotionally, and intellectually on a path to kindergarten readiness.
Program Hours
Our standard program hours are approximately 8:30 – 9am and 2:45 – 3:05pm, with each classroom having staggered arrival and dismissal times to keep classes stable. After-school care is available every day with a final pick up window of 5:30 – 5:45pm.
Our early childhood program operates on a school year schedule, from September until June. We offer camps and childcare during conferences, many school vacations and over the summer.
OUR CURRICULUM
Language
Children at this age learn approximately fifty words a day, not just through our language curriculum, but by being immersed in a rich environment that promotes personal stories, daily read alouds, sound games, alphabet stamps, social problem solving, and negotiation. Language lesson happen all day, everyday. Structured and spontaneous lessons build vocabulary, writing skills and beginning composition.
Science
Our beautiful outdoor learning environment allows children to explore nature and begin to compare and contrast living and non-living things. Initiated by the children’s curiosity, teachers follow their lead to develop curriculum that explains the wonders of nature and how they as individuals can interact with it to promote and preserve all living organisms.
Math
The Montessori curriculum provides many concrete manipulatives that build the foundation of a student’s understanding including number sense, geometry, and sequence. Basic operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division are routinely explored. More complex lessons involve discovery of odd and even numbers, number recognition through 1000, skip counting and visual comparisons of large and small numbers.
Art
As one of many languages that children explore, art at the ECC is always available and encouraged. Through drawing, painting, sculpture and architecture, children are provided many modalities to express themselves and their thinking. Teachers acknowledge student’s work and encourage further explorations by soliciting ideas to connect their art to other subject areas.
Cultural Studies
The Berkeley School introduces cultural studies by exposing children to land and water forms, as well as the continents and their individual characteristics. By using maps, puzzles and globes, children begin to see the connection between themselves and the larger world.
Music & Movement
Music and movement at the ECC provide a rich sensory experience for students. We believe that music enriches each child’s life in many positive ways. Each day, classroom teachers lead students in songs and rhythmic exercises to help the children be aware of a transition, to reinforce a conceptual understanding, to celebrate a special day, or just to have fun. Students also enjoy a special music class once a week from a trained teaching musician. They are exposed to a variety of percussion and string instruments to begin their understanding of pitch, tempo, rhythm, and melody.
students are engaged in activities that foster independence, self-confidence and self-control.
Knowing they can act and interact confidently with everyday materials moves each child toward independence.
Students have opportunities to play all day long in both structured and unstructured environments.
Play is actually a language where children learn how to…
Problem solve
build language skills
set boundaries
learn sequences
develop reltationships
appreciate consequences
increase attention span
have fun!!
The Berkeley School welcomes students of any race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, ability, and national or ethnic origin and accords them all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally made available to students at The Berkeley School. TBS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, ability, and national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, employment policies, scholarship programs, and athletic or other school administered programs.
Our Mission
Ignite Curious Minds
Awaken Generous Hearts
Engage a Changing World
K - 8 Campus
1310 University Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94702
(510) 665-8800
Early Childhood Campus
2030 Francisco Street
Berkeley, CA 94709
(510) 849-8340
Connect
The Berkeley School welcomes students of any race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, ability, and national or ethnic origin and accords them all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally made available to students at The Berkeley School. TBS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, ability, and national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, employment policies, scholarship programs, and athletic or other school administered programs.
Ignite Curious Minds
Awaken Generous Hearts
Engage a Changing World
K - 8 Campus
1310 University Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94702
(510) 665-8800
Early Childhood Campus
2030 Francisco Street
Berkeley, CA 94709
(510) 849-8340