About Stepping Stones
Stepping Stones is a unique Reggio Emilia-inspired, play-based preschool in the heart of Burlington’s South End. We work together with children to explore science, literacy, and mathematical skills, and to create a strong social-emotional toolbox. Our team of dedicated early childhood professionals provides full-time care and education in an environment that encourages exploration and problem-solving through play and authentic learning experiences.
The 7 Main Ideas of the Reggio Emilia Approach
Relationships
Collaborative relationships between children, teachers, and parents are central to this approach. Children are viewed as competent, collaborative researchers.
Environment
The attention to a beautiful, well-ordered, prepared environment with beautiful materials that match the child's interests is so critical, that the environment is viewed as a third teacher.
Observation
Time and space for teachers to step back and observe the children in their learning and work are critical to the next two elements*...
Emergent Cirriculum
This is a bottom-up approach where the ideas and inspiration for themes and projects flow from the interest(s) of the child/children up to the teacher as opposed to the teacher deciding on the theme. The teacher takes these ideas and interests and creates opportunities for thinking and learning around them. Projects may last a day, a week, or months.
Documentation
Photos, samples of work, words of the children, reflections of the teacher are compiled into displays to make the learning visible.
Expressing Learning
In Reggio, they call this the 100 Languages. Howard Gardner might call it Multiple Intelligences. The idea is that children can express the same learning using multiple mediums – paint, clay, story, dance, song, etc.
Ties to the Community
The children are seen as important and vital members of their community. They are always out in it talking to community workers and neighbors, making contributions in their own ways. And they are always welcome.
Non-Profit Transition
Our Founders, The Ploofs, owned and operated Stepping Stones Children's Center for 35 years creating this magical play-based preschool in the heart of Burlington’s South End. As they neared retirement, a group of motivated and dedicated parents jumped in and spent the better part of two years working to find a way to keep the legacy of Stepping Stones alive (and keep the doors open)! Over the course of the last 2 years, we formed a board to incorporate, fundraised to purchase the program and the building, and obtained our 501(c)3 non-profit status with the intent to keep the school open for another 35 years! Our vision for the program is to become an affordable high quality child care center, through increasing access to families experiencing barriers, hiring and retaining high quality staff, and continuing to broaden and strengthen our relationship with the community. We are all all volunteer board comprised of current and former parents and looking to expand!
We envision Stepping Stones as a smart leader in small, locally-owned, community supported early childhood education. Our Board members are current or former parents, business leaders and neighbors who know, first hand, what a special and unique school Stepping Stones is and that it must remain a fixture in our community.
Ways to Connect ...
Phone: 802-860-1915
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