About Our School | Stepping Stones

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

We, a group of dedicated local parents, are working to transition Stepping Stones into a board-managed, 501(C)3 nonprofit. This evolution allows Stepping Stones to thrive and keep 20 precious childcare spaces open in our community. Given the endemic childcare crisis facing Vermont, these spaces are particularly crucial. Owning and operating the school as a nonprofit avails the school of tax advantages, grant opportunities and donation potential that will allow it to pay teachers more and charge parents less.

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.