Our Classroom

IMAGINATION STATION OFFERS THE FOLLOWING:

• Quality & appropriate education for your preschool/pre-k child.
• Small, intimate, State Certified Home-based Facility
• Extended Care hours
• Full/Part time
• Summer Program
• USDA meals and snacks provided
• Ages 2-6, with potty training for the younger children
• Highly qualified teacher with a BS in Early Childhood Education
• Low child to teacher ratio
• Competitive Rates

At Imagination Station Preschool & Learning Center, I believe that we take a unique approach to early childhood education.  While it is indeed important for your child to know their ABC's and 1 2 3's, I believe firmly that it is more important at this stage of a child's development to teach them social, emotional, and life skills.  All of this learning takes place best in a "play" centered environment, where children are allowed to learn from and through their everyday play.  This includes both play with their peers, as well as with the adults that they look up to. 

I spend a large portion of our day "playing" with my students.  We play house in the dramatic play area; we build extravagent structures with blocks and the marble race; we race Hotwheels; we dress and pretend with dolls; we build with our Craftsman workbench; we dress up; we play outside in the sand and on the swings and slide; we help make and serve meals; we work together to clean up; we dance and sing; we read stories and make up stories.  I also do a daily circle time and scheduled "activity" based on our weekly themes, however our entire day is full of learning through everything we do.  I use our play and activity time to ask questions, encourage deep thinking, model and encourage teamwork and cooperation, mentor new ways of working through conflict, and also to just sit back and observe my students in action with one another.  Observation is key for me as it allows me to make changes in my curriculum and school environment to provide the best I can for your child's individual development and growth.  I use the "Creative Curriculum" model for developing my school curriculum and enviroment.  (Please feel free to check it out through the external links on the home page.)

While I also teach letters, numbers, colors, etc., (the more academic things that parents want their children to know) as they are indeed important, I do not use worksheets to teach.  I will have worksheets available for children to work on, but only if they choose to learn that way.  I provide options, and allow the child to learn with whatever option they prefer; that way they are learning because they want to, not because I/we want them too.  Trust me, the child learns more and retains more in this way! 

I could go on and on about my teaching philosophies, but really I would encourage you to come check out my school and I can then further answer any questions you may have.  I do not, and will not, say that the way I teach is the best and only way to teach young children, but I believe in what I do and how I do it, and I am truely passionate about the work that I do!