We believe that a child’s preschool experience should be one in which the foundations are laid for a lifetime of learning through appropriate early childhood educational experiences. Children are best prepared for academic learning when they have had opportunities for rich experiences in hands-on learning.
These fleeting years of early childhood are a time when children benefit most from being offered a variety of ways in which to make abstract concepts their own, rather than focusing on drills and rote memorization. While children may be trained to name letters at a very early age, for example, this exercise holds little meaning for them. Their preschool time is better spent in activities that help them learn about the world, the people in it, and their relationship to it all.
At Co-op, we strive to give young children the skills and the confidence they need to be able to:
- Work well with others
- Respect themselves and others
- Approach learning with an attitude of involvement and active engagement
- Use their own initiative in exploring new learning situations
- Have a strong sense of their own worth and the valuable contributions that each individual brings to a group
- Make good choices for themselves
The Fayette Cooperating Preschool provides a positive first school experience for young children and offers a unique program that nurtures parents as well as children. The curriculum and facilities are carefully designed to meet the social, intellectual, emotional, and physical needs of children. Children learn though age-appropriate activities and interactions with adults and other children.
The foundation of the Co-op program is direct involvement of the parents in all aspects of the school. In addition to a qualified teacher and a teacher’s aide, up to three parents work each day in the classroom. Training opportunities and/or parent education programs are sponsored by the school each year for parents to learn about working with groups of children, as well as to gain insight into the development of their own children. Positive approaches and constructive choices are integral parts of the philosophy of the school.
Benefits of Co-op Education
- Education that supports lifelong learning
- Involvement with your child, his or her playmates, and the teacher
- Supportive Relationships for you and your child with other families who share similar goals for their child’s education
- Opportunities for growth and understanding as a parent
- Acceptance of the individual needs and strengths of each child and parent
Visiting Co-op
Visiting the classroom is an excellent way to see the hands-on, creative environment that is available to children. Parents are welcome at any time. Please call to schedule a tour; we strongly encourage you to plan your visit so that you can experience a major portion of the day. Your child is welcome to visit with you. During your observation time, you will notice a definite structure to the day. Within that structure you will see children initiating learning situations, both cognitive and social, that meet their individual needs. They will be working on resolving conflicts, expressing ideas and feelings, and managing their time. They are supported in this important work by caring adults who will use many types of approaches with individual children. These approaches will include positive redirection, reminders, encouragement, and opportunities to gain self-control. Many different learning styles are accommodated within the classroom, and creative thinking is encouraged.
Play is the important work of children. Through play, children express and work through their feelings and concerns as well as learn to accommodate new ideas.
Please feel free to ask questions while you are visiting and to call with any concerns or ideas that you have. Registration papers will be sent to you upon your request.
Parent Commitment
One of the great strengths of our school is the level of parent involvement. In addition to the opportunities for classroom work experience, parents also have other areas of responsibility. Parent educational opportunities are available through the school. These programs are an excellent way to receive support for your parenting and training for your classroom work days. There are also regularly scheduled clean-up days and a monthly task list that help in the maintenance of facilities.
All participating adults are screened for records of crimes against children.