Structure, which is important, is provided by assigning similar-age children to a primary teacher for morning group time and each child has Orff with that same group every day. During the free choice times, each child has the freedom to play and learn with the children who are not in their group, as well as with other teachers at the school, in any of our carefully planned environments, inside or outside. This mixed age curriculum offers daily exposure to older and younger children, teaching everyone valuable social lessons they might miss in a traditional setting. Mixing ages creates a family atmosphere, allowing older children to develop leadership abilities, more experienced students to serve as sources of know-how and models of persistence and patience. The older children encourage the younger children to gain confidence by participating in activities that are more complex than ones they might be exposed to if they were only in a class with children of the same age.
Social development is essential for success in school and in life.
Social lessons come through children's interactions. Teachers support children in expressing themselves and reaching solutions together. Staff works diligently to help children communicate and gain respect for one another. By building with blocks and pouring sand, children learn mathematical concepts, by talking with each other they are learning language skills which will translate into reading. In this manner, we help children understand that the spoken word can be written down and that print contains meaning.