Our Value-Based Approach
At 82nd Street Academics, we provide children with positive preschool early learning experiences. There are many daycares and early learning choices, but 82nd Street Academics has three beliefs about child development which create a unique experience.
Delighted Children
Children learn when they love learning. Students at 82nd Street Academics start and end their day with happy tasks. The way to the head for all of us is through the heart. We want your child to experience the joy of learning. It may be the chance to share at a morning meeting, or a final time on the playground
Family Memories
Special moments like the 1st day of school, holiday customs, and celebrations together at school create permanent, positive memories for your family and your child. All of our classrooms are equipped with audio and video capabilities so parents can keep track of daily activities. You will also be invited to various class events during holidays to share happy moments and take pictures that you will treasure.
There are also monthly celebrations of the diversity of our community. Your child may learn about Hispanic Culture or Pchum Ben in September, or Women’s Day in March.
Personalized Teaching
To measure each domain and properly evaluate our students, we use a measurement system accredited by the Department of Education that includes the observation and evaluation of each student over a period of several months. Once we finalize our results, we can then offer students balanced sub-groups to improve areas where they need growth and to allow our teachers and fellow students to assist in this growth process.
Program Description:
This Early Learning Preschool is a private, tuition-based program open to children born between January 1, 2019 and September 1, 2020 (or any month following when the child turns 2 years old)
The class has a maximum capacity of 15 students. Preschool is led by a NYS Certified Teacher and two experienced teaching assistants, with sessions between 8:00am and 2:20pm.
The option of “Extended Day” is also available for children who require care until 6:30pm. Three-year-old students may attend Preschool two, three or five days a week. We have found that two-year-old students require a familiar daily schedule so the five-day option is available in Half Day or Full Day.
The Extended Day program is on a separate page.
Interested families are encouraged to contact us in the early spring before the school year begins for more information, as this program has limited capacity.
Program Day Options
School year: September – June
2 Days per week (Tuesday, Thursday)
3 Days per week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday)
5 Days per week (Monday to Friday), 176 sessions
Schedule
8:00 a.m. – 2:20 p.m. – Full Day.
8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Half Day Morning.
11:30am – 2:20pm – Half Day Afternoon.
Students will learn in the Early Learning Preschool:
Students develop academic skills and also areas such as social-emotional health, physical development, language and literacy development, and mathematical/cognitive reasoning. Our whole child approach is driven by teacher-developed, adaptive curriculum plans that incorporate multiple domains of learning and are monitored by our Early Learning Program Director. By utilizing multiple domains of learning, we individualize the teaching and experience of each child.
Social-emotional health: This area includes developing self-awareness, becoming more independent, taking more personal responsibility in the school setting, and showing empathy for others. These skills are vital for a successful future in life.
Physical Development: Children improve their gross motor skills (use larger muscle groups) and fine motor skills (hand muscle control). We want children to learn the importance of physical activity from an early age. The Learning Park playground is a popular method of learning!
Language and Literacy Development: Young children have rapidly developing listening and speaking skills. Daily activities in our program help children express their thoughts and understand others. Activities also include letter recognition and the development of phonemic awareness and phonological skills necessary for emerging readers.
Mathematical and cognitive reasoning: This area includes logical cognitive skills such as comparison, reasoning, measurement and pattern recognition, as well as learning numbers. We teach problem-solving skills so that children become active learners. Through play, children learn to use symbols, developing their ability to understand abstract ideas.
We incorporate these learning domains during each daily activity. Children explore their individual interests in classrooms, which include blocks, dramatic play, manipulative toys, sand and water, and art. They will also engage in group activities such as gross motor time, reading aloud, outdoor science exploration, cooking, singing, and daily discussions. We emphasize physical activity.
Children have active play opportunities throughout the day in the Learning Park or indoors in the classroom. In our Early Learning Preschool our schedule allows you to give children time to be independent by playing alone, to make friends by working in small groups, and to build community in the classroom through group activities.
Required Documents:Student Medical Form, Income Eligibility Form
Sample Schedule
8:00am – 8:10am Arrival
8:10am – 8:20am Morning Meeting
8:25am – 8:40am Breakfast/Snack
8:40am – 8:50 am Mini-Lesson
8:50 am – 9:35 am Centers
9:45 am – 10:15 am Playground
10:20 am – 10:30 am Read Aloud
10:30 am – 10:45 am Music and Movement
11:00 am – Dismissal