A Meaningful and Engaging Curriculum
To make learning meaningful and engaging, children at Amiguitos study a broad array of themes and delve into cross-curricular activities and projects. Teachers determine themes, and many are driven by the children’s interests, lives and outdoor discoveries. Project Based, Drama Based, Story based, Nature Based and Inquiry Based education are at the core of our pedagogy. We also use Montessori materials and integrate elements of the Reggio Emilia approach. These combined approaches enable us to meet each student at their level of development and interest, making learning meaningful and relevant.
Aside from also being immersed in a new language and gaining socio-emotional skills, each child develops, at their own pace:
- Fine and gross motor skills
- Oral language and analysis
- Reading
- Writing
- Math
- Science
- Gardening and environmental awareness
- Social studies (geography, history, helping in our community)
- Movement (P.E., yoga, dance, gymnastics, soccer, etc.)
- Music
- Art
At Amiguitos, the low teacher-student ratio ensures greater bonds are created and children are given more individualized attention, enabling for greater socio-emotional, academic, linguistic, and community development.
Kinder- 2nd grade: Building a strong foundation
By offering to serve children ages 5-8 (K-2nd grade), Los Amiguitos strives to provide a strong foundation in Spanish, academic and socio-emotional skills, as well as nature and community participation. Academics are integrated into daily school life and projects. Kinder through 2nd graders benefit from specific small group mentoring periods throughout the day, which ensures they’re ready to transition successfully to 3rd grade. They also participate in core projects with the rest of the school community that provides them with skills necessary for the development of the whole child. The philosophy and pedagogy applied ensures learning is interesting, relevant and engaging and focuses on the whole child, nature, and different levels of community (school, home, city, country, world).
Sample Daily Schedule
| 9:00 – 9:25 | Welcome, outside play |
| 9:30 - 9:50 | Snack time/story based learning |
| 9:50 – 10:40 | Outside play/exploration/gardening |
| 10:45 - 11:20 | Morning lesson and activity/project* |
| 11:25- 11:40 | Lunch time/story based learning |
| 11:45- 12:15 | Outside exploration/play |
| 12:15 - 1:45 | Rest time based on needs (sleeping, or reading to self and buddy; learning centers; small group activities; free art) |
| 1:45-2:15 | Closing circle time |
| 2:15 - 2:30 | Pick up |
Prek 3-4: Building a strong foundation
Sample Daily Schedule
| 9:00 – 9:25 | Welcome, outside play |
| 9:30 - 9:50 | Snack time/story based learning |
| 9:50 – 10:40 | Outside play/exploration/gardening |
| 10:45 - 11:20 | Morning lesson and activity/project* |
| 11:25- 11:40 | Lunch time/story based learning |
| 11:45- 12:15 | Outside exploration/play |
| 12:15 - 1:45 | Rest time based on needs (sleeping, or reading to self and buddy; learning centers; small group activities; free art) |
| 1:45-2:15 | Closing circle time |
| 2:15 - 2:30 | Pick up |
*Activities vary based on theme studied and day of the week. They encompass: art, gardening, drama based activities, projects, movement activities (yoga, sports, dancing, etc.), cooking, and integrate science, math, and literacy.
Notes: Our schedule is flexible in order to best follow children’s needs and interests as well as the weather. Unless the weather is extreme, we are outside for our snacks, meals, some circle times and activities.
Summer Camps
Summer camps.