Student Corner
Curriculum & Development
View a sample classroom schedule
Our curriculum is based on thematic teaching, which allows children to explore concepts in order to discover their meaning and relationships. This provides children with the building blocks of knowledge, thinking and reasoning. The topics originate from the specific interests and collaboration between our students and teachers. Each year we incorporate all age appropriate skills into the themes ensuring they become progressively more challenging as children master each set of skills. Teachers conduct overall assessments including a developmental checklist for every age level. Additionally, our staff send email updates, and post photos online through Shutterfly so you can view your children engaging in their school activities.
LANGUAGE AND LITERACY
The teachers strengthen literacy skills by integrating vocabulary, language development, verbal expression and social interaction throughout the day. Children love to name and classify shapes, letters, numbers and cultivate other pre-reading skills during circle time, story time, dramatic play, listening and writing centers.
SOCIAL STUDIES
In our Social Studies curriculum the children learn about diversity, their peers, and members of their family and community, as well as about themselves. Some of the topics may include care for the planet Earth, introduction to other cultures in New York and around the world, holidays and caring for animals. We have built an ongoing communication with a small community school in Ghana. This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to have direct contact with a very different culture.
MATH
Children are exposed to mathematical concepts such as patterns, graphs, logical reasoning, number recognition and measurement through exploration of classroom materials. Children work on math activities in small groups and independently while participating in the different learning centers. We also find ways to introduce these skills through daily review of the calendar and attendance, blocks and manipulatives, puzzles, mazes and computer games.
SCIENCE
Children learn about the natural world by way of interaction with objects, people and other living things. The science activities include cooking, water and air experiments, creating and building inventions, feeding class pets and planting. Children make predictions, explore possibilities and document the results of their experiments.
ARTS PROGRAMS
Music
Encouraging children to learn through rhythmic movement using their body, our music program involves games, singing and playing small percussion instruments in order to develop their sensitivity to listening, singing and physical movement.
The children will learn new songs, listen to different types of music from around the world and use instruments such as drums and bells to sing, dance and perform for each other.
American Ballet Theatre's Ballet for the New Audience Program
The American Ballet Theatre will be conducting workshops for our 3's and 4's classes this winter. The program will culminate with our 4's and their families spending a day at the American Ballet Theatre.
Pottery
The Pottery School at Greenwich House, Inc., is offered twice a month to children of all age levels. The pottery teacher provides hands-on experiences with clay, pottery tools and paints. Children are encouraged to learn new skills allowing them to conceive, construct, realize, and share artistic ideas with others. Individual assistance is provided in each class, helping children advance at their own pace.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES
Gym & Track
The teachers, along with our gym specialist, will teach the children games and skills each week during gym time. Children will work on gross and fine motor development while having fun and developing team-building skills. Our new gym equipment will allow for obstacle courses, climbing activities and open-ended creative play. The tricycle track provides another outlet for the development of their fine motor skills.
Rooftop Playground
Our newly redesigned rooftop playground features a jungle gym, picnic tables and umbrellas. It allows an environment in which our children build and refine motor skills while enjoying the fresh air.
Yoga
Yoga helps children develop better body awareness, self-control, flexibility and coordination. Yoga at an early age encourages self-esteem with a physical activitiy that is noncompetitive.
Class Trips
Throughout the year, Barrow Street Nursery School plans regular field trips for our 3 and 4-year-olds. Mid year even our little twos begin to take small journeys and safely explore our local neighborhood.
Teachers and volunteer parent chaperones escort the students by foot, subway or bus.
We’ve frequented some of the best child-friendly destinations our city has to offer:
- Prospect Park Audubon Center
- American Museum of Natural History
- Theatreworks Playhouse
- Central Park Zoo
- Madison Square Park
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden
- Children's Museum of Manhattan
- Local Firehouse
- Leroy Library
- Museum of Modern Art
- Dr. Davis Farm
- Queens Farm Museum
- Local neighborhood places of interest (firehouse, bakery, pizza parlor, fish market)
