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Charlottesville Early Learning Center

Home of the Colts

Early Childhood Daily Life

Early Childhood Daily Life

Charlottesville Early Learning Center utilizes the Responsive Classroom approach as the foundation of our school philosophy. This means we are intentional about how we design our classrooms, create our lessons, connect with our students, and set expectations.

Curriculum

Our “Creative Curriculum” is a blueprint for learning through play. Instead of sitting at desks filling out worksheets, children learn by doing, exploring, and asking questions. The classroom is broken down into fun "interest areas"—like a block corner, a dress-up station, a science table, and a library—where children can choose activities that excite them. 

Teachers use these spaces to weave in reading, math, and social skills. For example, when your child is building with blocks, they aren't just playing—they are learning about shapes, balance, and how to share with a friend. It’s a research-backed approach that respects how three- and four-year-olds actually learn, building their confidence and a love of learning.

Through our curriculum, children learn:

 

Fine Motor Skills

Mathematics

Physical Education

Reading and Language Arts

Science

Social Studies

Social-Emotional Learning

Music and Arts

Daily Schedules

Our daily schedules include:

Morning meeting

Academic choice and guided discovery

Energizing transitions between academic activities

Quiet time after lunch

Closing circle

  • young prek student holding a water can in the vegetable garden
  • two prek students climbing on the playground rop jungle gym
  • prek teacher sitting on the ground in a circle with you students going through a lesson