RAINSUITS, EXPLORER VESTS, BOOTS AND GLOVES ARE PROVIDED TO ALL CHILDREN AT SWEET MEADOW PRESCHOOL! OUR SCHOOLHOUSE IS NESTLED AT THE BASE OF ROCKY BUTTE MOUNTAIN, WHERE WE WATCH THE TREES AND BIRDS THROUGHOUT THE SEASONS. ROCKY BUTTE AND OUR GARDEN ARE HOME TO IMPORTANT WILDLIFE THAT WE LOVE TO OBSERVE. WE SHARE STORIES TO HONOR AND LEARN ABOUT ROCKY BUTTE’S HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE.

SWEET MEADOW GARDEN IS OUR OUTDOOR EXPLORATION CLASSROOM WHERE WE FOLLOW THE LIFE CYCLE OF THE FOOD AND PLANTS WE GROW AND NATURE’S SEASONS TO BUILD STRONG CONNECTIONS AND SEE OURSELVES AND EACH OTHER AS IMPORTANT PARTS OF NATURE. IN THIS OUTDOOR CLASSROOM WE ARE TREE CLIMBING, USING REAL TOOLS LIKE SOFT MALLET HAMMERS AND WOODEN NAILS, PAINT ROLLERS, LARGE TUBES, PUMPING AND TRANSPORTING WATER, BUILDING AND GROWING. WE TUNE INTO THE QUIET PARTS OF NATURE AS WELL AS THE HEAVY WORK. TAKING TIME TO REST, OBSERVE, REFLECT AND NURTURE LIVING THINGS IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF HOW WE ARE PRACTICING RESILIENCE HERE.

OUR EMERGENT CURRICULUM AIMS TO BUILD MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS, INSPIRE AND CHALLENGE YOUNG CHILDREN WHILE SUPPORTING AND RESPECTING THEIR UNIQUE INTERESTS AND NEEDS. WE VALUE CONNECTION, CURIOSITY, AND EXPRESSION. WE INCORPORATE MATERIALS FROM THE NATURAL WORLD AND EVERYDAY LIFE IN OUR INSIDE AND OUTDOOR CLASSROOMS AND SUPPORT MEANINGFUL INTERACTIONS WITH PROJECTS, PROCESSES, PEERS, AND TEACHERS.

THIS PRESCHOOL PROGRAM APPEALS TO A DIVERSE RANGE OF POPULATIONS BECAUSE OUR DAILY RHYTHM IS RESPONSIVE. WE PROMOTE CREATIVE EXPRESSION AND HAVE HIGH-ENGAGEMENT SENSORY EXPERIENCES THAT ARE UNIQUE AND STAND OUT FROM OTHER PROGRAMS. CHILDREN MAKE CREATIVE CHOICES AND HAVE AGENCY THROUGHOUT THEIR DAY. THROUGH PLAY WE CROSS LANGUAGE AND ABILITY BARRIERS AND CREATE ACCESS AND INCLUSION FOR CHILDREN. FOR MANY, SENSORY-BASED ENVIRONMENTS ARE NOT ONLY ENRICHING BUT CRUCIAL FOR INCLUSIVENESS.

AS AN EDUCATOR I AIM TO MATCH CHILDREN’S INQUIRY AND EXCITEMENT SO THAT THEIR CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT IS RESPONSIVE TO THEIR INTERESTS, CREATIVE EXPLORATIONS, AND RELATIONSHIPS. I AM AN IN-HOME PRESCHOOL PROVIDER AND HAVE A MULTIGENERATIONAL HOME THAT REPRESENTS MANY FAMILIES ACROSS CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS. OUR IN-HOME ENVIRONMENT FEELS FAMILIAR AND OFFERS A COZY SMALL-SCALE ALTERNATIVE TO LARGE GROUP PRESCHOOL. THIS FAMILIARITY AIDS IN BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN MYSELF, AS A TEACHER, AND EACH CHILD. MANY CHILDREN AT PRESCHOOL ARE EXPERIENCING THEIR FIRST TIME AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILY AND CAREGIVERS AND MY ROLE IS TO HOLD SPACE FOR THAT VULNERABLE TIME BY MEETING CHILDREN RIGHT WHERE THEY ARE.

SWEET MEADOW PRESCHOOL IS A LICENSED FAMILY PRESCHOOL WITH CAPACITY FOR UP TO 10 CHILDREN. WE HAVE A SMALL GROUP SIZE. THE TEACHER CHILD RATIO IS 1:6. OUR RHYTHM IS CREATED FROM THE CHILDREN’S NEEDS, AREAS OF INTEREST AND FOR SUPPORTING DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES. INSIDE AND OUTSIDE WE HAVE A VARIETY OF STEAM-BASED CENTERS INCLUDING A MUD AND CLAY KITCHEN, SENSORY TABLES, WIND TUNNEL, WATER PUMP, ART STUDIO AND THE GARDEN. WE USE MANY MONTESSORI METHODS AS WELL AS OPEN ENDED PLAY WITH A MULTITUDE OF MEDIUMS TO STIMULATE CREATIVITY, EXPLORE INTERESTS, BUILD FRIENDSHIPS, TAKE RISKS, USE LARGE AND FINE MOTOR SKILLS, AND FOR NERVOUS SYSTEM REGULATION. SWEET MEADOW WELCOMES ALL INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILY STRUCTURES.

THIS SCHOOL OPENED IN 2024 AFTER RECEIVING THE OREGON CHILDCARE START-UP GRANT FROM WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY TO ASSIST THE CHILDCARE DESSERT IN OREGON BY BECOMING A LICENSED PRESCHOOL PROGRAM IN OUR NORTHEAST PORTLAND NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY.

•WOULD YOUR CHILD BENEFIT FROM A SMALL GROUP SIZE?

•WOULD YOUR CHILD BENEFIT FROM SENSORY-BASED LEARNING?

•DOES YOUR CHILD LOVE NATURE?